…the Hall became a centre for the Hazel Glen Church of England, the Hazel Glen Private Assembly, Arthurs Creek Cricket Club, Arthurs Creek Rifle Club, Hazel Glen Football Club and Hazel Glen Tennis Club…
A meeting was held by the residents near Linton’s Bridge on 9 May 1895 ‘to discuss the advisability of erecting a hall in the neighbourhood to be used for holding meetings or services’. Mr. Richard Bassett of ‘Tregowan’ donated a piece of land at the corner of Bannon’s Lane and Doctor’s Gully Road as a site for the hall. A building committee was appointed consisting of J. Herbert, F. Phillips and J. Durham with the Chairman R. Bassett and Secretary G. Apted as ex officio members. Charles Verso was asked to draw up plans and specifications. Charles Verso and George Apted were subsequently appointed to superintend the building of the hall, which was officially opened with a concert and ball on Monday 20 April 1896.
The Rev St. John Chase of Whittlesea, commenced weekly Church of England Sunday Services at the hall on 19 April 1896, with Mrs. Draper as Organist, W. Draper, Treasurer and G.J. Apted, Secretary. The Hall became a centre for the Hazel Glen Church of England, the Hazel Glen Private Assembly, Arthurs Creek Cricket Club, Arthurs Creek Rifle Club, Hazel Glen Football Club and Hazel Glen Tennis Club. In 1899 Charles Verso became a Guardian and Secretary of the Hazel Glen Church of England. Following the resignation of George Apted as Secretary of the Hazelglen Hall Committee on 30 May 1901, Charles Verso was confirmed as the new Secretary at the annual meeting held on 18 June 1902.
The Doreen Recreation Hall was officially opened with a grand concert and ball on Friday 4 December 1908. President of the Hall Committee was Mr. Leslie W. Clarke. In 1921, Mr. and Mrs. L.W. Clarke of ‘Linton Grange’ provided generous assistance towards the purchase and conversion of the Hazelglen Hall for use as a Church of England. A meeting was held at the Hall on 14 July 1921 ‘to fix up Church fittings’. In March 1922 it was decided to get an architect to deal with the interior of the church. The Ven. Archdeacon Hindley dedicated the thoroughly renovated hall and named it St John’s Church, Hazel Glen, on Sunday 4 February 1923.
‘Towards the end of the sixties, the congregation dwindled down to just a few and the Minister at that time, Rev. Roy Gabb, closed the church.’ Following damage by vandals, it was decided to demolish the building in 1975.
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