99 Elphin Rd, Newstead. Google Maps.

Opened 1905.
Developed from Cimitiere Street Baptist Tabernacle.
In 2001, combined with Christ Church Baptist Church to become City Baptist Church.

Laying of the foundation stone of Baptist Church, Elphin Road, Launceston (Weekly Courier, 15 July 1905)

A NEW BAPTIST CHURCH IN ELPHIN-ROAD.
FOUNDATION-STONE LAID.
The ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of a new Baptist church in Elphin-road was performed yesterday afternoon by Mr. W. D. Weston the president of the Baptist Union of Tasmania. There was a fairly large number present, including Revs. V. G. Britten (Bracknell), B. W. Heath (Methodist church), W. Law (Congregational), E. Isaac (Memorial Church), and A. Metters (Perth).

The movement to extend the sphere of the Baptist Church in this direction was initiated in March, 1902, when the present site in Elphin-road was secured, and, with the co-operation of Mr Gibson, of Scone, and half a dozen members of the church, a substantial de posit was paid on the purchase. In 1903, a further substantial payment was made, and m 1904 the purchase money (£272) was fully paid. The Baptist Union appointed a commit tee, consisting of Messrs. A. Duncan, G. D. Gould, and W. D. Weston, to arrange for ‘the erection of a suitable building, and, after due consideration it was decided to adopt the design of Mr Frank Tyson, architect, of Launceston, for a neat Gothic church building in brick, with a clear area of 30ft by 20ft, and designed to facilitate further extension when required. The con tractors are Messrs. Hinman and Wright, and the cost will be about £430. The necessary amount will be raised by a loan on mortgage, part of which, however, will carry no interest, It is hoped to have the building open for public worship in about three months time; and the church will undoubtedly meet a genuine need in this locality, as the nearest free church is about a mile distant.

It is intended to hold service in the evening of the Lord’s Day, and this will he conducted by Rev. A. W. Bean and by suitable substitutes. A Sunday school will be also opened, under the superintendency of Mr G. D. Gould, assisted by other teachers. The immediate supervision of the work is in the hands of a local committee, appoint ed by the Tabernacle church, which has taken over the enterprise from the council of the union, and it will now be an integral part of the work of the mother church in Cimitiere-street.

The ceremony of laying the foundation-stone yesterday afternoon was initiated with prayer by Rev. A. W. Bean, who conducted a short service, assisted by the choir of the Baptist church, after which Mr J. Broomby read a statement on the extension of the work of the Baptist church in Launceston. Bev. A. W. Bean extended a welcome to the representatives of other denominations, and said that he hoped others besides Baptists would make the new church their spiritual home. He did not desire the members of his church to be looked upon as denominational intruders. He advocated broadmindedness in religion, and reminded all that they were seeking to attain the same object — the extension of the Kingdom of God upon earth.

A small paper parcel, containing an account of the extension movement and other matters connected with the Baptist church, was then deposited in a cavity beneath the stone, which was then placed in position and declared well and truly laid. Mr Weston being handed an appropriately inscribed silver trowel, with which to symbolise the ceremony. It was previously explained that Mr W. Gibson had intended to officiate, but that he was prevented from doing so on account of a recent bereavement. He forwarded his good wishes and a cheque for £5. Donations towards the building fund were then laid on the stone, one of those who subscribed being a small fair-haired boy in a sailor suit, who carefully deposited upon the stone the sum of threepence in coppers.
Daily Telegraph, 15 June 1905

Daily Telegraph, 28 October 1905

NEWSTEAD AND ELPHIN BAPTIST CHURCH.
The opening services in connection with the new brick church erected in connection with the Baptist Union of Tasmania were held yesterday. In the afternoon Rev. A. W. Bean preached to a crowded congregation an eloquent and impressive sermon from the words, “O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get ye up into the high mountain : O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength : lift it up, he not afraid. Say unto the cities of Judah. Behold your God!’ (Isaiah xl., 9). In the course of his sermon he showed that the main function of the church was not to preach ritualism, aestheticism or morality but to tell the glad tidings of salvation through faith in Christ, to comfort the sorrowing, to welcome the penitent, to aid in the solution of the social difficulties of the time. The church of believers was the true and common meeting place for rich and poor alike. In the evening the pulpit was occupied by Mr A. E. Solomon, M.A., who dealt in a masterly manner with the text drawn from Psalm lxxiii., 17, “Until I went into the sanctuary of God and considered their latter end.” He showed the utility and witness of the material and visible church building, as well as that of the spiritual men and women, to the being and beneficence of God, and that its main function was not preaching morality, with its changeful standards and ex ample, but to aid in bringing men in to close personal contact with God and a home and refuge in perplexity. The Tabernacle choir, under Mr J. J. Broomby, in the afternoon, and the local choir, under Mr J. G. Stevens, in the evening, rendered special music. The collections for the day totalled £5 6s 9d. A concert is advertised for Tuesday night in aid of the organ fund, an admirable instrument having been purchased.
Daily Telegraph, 30 October 1905