A Brief Early History of Riverton Baptist Church

Author - Mr Les Coulson

Three families from Riverton joined up with the Bentley Baptist Church - Mr & Mrs Bill Ruchti, Mr & Mrs Bob Annear and Mr & Mrs Les Coulson.

1954

Mr Bill Ruchti wanted his two children to attend Sunday school, so he took his children and 10 other children from Riverton along to the Bentley Baptist Church. After about 12 months Bill Ruchti and his wife joined a city Church. Mr Norm Williams and Mr Keith Duncan of the Bentley Baptist Church took over the transporting of these children to Bentley.

1956

Mr Les Coulson and Mr Bob Annear took over from Mr Norm Williams and Mr Keith Duncan for about another twelve months, until the number of children got too many for the two vehicles and the vehicles became un-roadworthy.

1957

Because the Riverton children still wanted to have Sunday school, the Coulson's made their home available for Sunday school.

Sunday school at Riverton commenced in the Coulson's home from 5th May 1957 to September 1959. Then in the Annear's home from September 1959 to December 1960.

Superintendent - Mr Annear
Teachers - Mrs Annear and Mr & Mrs Les Coulson.

The Coulson and the Annear families attended both Church services at Bentley Baptist Church.

We knew the Sunday school in our homes was only temporary, we were teaching up to 45 children.

As the Bentley Church and the Sunday school at Riverton developed we wanted extra buildings - a Manse for Bentley and buildings for Riverton to house Church and Sunday school.

A block of land was bought at Riverton (1 1/2 acres) and two army huts were bought at Woodman Point. One was made into a Manse for Bentley Baptist Church the other a Church for Riverton.

A Builder and six families from Riverton and Bentley, worked together to bring these buildings from Woodman Point to Bentley and Riverton. They were the Doig family, James family, Coulson family, Annear family and two Shaw families.

It took nearly three years to bring these buildings from Woodman Point and reconstruct them. We worked every Saturday, long week-ends and some evenings on them. The hut for Bentley was cut in half and made into an L shaped building for the Manse.

The Riverton hut was much bigger and was cut into three pieces. It was put together again when we got it to Riverton. The hut had tin on the roof and the walls. Canning Shire made us replace the tin with asbestos.

When the Manse was completed at Bentley they called a pastor—Colyn Lansdown. Riverton Church was completed later, it was opened on 18th December 1960 at 3:00pm.

First Service on Christmas Day taken by Mr Annear. Sunday school and Church services commenced in the building. Colyn Lansdown took one service a month and Lay Preachers took the other services.

As the work developed at Riverton we became independent of Bentley Baptist Church.

4th July 1965-Formation of a Branch Membership at Riverton (13 Members).

Few more points of interest

First Prayer Meeting 29/5/1956 - Coulson's Home.
First Offering - £2.10s = $5
Cost of Land - £140 = $280
Cost of Hut - £65 = $130
Cost of bringing hut from Woodman Point and Reconstruction - £1,500 = $3,000

So on behalf of my family (The Coulson's) it was a privilege to work with these other families and see the development of the two Churches. It wasn't easy at times, but through prayer and God's love, He gave us the courage to carry on.

We had many happy times and made lifetime friends and through this experience our lives were enriched by God... seeing old and young people coming to know the Lord.

Goen Ho and myself are working on a book with more details.

Les Coulson
February 2008