Ayr Seventh-day Adventist Church celebrated its centenary on May 16, bringing together members and visitors to reflect on 100 years of ministry in North Queensland.
The special program included a presentation on the church’s history by local member Selwyn Hawken, as well as a rededication service and fellowship activities throughout the day.
Northern Australian Conference president Pastor Simon Gigliotti said the celebration provided an opportunity to remember God’s leading while looking ahead to future ministry opportunities.
During the service, attendees reflected on the faith and commitment of the church’s early members and the role the congregation has played in the Burdekin community over the past century.
Founded by a small group of Adventist families who initially met in homes, the Ayr church was officially organised in 1926. Early members purchased a former foundry building in Charters Towers, dismantled it and transported it by rail to Ayr, where it was rebuilt through volunteer labour and dedicated as the congregation’s first permanent place of worship. Over the following decades, members established a church school, supported community initiatives during the Great Depression and expanded their ministry throughout the district.
In 1965, the congregation dedicated a new church building on the same site, replacing the original structure. A statement read during that dedication expressed the hope that “a light will shine forth to the community”, a vision church leaders said continues to guide the congregation today.
The church currently operates a range of community-focused ministries and is planning an evangelistic series later this year as part of the Northern Australian Conference’s Year of Reclamation initiative.
Speaking during the centenary celebration, Pastor Gigliotti encouraged members to continue building on the legacy of previous generations. “The past was awesome, but the best is yet to come,” he said.
