Western Australian Council of Churches

The Western Australian Council of Churches was a body of leaders from the evangelical Christian churches of the Australian state of Western Australia. It was formed to present a unified front to influence public discourse and government policy, and also served to increase communication and cooperation between rival churches with similar aims and philosophies.
This article traces the history of the council through a list of its presidents and, to a lesser extent, its secretaries, who through being eligible for reelection, provided stability and continuity of service.

History

Following the visit in August 1901 of Rev. J. G. Greenhough, President of the National Council of the Evangelical Free Churches of Great Britain and Ireland, a Western Australian Council of Churches was formed, but was pronounced ineffective.

1902 William T. Kench
1903 Dr Fitchett
1905, 1906 Thomas Bird
1907 A. S. Wilson

T. Bird was secretary

1908–1909 W. T. Kench
1910–1911 A. S. C. James
1912 Tom Allan (Methodist)
1913 Brian Wibberley
1914 W. B. Blakemore
1915, 1916 J. H. Prowse

Mason was secretary

1917 F. E. Harry died in NZ 1930
1918 W. Huey Steele
1919 Brian Wibberley
1920 W. H. Prowse?
1920 G. A. Williamson Legge
1921 J. W. Grove
1922 Thomas Hagger
1923 Harry Reeve
1924 Ensign J. R. Dusting
1925 George Tulloch

H. H. Symons secretary

1926, 1927 John W. Grove
1927 G. W. Tulloch ?

Presbyterian church withdraws from Council 1928 It is likely the Council of Churches of WA went into recess around this time, as the newspapers ceased reporting on their activities.