Our Heritage
History of the Happy Valley Church of Christ
The Happy Valley Church of Christ was formed in 1979 when 3 young couples from Brighton Church of Christ had an idea to meet for worship and fellowship in the southern hills area. The first service in February of that year was attended by 50 people, and in May 1980 became affiliated with the Churches of Christ Conference.
The small church congregation was made up of mostly young families, who had previously been members at Brighton, Glenelg and Blackwood churches. The Congregation initially met in the Happy Valley Institute before moving to the Aberfoyle Park Kindergarten and then the Happy Valley Council Chambers.
With the assistance of Churches of Christ Conference in SA & NT, land was purchased on the corner of Hub Drive and Windebanks Road in 1983 and in June 1988 we moved into the current building.
In the early years, children under 10 years of age out-numbered the adults with over 100 in the Sunday School. Over the years we have had the privilege of more senior members becoming part of the congregation and we have always had a unique blend of age groups who work well together in all we do.
About Churches of Christ
The Churches of Christ in Australia are made up of State Conferences which are an association of independent churches who choose to relate at a state and national level. Within this conference structure, individual churches are largely autonomous and operate on a congregational and democratic form of government. Leadership varies in local churches. Where there are ministers or pastors they may or may not be formally ordained. Lay people usually play an important part in the worship, mission, governance and management of the church.
Key features of the church's worship are the weekly celebration of the Lord's Supper presided over by a lay person, and believer's baptism. The denomination claims to "concentrate on the essential aspects of the Christian faith, allowing for a diversity of understanding with non-essentials." It is active in community services and supporting Christian unity.
Churches of Christ is one of the smaller denominations in Australia, but has a higher attendance ranking. The 2001 Census showed a membership of 61,335. Of the total population of Australia, only 0.3% state religious affiliation with Churches of Christ. This is compared with 69.3% who bear religious affiliation of any Christian denomination. The National Church Life Survey 2001 showed that Churches of Christ had the highest attendance to affiliates percentage. The survey showed a regular estimated attendance of 45,100 (74%). This shows an obvious difference to percentage of identified members regularly attending, when compared to mainstream denominations such as Anglican (5%) and Catholic (15%) churches. Churches of Christ's membership is small, but holding higher attendance.