GOMERSAL : BETHLEHEM SCHOENBORN
LUTHERAN
PAUL SCOTT
PLAN
Unusually for these Barossa Valley churches, I found this old plan of Bethlehem.
The plan shows the rectangular nave with a porch at the West end having two side entry doors. Steps up to the balcony are visible too at that end of the nave. The sanctuary extends from the Eastern end, and there is an attached vestry alonside.
It is our practice to use liturgical directions here, with directions North, South, East, West as per this plan. Thus the sanctuary is at the (liturgical) East end, with a capital letter. In fact, geographically, the sanctuary extends in direction closer to north.
HISTORY
Years Built: First church 1856; present church 1926-27
Address: Cnr Gomersal Road and Heinrich Road, Gomersal, SA 5352
Gomersal was formerly named Schoenborn (beautiful spring) by the Lutheran settlers to the region in 1849. The township was renamed Gomersal in 1918. This church was opened in 1926. Gomersal is not a German name but comes from Yorkshire. Until 1918 the area was known as New Mecklenberg but the name was changed during the First World War as part of the anti-German sentiment.
https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Place:Bethlehem_Cemetery%2C_Gomersal%2C_South_Australia%2C_Australia
Bethlehem Church - Schoenborn is located a few kilometres south west of Tanunda. The congregation was formed in 1855 by many of the families originally abandoned from the Hoffnungstahl congregation. In 1856 the first church was erected, it functioned as both a church and school. The original church had a thatched straw roof. It was expected of the fathers of the congregation to provide at least 40 bundles of straw to replace the thatching covering of the roof. The straw roof was replaced by iron in 1896.
https://bvhistory.wixsite.com/barossa-history/bethlehem-church---gomersal-schoenborn
A detailed history of the Church, ‘Schoenborn, Bethlehem Lutheran Church’, was produced in November 2005, and is still available.
