Somerset Stories

Caboonbah Undenominational Church

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HistoryFounded in 1905. The beautiful old church is situated on the Caboonbah Road, 12 kms from Toogoolawah and can be most easily reached by turning into Mt. Beppo Road from Brisbane Valley Highway at Toogoolawah. There are clear signposts to the Caboonbah Church from Mt. Beppo Road.

The church was designed by Katherine Rose Somerset, chatelaine of Caboonbah homestead at the turn of the 19th Century. It features verandahs on both sides, one rail of which could be removed so that older or infirm members of the congregation could step away from their vehicle straight into the church. There are two rooms attached to the church, one for the minister’s use and the other for mothers with restless or hungry babies. Originally, it had a high-pitched single roof which has since been covered with corrugated iron.

Th land of the church was donated by Henry Plantagenet Somerset, Katherine’s husband and founder of Caboonbah Station. Henry also gave standing green timber from the property which was exchanged for seasoned timber supplied by Lars Andersen, Sawmiller, who built the church. Laws Andersen’s home in the main street of Esk is also available for inspection.

His brother, Peter Andersen, a cabinet maker in Denmark, made and donated the pulpit and pews.

The surrounding farmers financed the building of the church and this was overseen by trustees: Robert Dawson Soden, James Soden, Charles Soden, David Walker Smith and John Thomas Milner. Mr Charles Soden mortgaged his property for £250 to ensure its completion. Ministers of all denominations were encouraged to take services there, and some of the earliest ministers were Rev. James Heaton (Methodist) 1906 and Rev. W. Stevens (Presbyterian) 1908-1911. The committee for the Golden Jubilee of this church purchased the Church Bible in 1955.

This church no longer has an established congregation, but relies instead on occasional services, weddings, christenings, funerals and an annual combined church service in October/November, followed by the old-fashioned fellowship of a picnic lunch.

The church is not subsidised and is maintained entirely by donations. The grounds are open and Caboonbah Church and its graveyard can be viewed at any time.

Burials were also conducted after 1905, with private grave sites which were customary at the turn of the last century, which can still be seen in the grounds of Caboonah homestead.

There were three graves there originally, two of young children from the Somerset family (Edward, aged 8 months and Vida, aged 7 days), as well as that of Richard Soden aged 16, who was hurt in a fall from a horse and died at Ipswich Hospital two days later. His headstone reads, “In Memory of Richard Beloved Son of Robert and Mary Soden who was injured by a fall near the Beppo School on 6th Died at Ipswich on 8th November 1898 Sincerely mourned by many Therefore be ye also ready”.

When there were fears that the waters from Wivenhoe Dam would flood the gravesite, the headstones were removed to the Caboonbah Church Cemetery and can still be seen there.

TypeChurches & CemeteriesTownsToogoolawah & SurroundsReferencesCaboonbah Undenominational Church factsheet at EskLocal Cemeteries (Toogoolawah) Factsheet. Esk: Somerset Regional Council. (Held at Esk Library).

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Caboonbah Church

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SubjectsChurchesCemeteriesSawmillsWeddingsChristeningsFuneralsCollectionChurches & CemeteriesRelated PlacesCaboonbahToogoolawahMt. BeppoBrisbane Valley HighwayCaboonbah StationDenmarkIpswich HospitalBeppo SchoolWivenhoe DamRelated PeopleKatherine RoseHenry Plantagenet SomersetLars AndersenPeter AndersenRobert Dawson SodenJames SodenCharles SodenDavid Walker SmithJohn Thomas MilnerRev. James HeatonRev. W. StevensEdward SomersetVida SomersetRichard SodenAddress Lot 1, Cressbrook Caboonbah Road, Mount Beppo, Queensland, 4313, AustraliaGeo Coordinates^[1]

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Caboonbah Undenominational Church