Baptist Historical Society of NSW Inc.
We are a voluntary society of people passionate about collating, researching, recording and sharing Baptist history, especially as it relates to Baptists in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
Why we exist
We want to educate Baptists and others about Baptist history, especially the stories of Baptist individuals, churches and organisations with particular relevance to New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
We want to assist NSW and ACT Baptists preserve their records and significant artefacts, identify buildings and sites of special interest, and encourage the publication of their stories.
Membership
Membership to the BHS is open to individuals, churches and institutions.
Annual membership Fees are Ordinary $30, Concession (students and retirees) $25, Churches and Institutions $35.
Members receive free copies of the BHS journal, The Baptist Recorder and the Archivist’s Newsletter as well as access to BHS lectures, Baptist Archives Historical Material, events of the Royal Australian Historical Society and Evangelical History Association, and newsletters from other Australian State archivists’ newsletters as they become available.
As members you are invited to volunteer to assist with various research projects.
Follow this link to become a new member or to renew your membership.
Meetings
There are usually two meetings of the BHS each year, and the A.C. Prior Annual Lecture.
Regular meetings are normally on the second Saturday in May and August in the Conference Room, Level 4, Ministry and Learning Centre, 5 Saunders Close, Macquarie Park. Meetings commence at 2pm with afternoon tea and conclude by 4pm. There is also an online option for those who cannot attend in person.
Two regional meetings may be held each year at locations outside of the greater Sydney metropolitan area. See the News tab for details.
Publications
Apart from The Baptist Recorder, the BHS, in cooperation with several different publishers, and working with individuals, has produced a significant number of books over the years. Follow the link to the list of publications.
Members of the BHS are willing to collaborate with authors on potential publications. Contact the Publications Committee to discuss your project by following the link.
Archives
The Archives receives and cares for material that has been assessed as significant to the collection. Once received by the Archives, all materials become the responsibility of the Archives. Those depositing materials to the Archives retain the right to impose a limited embargo on access to their materials while retaining the right to access their own material in the archive facilities.
Those people determined by the BHS Executive Committee as bona fide researchers may access archival material under appropriate supervision in the archive facilities.
When a request is received from individuals or groups for the BHS to undertake research for them using archival material, a fee, determined by the BHS executive, may be charged to fulfil the request.
Executive Committee
President
Rev Dr Graeme Chatfield
Before retiring Graeme lectured in Church History and Baptist Distinctives at Morling College and other institutions. He has been a member of the BHS since 1995, sometime Editor of The Recorder and since May 2024 President of the BHS. Graeme and wife Heather are members of Springwood Baptist Church.
Vice President
Barbara Coe
Barbara Coe and her husband Bruce are members at Canberra Baptist Church and Barbara is Vice-President of the NSW Baptist Historical Society with a particular interest in 19th century Baptist history. In her day job she is an editor and researcher for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Library and the Australian National University and has also edited many Baptist publications.
Secretary
Rebecca Starling
Rebecca Starling is a member of Petersham Baptist Church, which she has been attending since 2023. She has been involved with the BHS since 2025 and is particularly interested in the history of Baptist missionaries.
Treasurer
Pamela Windschuttel
Being a Primary School Teacher prepared me to take up SRE, commencing in 1986 and continuing until the present time. I have also been involved in CWCI ministry, enjoying leadership at the CWCI Stanwell Tops Convention.
I have been a member of the Baptist Historical Society for about ten years and Treasurer since 2019. Assisting at the Archives for a few years has been both an interesting and satisfying experience.
Ernest and I have enjoyed being members of the Narrabeen Baptist Church for the past thirty years.
Archivist
Ernest Windschuttel
I have been a member of the NSW Baptist Historical Society since 1988.
Since the early 2000s I have been involved with the Archives, becoming Archivist in 2018.
I see it is important that our history, stories of churches and life stories of people who have contributed to what the Baptist Church is today, are remembered and preserved.
With my background in IT I consider it is important that more records are made electronic. As well it is essential that paper material and other things like photos, paintings etc are preserved.
There is a place for you at the Archives. There are many things to do, and the Archives need many people to help, no matter what your background is or your interests.
Publication Committee
Oversees the production of The Recorder and engages people with projects for publication through the BHS.
Dr Nicole Starling
Nicole teaches Christianity in History and Baptist Distinctives at Morling College. She completed her doctorate and post-doctoral fellowship through Macquarie University, researching the relationship between religious belief and enlightenment morality in the Australian temperance movement. She is the Editor of the Evangelical History Association journal, Lucas and is a member of Petersham Baptist Church.
Rev Dr Graeme Chatfield
Before retiring Graeme lectured in Church History and Baptist Distinctives at Morling College and other institutions. He has been a member of the BHS since 1995, sometime Editor of The Recorder and since May 2024 President of the BHS. Graeme and wife Heather are members of Springwood Baptist Church.
Ronald Cardwell
Ronald Cardwell has been a member of the Carlingford Baptist Church for 40 years. He was there at the beginning of The Baptist Historical Society was founded in 1974. He was the first editor of The Baptist Recorder and in 2015 again fulfilled the role. At various times he has served on the committee and was secretary for a lengthy period. He has a strong interest in Baptist History and has an extensive library of Baptist material that goes back over two hundred years. Still working professionally, he has published and or written over 80 books on cricket, rugby union and religion.
Committee Member
Dr Alan Rice OAM
Dr John Stanhope
News & Updates
Despite soaking rain that had people watching rising river levels, about 20 people enjoyed a combination of presentations at Stroud Baptist Church on 29 March, 2025. Presentations on Allan Webb, Frederick Hibberd, and Philip Lane set the scene for an exploration of the collaborative ministry of the Baptist Churches of the Northern Central Coast Baptist Association, Camp Elim.
Afternoon tea, provided by the folk from Stroud Baptist Church was followed by a fascinating presentation by Barbara Coe on accessing family history via the free sites available to all of us with internet access. It has been reported that using TROVE is addictive!
Short video clips of the various presentations have been uploaded to this site. Follow the links.
Events
A.C. Prior Annual Lecture – Free Breakfast 3 May 2025, 9am. The Conference Room, Level 4, Ministry and Learning Centre, 5 Saunders Close, Macquarie Park. A collaboration of the Baptist Association of Churches of NSW and the BHS.
Topic: Rev Dr Ken Manley. An Australian Baptist Identity.
Speaker: Rev Dr Graeme Chatfield.
