Though the early records of the Baptist Church in Victoria were not carefully kept, the story of the rise and progress of this denomination is of considerable interest.

As early as 1838 a little group of Baptists banded themselves together, and when Mr. Samuel Crook and Mr. Robert Reeves came with their families from Sydney, they took the lead in forming a congregation. Their initial difficulty, however, was to obtain a room, and, as none was immediately available, the first service was held on an open block of land in Collins Street, opposite where the Athenaeum Hall now stands. Half an acre of this block was purchased by Thomas Napier, at a Government land sale, for £129/4/0. Mr. Napier was among the earliest arrivals in Victoria, and lived at Essendon. Messrs. Alexander Miller and Peter Virtue, storekeepers, allowed the Baptists to have the use of a fairly large tent, and in this the first church service took place. It was conducted by Messrs. James Wilson and Peter Virtue. The latter was an old missionary, who afterwards became well known as an open-air preacher about the wharves.

The earliest immersions were conducted in a novel way. There was no baptistry and baptisms were conducted in the waters of the Bay, where the suburb of Albert Park now stands. Two arbors were constructed amid the dense growth of tea tree and scrub, and, with the aid of canvas screens, convenient retiring rooms for each sex were constructed. The first baptism by immersion took place in 1839. Mrs. Samuel Crook was the first to take the sacramental plunge, the baptism being carried out by Mr. Robert Reeves.

On the second occasion there were three candidates. These were Mrs. Elizabeth Mouritz, wife of Mr. John Joseph Mouritz, Miss Hart, and Mr. Halloway. Though the baptisms were conducted in the open air they always partook of a reverential character.

Mr. John Joseph Mouritz was the first Baptist preacher. He was a native of Dundalk, Ireland, and served as a soldier in India, in the 24th Regiment. On his return to England he joined the Wesleyan Methodists, and afterwards became a Baptist. He began preaching soon after his arrival in Sydney, though not a regularly ordained minister. He came to Melbourne in 1840, and was placed at the head of the Baptist congregation. His stipend however, was so small that he ventured into business to augment it. He purchased a portion of the Bowerman estate, where the suburb of Fitzroy now stands. Stocking the land with cows, he started to retail pure milk. The cows, however, were wild, and a good deal of local merriment was occasioned by the difficulty that he experienced in milking them. Gradually they took to the bush, and it is estimated that Mr. Mouritz lost about £400 by his unsuccessful attempt as a dairyman.

Mr. Mouritz built a house and a baptistry on the land, and continued his preaching. Services had already been held in the Congregational building, where the Bull and Mouth Hotel now stands, and, towards the close of 1841, the Rev. James Forbes, the Presbyterian minister, allowed the Baptists the use of a small wooden building, off Little Collins Street near Scots Church. Mr. Mouritz continued to preach here until, in December, 1842. a regularly ordained minister, the Rev. John Ham. appeared, when he withdrew to his tabernacle at Fitzroy.

The Rev. John Ham came from Birmingham, on his way to Sydney, and he was induced to remain in Melbourne. He conducted some trial services in the local mechanics' institute, and the congregations were so enthusiastic that he determined upon staying here.

On July 20, 1843, it was agreed to apply to the Government for a grant of land upon which to erect a church. The grant was allowed, the site of the present Baptist Church being secured. The collection of funds for the church building proceeded apace, but it was not until May 21, 1845, that the foundation stone was laid. The Rev. John Saunders came from Sydney to be present. He was pastor of the first Baptist Church in Sydney. The Revs. Alexander Morison and William Schofield also assisted at the service. The stone contained the following inscription: -

The new church was 50 feet by 33 feet. It was formally opened on December 28, 1845. Mr. Ham continued in charge until the end of 1847, when he succeeded the Rev John Saunders in Sydney.

Mr. Ham, while in Melbourne, established a mission for aboriginal children, at the confluence of the Merri Creek and the Yarra River, and in a building erected for the purpose a number of young dusky natives were educated and religiously trained. The boys were instructed in gardening, and the girls in needlework. It is stated that the mission had to be abandoned, owing to the evil influences of certain of the white population. Mr. Ham, however, did a noble work, and the pity of it is that the public character was not high enough to enable him to continue in his worthy task.

It is interesting to note that Mr. Ham was the father of Messrs. Cornelius Job and Thomas Ham, who founded the well-known firm of auctioneers in this city.

After Mr. Ham's departure nearly three years elapsed before a second pastor was appointed. The Rev. William Penford Scott, however, arrived, and he with Mr. John Lush and others, conducted services in the Collins Street chapel. It was not until October, 1850, that a second Baptist congregation was formed. Services were conducted in the Mechanics' Institute. Gradually congregations were formed at Prahran, Kew, Brighton, and other places, and ere long the Baptist denomination became firmly rooted in the colony. It owed much, at the outset, to the assistance of other denominations, the members of which helped it in the friendliest fashion in its struggling days.