March 23rd, 2026Our region’s history with Natalie Poole

Tylden was named after Brigadier-General William Burton Tylden (1790-1854) who died of cholera during the Crimean War. He is buried in St. Mary’s Churchyard, Eastling, England and words on his headstone read: “In memory of his religious and consistent character.” Religious belief was at the forefront of life in Tylden. By the 1860s, four church denominations were - Anglican, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic and Baptist churches are all identified in newspapers of the time. The district’s first school was opened at Tylden South in 1858 by the Wesleyan Church and another in 1861 by the Presbyterian Church. The churches were centres for the community, a place for the most important events of life such as christenings, wedding and funerals. Apart from having a regular Sunday service for the parishioners, they conducted sports days, fairs, bazaars, dances, and concerts.

Tylden was named after Brigadier-General William Burton Tylden (1790-1854) who died of cholera during the Crimean War. He is buried in St. Mary’s Churchyard, Eastling, England and words on his headstone read: “In memory of his religious and consistent character.”
Religious belief was at the forefront of life in Tylden. By the 1860s, four church denominations were – Anglican, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic and Baptist churches are all identified in newspapers of the time. The district’s first school was opened at Tylden South in 1858 by the Wesleyan Church and another in 1861 by the Presbyterian Church.
The churches were centres for the community, a place for the most important events of life such as christenings, wedding and funerals. Apart from having a regular Sunday service for the parishioners, they conducted sports days, fairs, bazaars, dances, and concerts.
On April 9, 1864, the Woodside Church Bazaar was advertised in the Kyneton Guardian. Items included a seal skin, saddle straps, stuffed birds, an eight-day clock and some ginger beer. On November 24, 1892 the Presbyterian Church advertised its upcoming Cake and Apron Fair.

The following is a brief overview of the four churches in Tylden from their beginnings.
Holy Trinity Anglican Church/Church of England: The congregation began in 1860 and the trustees of the land in 1866 were the Reverend George Oakley Vance, Alfred Helder Clayton, John Chanter, James Sturges Edwards and Thomas Finnamore. The church was built before 1872 and closed in 1935. The building was moved to Merrigum in 1936, where it was used as a Sunday school and parish hall and then later demolished.
St Laurence O’Toole Roman Catholic Church: A temporary land reservation was set aside on August 10, 1863. The congregation began in 1863 and the timber church was built in 1870. In 1872, the trustees of the land are listed as the Right Reverend J. A. Goold, the Reverend Horatio Geohegan, Patrick Lyons and Patrick Fitzgerald. It closed in the 1950s after 80 plus years of service to the congregation. It is now a private residence. Pictured above left.
Woodside Interdenominational/Baptist Church: Opened in December 1859 with the Reverend Ingram Moody as pastor until his death in 1895. The church operated for over 50 years, closing in 1913. In 1922, the building was loaded onto a trailer and relocated to Altona by a steam tractor. It was used by the Altona Baptist Church for many years as their place of worship and eventually had to be demolished. Pictured above right.
St Andrews Presbyterian/Uniting Church: Land was gazetted for this church on April 3, 1865, and the trustees of the land were John Glenn, Peter Alexander Sinclair, Thomas Anderson Ewing, William Middlemiss and David Watson. In 1868, funds were being raised to erect a church via donations or subscriptions and the community rallied to provide almost enough funds to build. A small loan was secured by the church to complete the building. The foundation stone was laid December 9, 1868 with newspapers and coins being placed under the stone. In 1934 Miss Sarah Ann Glenn, who had been an organist and Sunday School teacher for 43 years, was honoured with a brass tablet laid at the church. Pictured lower right.
The members of the Tylden Uniting Church celebrated 150 years of worship and witness of the Presbyterian and Uniting churches at Tylden at a special service of worship on Sunday, November 18, 2018. Participating in the service were the Reverend George Buckle, Reverend Lorene Day and Reverend Deacon Wendy Elson. The preacher was Rev Max Woolcock. Tylden still holds a Sunday Service at 9.30am.