The Lilydale Academy SDA Church was officially organised on Sabbath 12 November 1966 at a meeting at the Academy, chaired by Pastor Leo Rose, Victorian Conference President, with 34 charter members.
After consultation with boarding students in 2000 about their wish to attend Sabbath services at Lilydale Church instead of conducting them at the Academy, the matter was discussed at a Church Business Meeting on 7 June 2000, and it was voted to advise the students that they will continue to attend Sabbath services at Lilydale Church. Adult members of the Academy Church wished to continue worshipping as a church in the Girls’ Chapel. Pr Ken Mead, a retired pastor, was requested to be the Church Pastor in a voluntary capacity.
Lilydale Academy Church has had a huge impact on the local community with small gift cards and cards distributed to neighbourhood fathers and mothers on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, from 1997. The church provided financial support to Road to Bethlehem yearly, and periodically for ADRA disaster relief; It was involved in sponsorship and mail-out of Signs magazine to non-Adventist Academy student families and Spirit of Tasmania; The church was also involved in coordinating Harold Waldrip’s community Diabetes Health Seminar in 2009.
After the church had been closed for all of 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions the future of the church was discussed at length. Sadly, due to dwindling numbers and ageing of current members it was finally voted to close the Academy Church at a Business Meeting on 3 February 2022.
Toni Bolst
Former member of Lilydale Academy Church