United Welsh Church

The beautiful mansion Brynhyfryd (the Castle) situated at the top of Blackstone Hill was the home of the ‘Coal King’ Welshman Lewis Thomas and his wife, Ann. Thomas was a major owner and developer of coalmines in this area who endowed both the United Welsh Church and the Blackstone-Ipswich Cambrian Choir, and he was a founder and benefactor of the Eisteddfod movement in Queensland.

In 1883 a number of people arrived in the Ipswich area from Wales, many settling in Blackstone. Robert and David Davies attended services at the Wesleyan Church in Ipswich and upon hearing that there was a vacant Church at Newtown they sought permission to use the building for Welsh Services. On 19 July 1883 the first Welsh services were held in this building.

Lewis Thomas offered a house for services in Blackstone and meetings were held in the residence for many years. When the congregation outgrew the residence, Lewis Thomas provided land for a new Church building. The United Welsh Church at Blackstone constructed by Worley and Whitehead and designed by architect Samuel Shenton was completed by 1 October 1886.