October 7, 1817 - First Methodist Church in Australia Established

North American Methodist preachers and evangelists were accustomed to “preaching the circuit” to several churches within a given area. Depending on the location and distance, a circuit could take weeks or even months to complete. Australian Methodist leaders were no different, and on October 7, 1817, Samuel Leigh began the first Methodist church in Castlereagh. His circuit would later include thirteen churches.