A photograph of Reverend James Francis standing outside the Christ Church of the Drouin Anglican Parish.
The timber building on the corner of Albert Rd and Grant St is surrounded by forest gums.
Rev Francis was the first "resident incumbent" of Drouin in 1885.
The Anglican and Protestant churches began in the town of Brandy Creek in the 1870s. At this time, Brandy Creek was the coach stop and centre of the district, surrounded by forest and bush.
The Gippsland Forest Mission served a large area from Berwick to Moe and San Remo to Neerim.
Services were initially conducted in private homes until land was donated for a small building of split palings and shingle roof. It was replaced in 1896 by a "more suitable" timber building.
This was moved to Buln Buln in 1930 and remains in use today.
As Drouin Junction - known as Drouin from 1878 - grew, the centre of the district shifted away from Brandy Creek. The completion of the railway cemented this.
The first Anglican services in Drouin began in 1877 in temporary school buildings, Murphy's grain store, the first shire offices and then the Mechanics' Institute, until a building could be erected for worship.
The land on the corner of Albert Rd and Grant St was donated by Maryann Higgs of a pioneering family.
The building was completed and dedicated in 1880.
A rectory was built next to the church as a residence for the appointed minister.
With the district and township growing, further land was purchased on the corner of Main St and Francis Ave. The church building was moved by bullock teams to the new site.
Next week's "Snapshot of the Past" will focus on this story.
Photograph and information courtesy of Stories of Drouin, a cooperative oral history project between The Committee for Drouin, Drouin History Group and 3BBR FM to preserve local stories.
Visit storiesofdrouin.com.au to learn more about the history of Christ Church in Drouin.