What does "Foursquare" mean?Ezekiel 1:10 - The prophet Ezekiel's vision of God
"As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle." Our founder, Aimee Semple McPherson had the following revelation of this verse: |
We are a Foursquare churchFounder Aimee Semple McPherson, who was also known as "Sister", started her ministry at the age of 20 in America. Robert Semple, an evangelist, asked her to marry him. Before her 20th birthday, she and her husband of less than two years, went on a missionary trip to China. What started out as a glorious adventure ended with the tragic death of her husband three months after their arrival. Aimee returned to the United States.
Shortly after returning home, Aimee met and married a businessman, Harold McPherson. She tried to settle down to a "normal" home-life, but the call to Christian service remained constant. Growing weaker and weaker from sickness, Aimee, while on her deathbed answered "yes" again to God's call. Almost immediately thereafter, she was healed. Sister McPherson, went on to be with the Lord, 27th September 1944. Fast forward to today, known casually as Foursquare, it has over 8.8 million members in over 90,000 churches across 146 nations. |
The first Foursquare church in Western Australia
The Church of the Foursquare Gospel in Australia Inc., is the Western Australian branch of the denomination in Australia. In the early 1950’s Elmer & Jean Darnell moved to Perth as missionaries and commenced Gospel meetings, set-up churches and a bible college (since closed).
In the mid 1950’s, the Gospel Light House was built in Armagh Street, Victoria Park by church member’s sacrificial donations to the building program. Other churches followed in Morley and other urban and country areas from Albany, to Bunbury, Manjimup, Katanning, to Geraldton and other places. By 1960, the Gospel Light House Church had around 400 in the congregation. The church moved in 1998 to its present location and was renamed The White House Community Church. |
The White House Community Church property
Original called Riverside, a magnificent estate of 320 acres on the Canning River was built in as grand a style by W. G. Brookman, a millionaire mayor of Perth and Member of Parliament back in the rollicking gold-rush days of the 1890's. It was his country estate because he wanted to live in the grand manner. Old photographs showed it surrounded by 15 cottages, stables and coach houses.
The lovely country estate with its grand, lofty ballroom, its beautify trees and its rococo band rotunda on the lawns outside the ballroom went into gradual decline after the Brookman's dramatically left Perth in financial difficulty about 1901.
The residence was, which was described as one of the "most famous of West Australian homes' of 'eight rooms beautifully furnished and decorated including a ballroom or billiard room" was sold between 1915 and 1919 and occupied by the Turton family.
The lovely country estate with its grand, lofty ballroom, its beautify trees and its rococo band rotunda on the lawns outside the ballroom went into gradual decline after the Brookman's dramatically left Perth in financial difficulty about 1901.
The residence was, which was described as one of the "most famous of West Australian homes' of 'eight rooms beautifully furnished and decorated including a ballroom or billiard room" was sold between 1915 and 1919 and occupied by the Turton family.
In the early 1920s until the mid 1930s the place was owned and occupied by Alexander Stuart Cameron (c.1864-1934), a successful sheep farmer from Scotland. Before retiring to Perth, Riverview wasrenamed "Milla Withy" as homage to the Wolgoola Sheep Station. In 1923, Alexander Cargill, a master mariner, also of Montrose, Scotland was residing at 'Milla Withy Vale' of Cannington. Following his death in 1934 the property continued to be occupied by Alexander's sister, Margaret Ann Cameron.
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During the late 1950s or early 1960s the place became known as "The White House" and for many years was a reception and function centre and a popular venue for weddings, birthdays and engagement parties. In 1998, the complex was sold to the Church of Foursquare Gospel in Australia Inc. for use as a church meeting place.
Over the years the place has been extended and renovated, but parts of the original homestead are still visible.
Over the years the place has been extended and renovated, but parts of the original homestead are still visible.