continued ... A little over two years later, Bishop Broughton set out again on a visitation of the North ... The 1845 Journey ~ September 17, 1845 : Left by steam-packet for Hunter's River, and spent some days at the Allyn arranging for the completion of the Church. Then proceeded by way of Glendon, Singleton, Ravensworth and Muswell Brook to Scone, where on Sunday, October 5 [the Bishop], consecrated St. Luke's Church (which had been licensed for services on November 4, 1841, before being ready for consecration). The sermon was preached by the Rev. CAMERON (Singleton), who with the Rev. F. GORE of Muswellbrook acted as Chaplains, while the Incumbent, The Rev. J. MORSE, acted as Chancellor and Mr. R. BLIGH, C.P.S., as Register. Confirmation was held in the afternoon, and "on the following morning I commenced my journey alone beyond the boundaries, Murrurundi, the last township within the limits". October 7 : Left Murrurundi by a road merely formed by the passage of drays, and about midday reached a "house of entertainment" and rested some hours. The accomodation was not luxurious, "but it is a maxim that fastidious persons are quite unfitted for new countries". October 8 : at Tamworth, then on to Armidale (spent the week there). October 19 (Sunday) : Returned via MacDonald River; Farnworth where on the 23rd, he preached to a large congregation and baptised several children; the 24th, Goonoo-gono (which the Aust. Agricultural Company Chaplain from Port Stephens visits occasionally), where the Bishop also had a service and baptisms; Currabubla, and on the 26th Murrurundi. "The latter is a populous ill-regulated neighbourhood, where the residence of an active Clergyman would do very much to the public good". Conducted two services in the Court-House. Noted that "there are 120 children around without a school". Mr. MORSE comes up (from Scone) every two months, "but it is from the residence of a good Clergyman and not from his few occasional visits that I look for general improvement among the people". October 27 : To Puen Buen "where so much passed as I trust may lead to the erection on the banks of Dart Brook, of a small chapel- of-ease to the Church of Scone". Next day at Muswellbrook, with Mr. GORE at the Parsonage. (A license had been granted on March 1, 1844, to hold services in the new edifice built here by the inhabitants aided by the Colonial Government). But on this journey north, [the Bishop] had noticed frightful cracks in the wall, which "arose from the weight of the roof injudiciously laid upon walls unequal to support it". He suggested plans for arresting ill-consequences, and finding on the return journey that preparations were made to carry these out, he proceeded with the consecration of St. Albans Church, on the 29th October. The Clergymen from Scone and Singleton as well as the Rev. F. GORE, the Incumbent, were present. 15 persons were confirmed in the afternoon. October 30 : To Ravensworth, and the next day with the Trustees inspected the Church of St. Clement at Falbrook - one of the many buildings suspended in 1842 through want of funds. At the time [the Bishop] felt he would never see it completed, but now, "it is proceeding so steadily that we may calculate on its being fit for consecration within twelve months". "The Tower will be a striking object". "The Rev. J. COOPER of Jerry's Plains preaches in the School-house just across the brook and has regular and numerous congregation". November 1 : At Singleton, held service in temporary chapel, consisting of two rooms of a house (rented as arranged on the 1843 journey); 20 confirmees; also laid the foundation stone of All Saints' Church. This was most gratifying because of [his] previous ineffectual attempts during 15 years to get a Church here. On to Jerry's Plains where on November 2nd held Confirmation. The temperature was 104º. "The school-house in which divine service is held is several miles from the Clergyman's abode". November 3 : At Glendon; arrangements made for the conveyance of land for the site of a Church and Burial Ground. "At present Mr. CAMERON officiates on alternate Sunday afternoons, but experience shows that the want of a place of public worship operates against success". November 4 : To the Upper Allyn where the Bishop stayed with his family until the 9th. His daughter, Phoebe, had been married on April 18, 1844 to Mr. W.B. BOYDELL of Caergwrle, Upper Allyn. November 9 : Began a short tour. Preached at Gresford and went on to West Maitland; Confirmation there on the 12th and at East Maitland the next day; the 14th at Black Creek (Branxton) for a meeting about erecting a Church and stationing a Clergyman. "Since that time I have had reason to hope that the inhabitants at and about Harper's Hill at a distance of six miles, will also erect a Church and a Parsonage for a Clergyman who may have charge of both parishes", - (the future Parish of Lochinvar); the 15th, across to Wollombi, where the next day, assisted by the Rev. R.T. BOLTON, took a Confirmation service in the Court House, and later with a local Church Committee, selected sites for the Church and Cemetery, arrangements for erecting a Church being in a state of forwardness; in the evening took a service at a Station ten miles distant (Millfield); the 17th, consecrated the Burial Ground at Glendon; and next day returned to the Allyn. November 19-25 : on the Upper Allyn, taking part in the completion of the Church, which was consecrated on the 26th in the name of St. Mary the Virgin, the Reverends J.J. SMITH, C.P.N WILTON, W. STACK, R.T BOLTON and C. SPENCER assisting in the service. The Church measured 38 by 17 feet internally. "It is a humble structure; the walls but 9 ft. high, built of the grey granite found in the bed of the river; but the general style and appearance are so Church-like, that it cannot be mistaken for anything but what it is - a house set apart for the worship of God who was in Christ". Confirmation to 28 in the afternoon. "The Church is within the district, and for the present, must remain in charge of the Rev. J.J. SMITH of Paterson". November 27 : Consecrated the Church of St. Paul (Paterson), with the adjoining burial-ground; and in the afternoon held a Confirmation. This Church is a solid capacious stone building, fitted up with great care internally". December 3 : To Hinton where [the Bishop] met the Church Committee when it was determined to proceed with the building which the increasing population urgently requires; and next day held Confirmation at Raymond Terrace in the temporary building still used as a Church. December 5 : At Newcastle. "With Mr. WILTON went across to Stockton, a village of recent formation, but which from the establishment of manufactures of salt and woollen, and of cast iron, has already risen to importance, and is rapidly increasing. Here a considerable assemblage of people was collected to witness the ceremony of laying the foundation of a Church to be named St. Andrew's". (The Church was intended to have 550 sittings, with galleries). December 7, Sunday : At the services in Christ Church, Newcastle. Returned to Sydney on the 9th (after an absence of 12 weeks). Extracts from the 'Diocese of Newcastle' by A.P. Elkin (p. 116-121) to be continued ... Diane