continued ... Looking back over Bishop Broughton's journeys of 1840, 1843 and 1845, we see that he considered Murrurundi and Cassilis needed clergymen, that Merava (Merriwa) would be an appropriate centre for one at some time in the near future that Harper's Hill and Black Creek should form a parish, and that Gresford and the Upper Allyn would become a separate parish some time in the future. He consecrated St. James, Morpeth; St. Mary's, West Maitland; St. Peter's, East Maitland; St. Luke's, Scone; St. Alban's, Muswellbrook; St. Mary-on-Allyn; and St. Paul's, Paterson. In addition he laid the foundation stones of St. Clement's, Fal-Brook; St. Mark's, Hexham; All Saint's, Singleton; and St. Andrew's Stockton; and provided for the commencement of churches at Armidale (St. Peter's), Puen Buen, Jerry's Plains, Wollombi, Balck Creek, Harper's Hill, Gresford, Hinton and Raymond Terrace. In some instances, ten and more years were to elapse before the buildings would be finished, indeed even started, the depression of the 1840's being a very potent cause of the delay. But he did all he could by personal contact and appeal, and by grants from the overseas funds at his disposal, to encourage local residents to make such subscriptions that the government grants could be obtained, and the necessary church buildings erected. In spite of disappointments, he continued to work to this end, as his letter of January 5, 1847, to the (Sydney) Diocesan Committee shows ... "Owing to my extended visitation during the year 1845, there was no part of the Northern and Middle Districts in which I could hope to stimulate the inhabitants to any fresh undertakings in addition to such as had been decided on during my previous visits; and therefore my attention has been principally directed to superintending and encouraging the completion of measures which had been already organized". Thus on Hunter's River, "the building at Hexham which had been so long commenced as a temporary Church, and standing incomplete, is now in the course of being finished and fitted up. At Wollombi, the Church which was agreed upon during my last visit, is advancing very satisfactorily. At Raymond Terrace, as much progress as the funds at present obtainable will permit, has been made in the erection of a Chancel to the Church, and it may be hoped that at no very distant date an increase of resources will lead to its completion". "At Lostock on the Upper Paterson, the settlers have made a very praiseworthy effort to provide themselves with a School and Chapel". (This School-Church was opened on December 6, 1846, by the Rev. F.W. ADAMS, who had succeeded the Rev. J.J. SMITH after the latter's death by accident earlier that year). "I have nominated the School-master to read the service and a sermon when the Clergyman cannot attend". With no late information from Jerry's Plains, "I trust that the Church (there) is being completed. I also look forward to the completion of St. Clement's Church at Falbrook, but only by gradual and persevering efforts. At Singleton, the works at All Saint's were much impeded during the drought by the want of draught oxen to convey the material", but building is again in progress. "At Muswellbrook, the additon of the tower has added to the sightliness and security of the edifice". At Armidale, the walls are nearly ready for the roof. Some materials have been provided "but total exhaustion of funds has for the present compelled me to suspend the progress of the works". To sum up, the continual quiet progress is evident from one end of the Colony to the other. By 1847, only twenty six years after the appointment of the first chaplain to the region, the Hunter Valley had been provided with a well-founded parochial organization. Eleven parishes had been established, and preliminary steps taken and developments indicated that would lead to several more, such as Harper's Hill (Lochinvar), Murrurundi, Cassilis, Merriwa (eventually), the Upper Paterson (when possible) and Wollombi (the inclusion in Hexham being only an expedient). By 1847, too, there were eight consecrated churches, while several were in the process of erection, such as Singleton, Falbrook, Jerry's Plains, Wollombi, Raymond Terrace, Hexham and Lostock (school- church); and preliminary steps had been taken with regard to others, for example Black Creek, Lochinvar and Cockfighter's Creek. Parsonages had been erected in almost all of the parishes, and school- houses in many of the smaller centres as well as in the main townships. In addition, similar measures had been taken at Brisbane Water, Kincumber (St. Paul's opened 1847), MacDonald River, Stroud (where the church given by Sir Edward PARRY was complete, but not consecrated until 1851, being regarded as a chapel until then), Carrington (Port Stephens, dedicated 1847), Port Macquarie (with its Church of St. Thomas), the Clarence and Richmond Rivers, Armidale and Moreton Bay. Thus an adequate foundation was laid for the Northern Diocese of Newcastle, created in that year - 1847; and a sure one, because grounded in the conviction of devoted service and faith, as manifested by the Bishop, his clergy and many loyal laymen and women. Extracts from the 'Diocese of Newcastle' by A.P. Elkin (p. 121-124) The end :) Diane

Diane, Thank you for sharing this interesting information. Isabelle -----Original Message----- From: Diane [mailto:dianep@optushome.com.au] Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2002 10:22 PM To: AUS-NSW-HILLS-HAWKESBURY-HUNTER-VALLEY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [H,H,HV] Church Work (C. of E.) in the Hunter Valley, 1840's (Part 5) continued ... Looking back over Bishop Broughton's journeys of 1840, 1843 and 1845, we see that he considered Murrurundi and Cassilis needed clergymen, that Merava (Merriwa) would be an appropriate centre for one at some time in the near future that Harper's Hill and Black Creek should form a parish, and that Gresford and the Upper Allyn would become a separate parish some time in the future. He consecrated St. James, Morpeth; St. Mary's, West Maitland; St. Peter's, East Maitland; St. Luke's, Scone; St. Alban's, Muswellbrook; St. Mary-on-Allyn; and St. Paul's, Paterson. In addition he laid the foundation stones of St. Clement's, Fal-Brook; St. Mark's, Hexham; All Saint's, Singleton; and St. Andrew's Stockton; and provided for the commencement of churches at Armidale (St. Peter's), Puen Buen, Jerry's Plains, Wollombi, Balck Creek, Harper's Hill, Gresford, Hinton and Raymond Terrace. In some instances, ten and more years were to elapse before the buildings would be finished, indeed even started, the depression of the 1840's being a very potent cause of the delay. But he did all he could by personal contact and appeal, and by grants from the overseas funds at his disposal, to encourage local residents to make such subscriptions that the government grants could be obtained, and the necessary church buildings erected. In spite of disappointments, he continued to work to this end, as his letter of January 5, 1847, to the (Sydney) Diocesan Committee shows ... "Owing to my extended visitation during the year 1845, there was no part of the Northern and Middle Districts in which I could hope to stimulate the inhabitants to any fresh undertakings in addition to such as had been decided on during my previous visits; and therefore my attention has been principally directed to superintending and encouraging the completion of measures which had been already organized". Thus on Hunter's River, "the building at Hexham which had been so long commenced as a temporary Church, and standing incomplete, is now in the course of being finished and fitted up. At Wollombi, the Church which was agreed upon during my last visit, is advancing very satisfactorily. At Raymond Terrace, as much progress as the funds at present obtainable will permit, has been made in the erection of a Chancel to the Church, and it may be hoped that at no very distant date an increase of resources will lead to its completion". "At Lostock on the Upper Paterson, the settlers have made a very praiseworthy effort to provide themselves with a School and Chapel". (This School-Church was opened on December 6, 1846, by the Rev. F.W. ADAMS, who had succeeded the Rev. J.J. SMITH after the latter's death by accident earlier that year). "I have nominated the School-master to read the service and a sermon when the Clergyman cannot attend". With no late information from Jerry's Plains, "I trust that the Church (there) is being completed. I also look forward to the completion of St. Clement's Church at Falbrook, but only by gradual and persevering efforts. At Singleton, the works at All Saint's were much impeded during the drought by the want of draught oxen to convey the material", but building is again in progress. "At Muswellbrook, the additon of the tower has added to the sightliness and security of the edifice". At Armidale, the walls are nearly ready for the roof. Some materials have been provided "but total exhaustion of funds has for the present compelled me to suspend the progress of the works". To sum up, the continual quiet progress is evident from one end of the Colony to the other. By 1847, only twenty six years after the appointment of the first chaplain to the region, the Hunter Valley had been provided with a well-founded parochial organization. Eleven parishes had been established, and preliminary steps taken and developments indicated that would lead to several more, such as Harper's Hill (Lochinvar), Murrurundi, Cassilis, Merriwa (eventually), the Upper Paterson (when possible) and Wollombi (the inclusion in Hexham being only an expedient). By 1847, too, there were eight consecrated churches, while several were in the process of erection, such as Singleton, Falbrook, Jerry's Plains, Wollombi, Raymond Terrace, Hexham and Lostock (school- church); and preliminary steps had been taken with regard to others, for example Black Creek, Lochinvar and Cockfighter's Creek. Parsonages had been erected in almost all of the parishes, and school- houses in many of the smaller centres as well as in the main townships. In addition, similar measures had been taken at Brisbane Water, Kincumber (St. Paul's opened 1847), MacDonald River, Stroud (where the church given by Sir Edward PARRY was complete, but not consecrated until 1851, being regarded as a chapel until then), Carrington (Port Stephens, dedicated 1847), Port Macquarie (with its Church of St. Thomas), the Clarence and Richmond Rivers, Armidale and Moreton Bay. Thus an adequate foundation was laid for the Northern Diocese of Newcastle, created in that year - 1847; and a sure one, because grounded in the conviction of devoted service and faith, as manifested by the Bishop, his clergy and many loyal laymen and women. Extracts from the 'Diocese of Newcastle' by A.P. Elkin (p. 121-124) The end :) Diane ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237