continued ... Two interesting documents in Australian Church history are the "Two Journals of Visitation to the Northern and Southern Portions of His Diocese by the Lord Bishop of Australia", published in 1843 and 1845. They served as reports of church work in Australia, and indicated the manner in which the Bishop was using the Society's grants. The following are summaries of those sections of the two Journals covering the Bishop's visits to the Hunter Valley ... The 1843 Journey ~ 1843 : On June 16 [the Bishop was] at Morpeth, staying at Mr. CLOSE's, and preached at St. Peter's, East Maitland, and St. James' Morpeth, on Sunday the 18th. "The Parsonage house is nearly complete, but unfortunately is still unoccupied". June 19 : At Paterson, where the Parsonage, enlarged through the liberality of the S.P.G., is now a comfortable dwelling. The next day at Cam-yr-Allyn (Gresford), and the day after at William BOYDELL's on the Upper Allyn, where a small church is required. On the 22nd, selected a site for this Church and arranged for fencing and building. (The Bishop was especially interested in this Church, for his daughter, Phoebe, was engaged to marry Mr. W. BOYDELL and to live on the Upper Allyn). June 23 : Held a meeting at Gresford to consider the erection of a Church there, and spent the next day designing the two Churches. [He] reflected that " in this county of Durham, one third of the Colony in point of population and with over 3,500 belonging to the C. of E., there is not a Church completed. The insensibility and neglect of the inhabitants is very distressing to contemplate". June 25 : Held Divine Service in a store in Gresford. The Rev. J.J. SMITH visits here fortnightly. The store had never been used as such, and so [the Bishop] had the counters removed and a portion railed off at one end for the Communion Table, for the Lord's Supper to be administered with somewhat more decency than hitherto; "still left an impression of regret and shame upon my mind, to reflect that the ordinances and holy mysteries of our faith should be coupled with circumstances which would almost seem like degredation. Juster impressions, however, appear to be springing up". 120 present at the service, and 25 or 30 in the afternoon at Cam-yr-Allyn. June 27 : Confirmation in School room at Paterson. June 28 : Consecrated the Church of St. Mary the Virgin at West Maitland. "It is a stone building with pointed windows, of no legitimate style or proportions, and an open roof. Externally the building has nothing to characterize it as a Church; not having a tower; nor even the symbol of the Cross". It was, however, well fitted up, and would hold between 300 and 400. June 29 : Consecrated at St. Peter's Church, East Maitland. "The Church" is a stone edifice with square headed windows and flat ceiling; without tower, porch, chancel, or any external signs to denote the sacred purposes to which it is appropriate. Confirmed 54 in it on the 30th, and 38 at St. Mary's on July 1. July 2 : Preached at St. Mary's in the morning and in the afternoon in a barn at Harper's Hill. Passed on through Dalwood and (July 3) Glendon to Singleton where [he was] entertained by the CAMERON's. July 4 : [Reflected that] this was his 8th visit to Singleton since 1830, and still nothing was satisfactory. The walls of the School-house were nearly finished but the project was in debt. Held a meeting to consider this and the building of a Church and Parsonage. After spending two days writing, inspected the School-house and cemetery on July 7 and on the 8th, hired for £40 p.a. for two years, a building with a large room to be fitted up for services. July 9 : Preached in Court-House to 150, and went on 12 miles to Ravensworth; saw the unfinished Church at Falbrook - an edifice of stone of good design, but being at a standstill - for want of funds - with its walls at three-quarters height, presents a melancholy spectacle. Held service on the verandah at Ravensworth. After a day lost through rain, went to Eden Glassie on July 11, and to Muswellbrook on July 12, where [the Bishop] took practical steps to establish Mr. GORE as Incumbent. The walls of the Church finished, and the parsonage roofed, but both buildings held up through want of funds. Passed on through St. Heliers, crossed the river at Aberdeen, and arrived at Scone. July 13 : With Mr. MORSE, and next day "visited the few scattered huts in the village, and endeavoured by exhortation to awaken the people to a more becoming sense of their religious duties. Great insensibility prevailing, and little apparent impression produced on any". July 15 : "Consecrated the Church Yard. The Church is not finished internally; but it is a large commodious building of brick, rather awkwardly designed, but substantially built, and at my suggestion, aided by a grant from the Society, is provided with a small chancel. There is also a neat vestry. Parsonage is a respectable and neat brick house". With Mr. MORSE went on to Murrurundi, staying at a small inn there. Next day, July 16, preached to 30 in the Court House - the first Church of England service held here; arranged for Mr. MORSE to visit monthly. (This became bi-monthly). Fixed a site for a Church. "Many restless and disorderly characters appear to be settled in the neighbourhood". "A resident clergyman is very much needed here". July 17 : Took a baptism in a hut, and went on to Puen-Ben, where [the Bishop] met a settler from New England, and discussed with him the stationing of a Clergyman up there. Next day, with Mr. MORSE inspected site set apart by Archdeacon SCOTT near Kauga for a burial ground. Then went on alone to Muswellbrook; where [he] arranged the renting of a house for the Rev. W.F. GORE, "the population of this town and neighbourhood being such as to render the residence of a Clergyman quite indispensable". Continued to Eden Glassie, and the 19th by a solitary by-road to Wollen Hills, where [the Bishop] met by appointment Mr. JENKINS from Jerry's Plains to discuss the appointment of a Clergyman. Mr. STACK of West Maitland had held meetings there, but insufficient money had been collected, "and now they have little money". July 20 : On the road to Cassilis; stopping at shepherds' huts, arranged for some to go to Merton where Mr. GORE would hold weekly services. Stayed at Peberdy's Inn; conducted a service and baptism. July 21 : Towards Collaroy; stopped at Blaxlands near the proposed village of Merava . This would be a good centre for a Clergyman if it ever became practicable to station one in the district. Selected a burial place. July 22 : To Collaroy; service next day, and on the 24th go to Llangollen, near Cassilis. Next day, inspected site of village on Munmurra Creek, and discussed the raising of funds for building a Church and supporting a Clergyman. [The Bishop reflected that] in the three counties of Brisbane, Bligh and Phillip there were 1,500 Church of England people, not to mention other Christians, and if they were neglected, heathenism would result. (July 26 : The Bishop moved on to Tongey; on the 28th was at Mudgee, August 2, at Bathurst, and on August 9 back home, after an absence of nearly 8 weeks). Extracts from the 'Diocese of Newcastle' by A.P. Elkin (p. 112-116) to be continued ... Diane