Buckland, TAS - St John the Baptist Anglican

Denomination: Anglican

Saint: John the Baptist

Address: 1 Duke Street, Buckland, Tasmania, 7190

Architect: Richard Cromwell Carpenter

Last Updated: 28/03/2023

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History and Architecture:

On 22nd March, 1846, Mr. Cox conducted the first Service in the Buckland Parish, and the only place in which it could be held was the local Police Station. as conducting his Services in a solid little stone Sunday School, and as if this were not enough, the foundation stone had been laid of a Church, which was in later years to be known far and wide for its beauty of design and solidity of construction.

The Church was Consecrated on 15th January, 1850.

Considerable controversy had arisen with reference to the age and origin of the very beautiful East Window of St. John's. The only authentic reference to the origin of the window is the report in the "Hobart Town Courier" of Wednesday, 15th January, 1850, which claims they are "the work of Mr. O'Connor, a London artist." The East Window is of such outstanding quality that several legendary stories are current with regard to its origin, the salient points of which are that it was buried for safety dur-ing the Cromwellian Rebellion, that it was connected with a Church built by William the Conqueror, and that it was sent out to Tasmania by the Marquis of Salisbury.

Two gate posts have inscriptions that read, " A.M.D.G. In memory of Silas Alfred Gatehouse 1872 - 1951 fifth son of John and Charlotte 1817 - 1898 1838 1911 and a grandson of Clement and Dinah 1783 - 1864 1784 - 1858".

On the other gate post the inscription reads, " And in memory of Florence Nelson Gatehouse His eldest daughter who died at Brockley on 9th August 1957. Steadfast and true  and his wife Anne  1877 - 1985".

The Church was purchased by the local community in December 2022.

Clergy:

This list may not contain every serving cleric, past or present, for this church.
Further submissions welcomed.

Years Name Annotation D.o.B D.o.D
1846 - 1848 Rev Frederick Holdship Cox
1848 - 1878 Rev C. Dobson
1878 - 1882 Rev C. Power
1882 - 1883 Rev H. C. Hancock
1884 - 1888 Rev H. T. Tranma
1888 - 1890 Mr T. Pitt Lay Reader
1890 - 1895 Rev H. W. Root
1895 - 1896 Rev C. F. Seymour
1896 - 1898 Rev E G. Barry
1898 - 1910 Rev T. Pitt
1910 - 1914 Rev W. Earle 1862 1944
1914 - 1921 Rev J. W. Devenish
1921 - 1921 Rev J. Wills
1921 - 1923 Rev E W. Julien 1877 1938
1923 - 1924 Rev William Pascoe Langmaid 1891 1971
1924 - 1926 Rev W. Hooker
1926 - 1938 Rev A. S. Drewett 1883 1960
1938 - 1944 Rev H. M. Maddock 1898 1989
1944 - 1948 Rev L B. Browning
1948 - 1955 Rev R. D. Tyson
1955 - 1958 Rev Eric Lionel Phillips 1910 1981
1958 - 1963 Rev R. N. Fox
1963 - 1965 Rev Sidney Gordon Allison 1895 1977
1966 - 1967 Rev J. h Holland
1967 - 1970 Rev David Rien
1970 - 1972 Rev M. Johnson
1972 - 1979 Rev B. B. Hutchison
1979 - 1981 Rev D. Le Rossignol
1981 - Rev G. Hawkins

Organ:

No information currently available. Submissions welcomed.

Source:

1. Parish of Buckland Tasmania Church of St John the Baptist history of Church and Window
2. Centenary of Buckland Parish 1846 - 1946.
3. Cable Clerical Index.