Maffra, VIC - St John's Anglican
Year Built: 1871
Denomination: Anglican
Address: 16 Church Street, Maffra, Victoria, 3860
Architect: Unknown
Traditional Owners: Brayakaulung Tribe
Last Updated: 06/06/2022
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History and Architecture:
In 1868 the government had granted one and three-quarter acres of land to the Church of England for church purposes. This land, bounded by Boisdale, Princess, and King Streets, was thought by the Church Committee to be too far from the centre of town. So in May 1871 two half-acre blocks in Church Street were bought from a member of the Committee, Mr Fritz Schroeder.
Mr James Shingles made the bricks for this first church at his quarry on the hill in Gibney Street. 52,000 plain bricks were used in the construction, costing 30/- a thousand. There were also 3000 fancy bricks at 55/- a thousand.' Some of these old Maffra bricks can be seen in the present church, as they were re-used to form the buttresses. Although Joseph Waters of Sale was the builder his contract was for labour only.
A Foundation stone reads, " t John's Church The Foundation stone of the first church was laid by Mrs H. Gordon Glassford of Mewborn Park on September 1st 1871. This stone was laid by her Daughter Miss Gordon Glassford on February 3rd 1900. Laus Deo".
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 - 1875 | Mr E Apps | Lay Reader | ||
| 1875 - 1878 | Rev J. Allen | |||
| 1878 - 1887 | Rev Josiah Hollis | 1826 | 1887 | |
| 1887 - 1892 | Rev Fresewick Burnett Sharp | 1846 | 1934 | |
| 1893 - 1898 | Rev D. R. Hewton | |||
| 1898 - 1904 | Rev W. Parkes | |||
| 1904 - 1919 | Archdeacon E. F. Pelletier | |||
| 1919 - 1924 | Archdeacon David William Weir | 1875 | 1943 | |
| 1924 - 1932 | Archdeacon Karl Egbert Hamilton | 1883 | 1958 | |
| 1933 - 1936 | Rev J. H. Brown | |||
| 1936 - 1946 | Rev L Sawtell | |||
| 1947 - 1952 | Rev Frederick William Hipkin | 1901 | 1987 | |
| 1952 - 1963 | Archdeacon L W.A. Benn | |||
| 1963 - 1976 | Canon A. Weston | |||
| 1976 - | Rev P. B. Moore |
Organ:
No information currently available. Submissions welcomed.
Source:
1. Light and Life, A History of the Anglican Church in Gippsland
2. The First St Johns Maffra Church and People 1870 - 1900 J.T. Connelly LH 283.9456 CON.