Mudgee, NSW - St John the Baptist Anglican
Year Built: 1860
Denomination: Anglican
Saint: John the Baptist
Address: 6 Church Street, Mudgee, New South Wales, 2850
Architect: Weaver & Kemp
Traditional Owners: Wiradjuri people
Last Updated: 31/03/2024
Click on the image to view larger (3 photos)
History and Architecture:
Influential men in Mudgee recognised the need for a permanent church to be built and a meeting was called. An amount of six hundred pounds was raised and a building committee was formed. In just over three years the first church of St John the Baptist was designed and built. On 16th May 1841 St John's was consecrated by the Bishop of Australia William Grant Broughton. It was demolished in 1860. It was 60 feet x 40 and seated 200 people.
Influential men in Mudgee recognised the need for a permanent church to be built and a meeting was called. An amount of six hundred pounds was raised and a building committee was formed. In just over three years the first church of St John the Baptist was designed and built. On 16th May 1841 St John's was consecrated by the Bishop of Australia William Grant Broughton.
The second Church was built in 1860. Designed by colonial architects Weaver & Kemp, replacing the earlier church. In 1881 a warden of the church, Mr. R. White donated the Brindley & Forster Pipe Organ, a Sheffield steel bell and the bell tower. A restoration project included the restoration of the pipe organ with over 1600 pipes, the repair of rendered walls and the repainting of painted work.
Clergy:
These names are now in the Database and can be searched individually.
| Years | Name | Annotation | D.o.B | D.o.D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1863 - 1868 | Rev James Ross | Curate | 1836 | 1902 |
| 1868 - 1871 | Rev Thomas Broughton Tress | Curate | 1844 | 1906 |
| 1873 - 1878 | Rev Frederick William Stretton | Curate | 1845 | 1885 |
| 1894 - | Rev Reginald Smee | Curate | 1870 | 1929 |
| 1911 - 1921 | Rev William James Dunstan | 1857 | 1921 | |
| 1918 - 1920 | Rev Arthur Samuel Rowe | Curate | 1888 | 1953 |
| 1929 - | Rev Leslie Clyde Smith Walker | Locum | 1896 | 1975 |
| 1930 - 1932 | Deacon Robert Rolleston Sansom | 1906 | 1962 | |
| 1932 - 1936 | Archdeacon Ernest Albert Salisbury | 1881 | 1950 | |
| 1933 - 1934 | Rev Clifford Edward Ussher | Deacon | 1908 | 1993 |
| 1934 - 1938 | Rev Leslie Clyde Smith Walker | 1896 | 1975 | |
| 1959 - 1963 | Rev Vernon D. Hartwig | |||
| 1964 - | Rev Frank Weston | Locum | 1894 | 1970 |
| 1964 - 1965 | Rev Alan B. Rich | |||
| 1965 - 1970 | Rev Graham H. Walden | |||
| 1970 - 1982 | Rev Aubrey P. Reeder | |||
| 1982 - 1987 | Rev Clyde J. Evenden | |||
| 1987 - 1993 | Rev Michael Birch | |||
| 1993 - 1997 | Rev Campbell Brown | |||
| 1997 - 2000 | Rev Doanld Saines | |||
| 2001 - 2006 | Rev Jennifer Inglis | |||
| 2001 - 2006 | Rev Philip Gill | |||
| 2007 - 2010 | Rev Anne Wentzel | |||
| 2011 - 2014 | Rev Maxwell Wood | |||
| 2014 - 2016 | Rev David P. Craig |
Organ:
The pipe organ came to St John's as a gift from Robert White in 1882, who was then the manager of the Bank of NSW in Mudgee. The organ was built by an English firm Brindley & Forster of Sheffield. Restored in 1966 by S.T. Noad & Son. Restored again in 2008 by Peter D.G. Jewkes Pty Ltd. I has 3m., 24 sp.st., 5c., tr. The organ gallery was then built across the west end of the church to accommodate it.
For a full description and photos click here.
Source:
1. Cable Clerical Index.
2. Church honour Board.
3. St John the Baptist Church of Mudgee LH 283.994 ANG
4. Organ Historical Trust of Australia with permission.