New Town, TAS - St John's Anglican
Year Built: 1834
Denomination: Anglican
Saint: John
Address: St John's Avenue, New Town, Tasmania, 7008
Architect: John Lee Archer
Traditional Owners: Palawa people
Last Updated: 24/04/2023
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History and Architecture:
The initiative for the erection of St John's Church, the oldest church still in use for worship at Hobart, was taken by the Lieutenant - Governor, Colonel George Arthur. He stated that he and other gentlemen would sunscribe towards the cost of the building. Built between 1834 and 1835 this neo Gothic church was designed by Colonial architect John Lee Archer and is the oldest church in the New Town area.
The foundation stone was laid by Lieutenant-Governor Arthur in January 1834. The convict-built Church was opened for service in December 1835 but was not formally consecrated until May 1838 because of delays in arranging a visit from Bishop Broughton, the first Bishop of Australia. The tower is of stone and the nave of hand made bricks. The wooden beams of the roof are of pit-sawn timber hauled down the sides of Mount Wellington by convicts.
The clock in the tower was made in 1828 by Thwaites and Reed of London.
The description on a silver plate attached to the Foundation stone reads, " Anno Quarto, Guiliemi IV R.Egis Georgius Arthur. AR.Miger Profectus Coloniae Hujus Primum Hujus Ecclesiae Lapidem Posuit Sexto Die Januarii Anno Domini MDCCCXXXIV Johannes Lee Archer Architecton".
Clergy:
These names are now in the Database and can be searched individually.
| Years | Name | Annotation | D.o.B | D.o.D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1833 - 1835 | Rev Philip Palmer | |||
| 1835 - 1839 | Rev Thomas Beagley Naylar | |||
| 1839 - 1864 | Rev Thomas James Ewing | |||
| 1864 - 1867 | Rev Frederick William Zuilter | |||
| 1867 - 1876 | Rev Francis Hudspeth | |||
| 1876 - 1895 | Rev Alfred Nathanial Mason | |||
| 1893 - | Rev Arthur Cass | Locum | 1837 | 1907 |
| 1895 - 1903 | Rev Frederick Taylor Whittington | |||
| 1903 - 1906 | Rev William Henry Barnes | |||
| 1906 - 1928 | Rev Stephen Henry Hughes | 1859 | 1934 | |
| 1929 - 1944 | Rev Clarence Hamilton Corvan | 1879 | 1950 | |
| 1941 - 1942 | Rev Thomas Alfred Cloudsdale | Curate | 1915 | 1968 |
| 1945 - 1962 | Rev Harry Cecil Cutherbertson | 1898 | 1964 | |
| 1957 - 1962 | Rev George John Baxter | 1892 | 1960 | |
| 1959 - 1961 | Deacon Sidney Gordon Allison | Asst | 1895 | 1977 |
| 1962 - 1972 | Rev Gilbert Charles Latta | 1907 | 1976 | |
| 1964 - 1965 | Rev R A. Legg | Asst | ||
| 1968 - 1969 | Rev W. A. Humphries | |||
| 1972 - 1979 | Rev Brian Harwood | |||
| 1977 - 1979 | Rev D E Le Rossignol | |||
| 1979 - 1982 | Rev Neville David Newett | |||
| 1981 - 1981 | Rev Kenneth John Box | Asst | 1945 | |
| 1982 - | Rev Johannes Adalf van Emmerik | |||
| 1993 - 1999 | Rev Owen Dowlin | |||
| 1994 - 1995 | Rev A. J. Lang | Asst | ||
| 2013 - | Rev Canon David Lewis |
Organ:
Present organ was built in 1886 by Hill & Son of London. It has 2m., 18 sp.st., 3c., tr. Gt: 8.8.8.8.4.4.3.III.8. Sw: 16.8.8.8.4.2.8. Ped: 16.16. Reb. 1955 Hill, Norman & Beard (o/n T334). Rebuilt in 1977-78 by Laurie Pipe Organs. 2m., 27 sp.st., 8c., el.pn. Gt: 16.8.8.8.8.4.4.2-2/3.2.1-3/5.III. Sw:
8.8.8.4.2.III.8.8. Ped: 16.16.16.10-2/3.8.8.4.16.
Source:
1. Historic Churches of Australia T.T. Reed
2. The Australian Anglican Directory 2000
3. Parish of St John's New Town Aspects of History 1830 - 1994 283.099461 WAL
4. Organ Historical Trust of Australia with permission.