Waverley, NSW - St Mary the Virgin Anglican
Year Built: 1890
Denomination: Anglican
Saint: Mary
Address: 240 Birrell Street, Waverley, New South Wales, 2022
Architect: Edmund Blacket
Architectural Style: Gothic
Last Updated: 30/03/2024
Click on the image to view larger (4 photos)
History and Architecture:
Built in 1890 this church was one of Edmund Blacket's earlier churches. Built by W Bailey its stone church in Ecclesiastical Gothic style. It boasts a long nave with chancel, vestry and two side porches. Dressed sandstone with concrete tiled roof (originally shingled). Paired lancet windows between buttresses. Stained glass with label moulds over. Good belfry above western parapet gable.
On 15th May, 1857, the school house at Randwick was licensed for public worship in the united Parishes of Waverley and Randwick. The whole district was placed in the spiritual charge of Rev. W. H. McCormick. In the same year a small stone building was erected in Church Street, Waverley, and was dedicated to S. Mary the Virgin, now the site of St Clare's College, Waverley. The Rev. Stanley Mitchell, became priest in charge on the passing of Rev McCormick. In 1863 the districts were separated into the Parishes of Waverley and Randwick, and the Rev. Stanley Mitchell became the first Rector of S. Mary's, Waverley.
In the meantime the building in Church Street had become inadequate for the needs of the district, and on 5th June, 1863, the foundation stone of a new church, was laid by Sir John Young, K.C.B., K.C.M.G. On the 19th May, 1864, the Church was dedicated by the Bishop of Sydney, Dr. Barker. The original design envisaged a tower and spire, which were never built.
During the term of Reverend McKeown's occupancy the Parishes of S. Matthew's, Bondi, and S. Barnabas, Mill Hill, were carved out of S. Mary's, Waverley, leaving the mother parish considerably smaller.
Today an impressive grey sandstone wall along Birrell Street frontage exists, possibly from c. 1925.
More historical information on Wikipedia here.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1857 - 1859 | Rev W. H. McCormick | 1826 | 1859 | |
| 1859 - 1884 | Rev Stanley Mitchell | 1833 | 1898 | |
| 1879 - | Rev Stephen Henry Childe | locum tenens | 1844 | 1928 |
| 1880 - 1881 | Rev Henry Auriol Barker | locum tenens | 1852 | 1943 |
| 1884 - 1920 | Rev Robert McKeown | 1847 | 1936 | |
| 1908 - | Rev John Mellar Devenish | locum tenens | 1856 | 1939 |
| 1914 - 1915 | Rev Leslie Arthur Hudson | Curate | 1885 | 1961 |
| 1918 - 1919 | Rev Frederick Maurice McKeown | Curate | 1885 | 1959 |
| 1920 - 1928 | Rev Egerton Augustine North-Ash | 1888 | 1954 | |
| 1920 - | Rev Francis Robert Powles Carrick | Curate | 1889 | 1975 |
| 1921 - | Rev Roland Woodger | Curate | 1883 | 1943 |
| 1924 - | Rev Kingston Dudley Andrews Baxter | Asst Curate | 1888 | 1956 |
| 1924 - 1926 | Rev Lennox Thomas Newton Hamilton | Curate | 1893 | 1969 |
| 1927 - 1928 | Rev Leonard William Slade | Curate | 1894 | 1941 |
| 1928 - 1937 | Rev Frederick Riley | 1874 | 1960 | |
| 1930 - 1933 | Rev Noel Morris Clout | 1901 | 1973 | |
| 1935 - 1937 | Rev John Alfred Cable | Curate | 1910 | 2005 |
| 1937 - | Rev Edward Pattison-Clarke | 1896 | 1981 | |
| 1967 - | Rev Terence Dicks | |||
| 2006 - | Rev Cliff Stratton |
Organ:
The original organ was built by August Gern in 1888. Gern was a foreman of Cavaill-coll, who set up business for himself in England after supervising the erection of some Cavaill-Coll instruments. In 1960 Noad rebuilt the instrument, providing new cone chests under the Richardson upper-boards, but leaving the Gern ventils and Pedal chest untouched. By 1979 the instrument was almost unplayable and in 1980 Peter Jewkes electrified the action.
For a complete description and photos click here.
Contributions:
1. Peter Brough 2021, via A brief history of S. Mary's Waverley 1857-1933.
Source:
1. Organ Music Society of Sydney with permission.
2. Cable Clergy Index with permission.