Wilcannia, NSW - St James Anglican
Denomination: Anglican
Saint: James
Address: 80 Woore Street, Wilcannia, New South Wales, 2836
Architect: Unknown
Traditional Owners: Barkindji river people
Last Updated: 21/10/2024
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History and Architecture:
A Historical marker on the footpath reads, "The early clergy of Wilcannia did not always have this beautiful sandstone church to preach in, noallid they have the convenience of only serving one community. Indeed they were just as concerned with ministering to individuals on remote stations. The parish included Tibooburra, Menindee, White Cliffs and Ivanhoe. The Rev F. Boyce, the first clergyman to visit Wilcannia in 1874, came on horseback from Molong, a trip of 3,200 kilometres. During this visit the community subscribed moneys for the construction of a church. No less than 385 pounds was raised by those present. The foundation stone was laid in October 1875 and the church completed in 1883.
The means of transport varied with the times and the nature of the clergymen. In 1884, the Rev George Oakes made his journeys by horse and sulky. In 1888, the Rev W. Ellis was allowed a 50% discount by Cobb and Co and, in the early 1900s, the Rev J. Rawlings covered his vast parish by pushbike travelling over 40 000 kilometres, including three-day trips to Hay!
The Rev Hugh Litton commenced in 1911 and served the parish travelling on his motorcycle as far as the Queensland border. In 1920, the Rev Fred Harvey terrified passengers on his motorcycle and sidecar. Probably the most famous was Australia's first flying padre, the Rev Len Daniels, who raised money in England for a Cirrus Moth aeroplane in 1928.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1875 - 1878 | Rev Edwin Henry Wright | Curate | 1843 | 1937 |
| 1884 - | Rev George Oaks | |||
| 1888 - 1889 | Rev Walter James Ellis | 1857 | 1923 | |
| 1887 - 1888 | Rev George Albert Carver | 1862 | 1930 | |
| 1889 - 1891 | Rev Charles Thomas West | 1844 | 1933 | |
| 1891 - 1898 | Rev Henry Bradshaw | 1857 | 1908 | |
| 1892 - 1895 | Rev George Walter Carter | Missioner | 1867 | 1949 |
| 1902 - 1906 | Rev Thomas Wright | 1875/76 | ||
| 1907 - 1908 | Rev Francis Vey | 1865 | 1945 | |
| 1909 - | Rev William Alexander Abraham Brice | Catechist | 1880 | 1953 |
| 1911 - | Rev Hugh Litton | |||
| 1913 - 1915 | Rev Hugh De Clifford Dallimore | Curate | 1884 | 1974 |
| 1915 - 1917 | Rev Claude Antisell Baker | Curate | 1887 | 1967 |
| 1923 - 1932 | Rev Leonard Daniels | 1891 | 1981 | |
| 1926 - 1928 | Rev William Robert Brown | locum tenens | 1891 | 1972 |
| 1932 - | Rev Eustace Charles St Clair Coleman | Acting Missioner | 1892 | 1957 |
| 1936 - 1939 | Rev Clifford Andrew Baker | Curate | 1910 | 1972 |
| 1939 - 1941 | Rev George Browne Calderwood | With Menindee | 1911 | 1971 |
| 1948 - 1950 | Rev Edwin Warwick Fisher Johnson | 1910 | 1992 |
Organ:
No information currently available. Submissions welcomed.
Source:
1. Historical Marker
2. Cable Clerical Index with permission.