Wollombi, NSW - St John's Anglican
Year Built: 1864
Denomination: Anglican
Saint: John
Address: 2985 Paynes Crossing Road, Wollombi, New South Wales, 2325
Architect: Edmund Blacket
Last Updated: 13/04/2023
Click on the image to view larger
History and Architecture:
The Foundation stone was laid on 22 July 1846 by Rev R.T. Bolton. The church was consecrated on 15 February 1849 by the Right Reverend William Tyrell first Lord Bishop of Newcastle.
It was designed by Edmund Blacket and built from 1846 to 1864. The church was constructed in sandstone in the Gothic tradition. The main body of the church was lengthened by 20 feet in 1864 to accomadate the growth of the local community. There is a complete absence of buttresses on the building: the lancets are small and set high above the string course; and the west end door is surrounded with an odd vermiculated rustication – all atypical features.
A residence was built for a local minister in 1895, and Wollombi had a resident clergyman until around 1940.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1852 - 1858 | Rev John Frederick Whinfield | 1822 | 1879 | |
| 1861 - | Rev Thomas Head Shaw | Locum | 1833 | 1873 |
| 1862 - 1863 | Rev Hugh Calveley Claughton | Missionary | 1818 | 1883 |
| 1863 - 1866 | Rev John Albert Grieves | 1829 | 1893 | |
| 1866 - 1876 | Rev Bowyer Edward Shaw | 1838 | 1896 | |
| 1885 - 1893 | Rev Popham Street Luscombe | 1857 | 1927 | |
| 1890 - 1893 | Rev William Tait | Curate | 1851 | 1925 |
| 1892 - | Rev P S. Pinchen | |||
| 1893 - 1903 | Rev Charles Frederick Withey | 1849 | 1924 | |
| 1895 - 1896 | Rev Thomas William Ramm | 1843 | 1920 | |
| 1903 - 1907 | Rev Arthur Renwick | 1869 | 1927 | |
| 1906 - | Rev John Fletcher Clifton | Curate | 1879 | 1907 |
| 1909 - 1912 | Rev Herbert Kitley | 1871 | 1952 | |
| 1912 - 1922 | Rev David Thomas Rees | 1879 | 1951 | |
| 1922 - 1925 | Rev Aldophus Peter Elkin | 1891 | 1979 | |
| 1926 - | Rev James Henry Whitehead | 1890 | 1950 | |
| 1926 - 1934 | Rev Godfrey Broughton Stephenson | 1866 | 1946 | |
| 1934 - 1937 | Rev Sydney Victor Satchell | 1901 | 1980 | |
| 1937 - | Rev James George Donoghue | Locum | 1907 | 1961 |
| 1940 - 1942 | Rev Winfrid James Richards | Curate | 1909 | 1991 |
| 1943 - | Rev Roscoe Ward Ayscough | Locum | 1915 | 1966 |
| 1944 - 1947 | Rev Roscoe Ward Ayscough | 1915 | 1966 | |
| 1950 - 1952 | Rev James Richard Flook | 1902 | 1989 |
Organ:
The Organ was built c.1900 by Arthur Linley Scott Brook of Maitland. It was restored in 1980 and 1999 by Brown & Arkley. It was moved from All Saints' Anglican Church, Woodville in 1999 and enlarged in 2004. It has 1m., 4 sp.st., no pedals, originally foot-blown, tracker Man: 8.8.4.2.
A full history can be seen here.
Source:
1. The Church Website
2. Trove
3. Cable Clerical Index
4. Organ Historical Trust of Australia with permission.