St John's Anglican Church - Parramatta - New South Wales
St John's Anglican Church - Parramatta - New South Wales
Australia's First Official church was the original St John's At Parramatta.
The oldest and most striking feature of the present building is the twin towers which were erected between 1817 and 1819, according to Wikipedia and the Dictionary of Sydney (Parramatta Open says they were built in 1817–18). It is said that they are based on similar towers of an ancient church at Reculver Kent England. By 1850 the old building was in danger of falling down, and it was decided to erect a new church incorporating the original towers.
A new nave was built in 1852 to a design by James Houison. Transepts were added in 1883 and this time the Architects were Blacket and Son, Edmund Blacket’s firm. Wikipedia says it was his son Cyril Blacket who completed the design.
Closely associated with the building of St John's and its early history was the Rev Samuel Marsden, the controversial but highly energetic successor of Richard Johnson, Chaplain General Of New South Wales. Marsden served as Rector Of St John's until 1838 and was buried nearby in the St John's Cemetery
There are considerable gaps in the history of the church due to Marsden's failure to keep a complete register of services.
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