Balmain, NSW - St Mary's Anglican

Year Built: 1858

Denomination: Anglican

Saint: Mary

Address: 85 Darling Street East, Balmain, New South Wales, 2041

Architect: Weaver & Kemp

Last Updated: 18/03/2024

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History and Architecture:

The first settlements in Balmain took place around 1840 in the viciinity of Peacocks Point.

The first Anglican services at Balmain were conducted by the Rev Frederick Wilkinson, MA, in 1841, in a small slab and bark building at Waterview Bay, in the vicinity of Mort's Dock.

It was soon realised that Waterview Bay was too remote from Sydney's residential areas and services were transferred temporarily to Adolphus Street.  A subscription list was opened to build a church on a site donated by George Cooper. Meanwhile, in 1843, the Rev Wilkinson was appointed to the united parishes of Ashfield and Balmain.

The foundation stone for the church was laid on 1 January 1845, by Bishop Broughton, on land donated by Mitchell Metcalf. Building proceeded to the completion of the schoolroom which was also used for Sunday services, but once again it was decided that the location was unsuitable and a new site in Darling Street, on which St Mary's now stands, was acquired.

The new building was completed in 1849 and substantial additions were made in 1859.

The original, smaller St Mary’s Church was designed by Sydney’s great exponent of the Gothic Revival style, Edmund Blacket. All that remains of Blacket’s design is the chancel.

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
1846 - 1848 Rev Frederick Wilkinson With Ashfield 1796 1866
1849 - 1852 Rev Francis Cameron 1804 1887
1855 - 1871 Rev William Stack 1810 1871
1871 - 1876 Rev Henry Archdall Langley 1840 1906
1876 - 1882 Rev T. B. Tress 1844 1906
1882 - 1907 Rev M. Archdall 1846 1917
1886 - 1886 Rev Thomas Jenkyn Curate 1836 1907
1890 - 1890 Rev John Hubert Maclean Curate 1859 1924
1893 - 1895 Rev Philip Needham Hunter Curate 1855 1919
1908 - 1910 Rev Henry Thomas Holliday 1854 1924
1910 - 1915 Rev John Howell Price 1853 1921
1915 - 1921 Rev Stanley Best 1869 1937
1921 - 1925 Rev Hubert Alfred Dempster 1871 1939
1924 - Rev Henry Charles Leplastrier Locum 1888 1934
1925 - 1926 Rev Frederick Kellett 1871 1944
1926 - 1935 Rev John Thomas Phair 1870 1953
1935 - 1938 Rev Charles Maddison Kemmis 1904 1992
1938 - 1942 Rev W. M. Corden 1881 1951
1942 - 1946 Rev F. Wilde 1884 1959
1946 - 1952 Rev Albert Joseph Smith 1880 1965
1960 - 1963 Rev Alan F. Donohoo
1962 - 1964 Rev Trevor Bryce Griffiths Ass
2015 - Rev Mark Leach
2023 ? - Rev Matt Davies

Organ:

The organ was built in 1871 by William Hill & Son. The instrument was installed in early 1872 replacing ''a small but powerful organ by W.J. Johnson'', built in 1848 and probably the small single-manual instrument which survives in a fair state of originality at All Saints Anglican Church, Woollahra having been moved there from St Peter's Anglican Church, East Burwood in 1992.
For a full description and photos click here.

Source:

1. Historic Churches of New South Wales.
2. Organ Music Society of Sydney with permission.
3. Cable Clerical Index with permission.