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
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.