AN OLD CHURCH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8303, 23 November 1915, Page 3

AN OLD CHURCH.

OTHER ANCIENT ONES.*

Mr William .Freame, writing to the Sydney " Sun," denies a statement in that paper that St. Matthew's, Windsor, was the oldest church in Australia. Ho says the foxindation-stone of St. j Matthew's was tirst laid on Octobor 11, j 1817, and after a succession of reverses the church was completed, and was opened by Principal Chaplain Marsden ou December 18, 1882. In the records j of Joseph Harpur, parish clerk, we find the foftowin'g dates:—First founda-' tion-stono laid, October 11, 1817, relaid again, October 13, 1817. On I Juno 4, 1819, the parish clerk again writes: "The walls of the church have been taken down to the very foundation through some defect in the building, and another is now in building on its site by Government of much larger dimensions, and of the best material. It i«, I believe, to. retain the name of St. Matthew given to the-first building. ('Signed) Joseph Harpur. On September, 1821, Mr Harpur affirms that, "In tho beginning of the month some, of the sheet load was blown off the dome of the now church, a large sheet being (lodged on tho scaffolding," and on Wednesday, December 18, 1822, he chronicles tho opening of the church. j Lot us compare these dates with a few others. St. Luke's, Liverpool, is dated 1819; tho little. Presbyterian Church at Ebonezer, Portland Head, Hawkesbury River, dates from 1808, and remains tho oldest church in the Commonwealth. It is still used for purposes of Divi.no worship.- The twin towers of St. John's, Parramntta, were erected in 1815. If then any part of a church is to determine its age these towers constitute tho oldest Anglican Church in Australia.