St John's Anglican Church
Anglican Parish of Cessnock/Wollombi. Diocese of Newcastle.
Holy Eucharist: 10am 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month.
Designed by the eminent 19th. Century architect Edmund Thomas Blacket, St. John's Anglican Church, Wollombi, is built of sandstone and wood in the Gothic tradition.
Resting in the foothills of the great Dividing Range, is the romantic Wollombi Valley, opened to settlers by the exploration of Constable John Howe in 1820.
By 1830 the village of Wollombi was established and the Great North Road from Wiseman's punt completed.
One of the outstanding features of the Wollombi Valley is the Anglican Church of St John.
Professor A.P.Elkin in "The Wollombi and the Parish of Wollombi" discribes the church as "a lofty tone building of good proportions, in pointed Gothic style".
On July 22nd 1846, the foundation stone was laid by Rev. R.T Bolton in the presence of Charles Fitzroy, the Govenor of NSW, his Lordship the Bishop, officiating clergy and the architect Edmund Thomas Blacket.
He has been described in the Volume " Historic Churches of New South Wales, as an architect of genius".
Subsequiently, the Church of St John was consecrated by Bishop Tyrell, first Bishop of Newcastle on February15th 1849.
The nave which was lengthened by 20 feet in 1864 originally measured 20x18 feet. The Chancel and vestry have not been altered.
The impressive character of this beautiful church is highlighted by the glorious Gothic style stained glass windows, the massie cedar doors and the striking stone pulpit.
In his book "The Blackets" Dr Morton Herman reflects"...the Church has been allowed to age and mellow in peace.
Since it's stands in what was once a great cedar-producing country, it's pews and woodwork, are of finest timber, beautifully aged and completley unspoiled, and the wrought-iron mongery still bares the marks of the long-dead craftsmans hammer.
This Church of St John Wollombi has "A" rating with the National Trust of Australia.
For further details, see the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle website
Payne's Crossing Road
Wollombi NSW 2325
Australia
Phone: 4991 4761
Website (283 referrals): St John's Anglican Church
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