Early Days

Twenty five years after the first white settlers arrived in Moruya, in1843, the Rev EG Pryce was appointed as minister to the "Maneroo" (Monaro) which included the whole of the Far South Coast - a large area to cover on horseback!   A more frequent pastoral visitor was Rev James Allan who, for seventeen years until 1860, rode from Braidwood on horseback to preach to groups of settlers and to conduct marriages and baptisms.

Church Buildings etc.

Since 1862 there have been two St John's churches in the present grounds.   The first was a wooden structure, used as both a church and a church school.   By 1886 it had become no longer serviceable and, in 1890, work began on a new brick and stone building alongside the old one.

The granite foundation stone on the north-east corner was obtained from the quarry at Pompey Point and laid by Mrs Emilie Mort on 29th October 1890.

It a registered "heritage" building.

The Silver Jubilee was celebrated in some style on   29th October 1915.   To mark the occasion acetylene gas was installed in the church, the roof re-slated, the eastern end was cemented outside and plastered inside and the whole of the interior was colored.   Many gifts from parishioners, including a new altar and numerous items of church furniture were dedicated at the evening service with Archdeacon Ward representing the Bishop.

Records for the next fifty years or so are somewhat sparse but a few incidents may be noted. 

Times were hard during the depression and one Rector, Rev "Monty" Nell supplemented his income by mending wireless sets.   His daughter, Betty Osborne, as part of the centenary celebrations in 1990 wrote a graphic account of life as a rectory kid in the thirties, entitled "The Red Dress and the Gun".

Things improved with time and in 1955 a new carpet and kneelers were installed and some "draught board" linoleum removed to allow sanding and polishing part of the floor.

The stained glass east window, depicting Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper" was installed in 1970 at a cost of $574.   Soon afterwards, in 1972, the lead-light west window was smashed in a violent hailstorm with the glass fragments 'like confetti" reaching as far as the sanctuary steps.

By 1982 it was apparent that major repairs and renovations were needed.   More than a score of devoted church members worked very hard for a long time inside and outside the church.   They levelled floors, cleaned and completely renovated walls and windows, replaced the carpets, all furniture and furnishings including the pulpit were stripped of old paint or varnish and completely restored.   New lighting was installed, new guttering and storm-water outfalls fitted, windows were protected with wire guards and, finally a new aumbry was constructed and fitted in the sanctuary.   During the renovation process a new brick toilet block was built, both halls were cleaned, scraped and painted, one leg of the bell tower was replaced and the whole structure repainted.

A large Bunya Pine in the church grounds became unsafe so it had to be  felled and in 2005/6 the remaining trunk was carved and decorated to produce a font.   This has been covered and,  in suitable weather, is popular for baptisms.

A recent innovation has been the installation in the church  of a suitable retractable screen to allow the use of a digital projector.   The words of the liturgy and of the hymns are projected on to the screen, so that it is no longer necessary to issue prayer books and hymn books to members of the congregation.

Even more recently a new sign has been erected at the corner of Campbell and Page Streets.   This was donated as a memorial to Bill Altmann, a much respected parishioner.

Rectory (also a "heritage" building)

The foundation stone of St John's Rectory was laid on 1 November 1870 by Mrs Marie Caswell.   The carpentry work was contracted for ₤310/10/0 and the stone and brick work for ₤368/0/0.   A number of fund-raising activities were organised to pay for the building, including a "Phantasmagoria Entertainment" given by Mr Barlow in the Court House for the admission of one shilling. 

It was written into the contract of Rev James Love who was appointed in August 1871 that he "reside in the parsonage when completed".   He lived there for the next four years except for about 12 months spent in gaol after becoming what Bishop Mesac Thomas described as "a victim of the technicalities of the law".

In her book "The Red Dress and the Gun", referred to above, Betty Osborne describes the back verandah in the thirties with the laundry at one end, the bathroom at the other and the pump in the middle.    However a significant renovation and restoration occurred in 1972 and more work was done in the late 1980's to bring the old rectory up to the standard set by the diocese.   It was re-dedicated in 1973 by Bishop C A Warren.

Maintenance is an on-going process and plans are in hand for some substantial work on roofing, exterior paintwork and internal refurbishments have been carried out during 2010/11.    The Rectory has been leased to Anglicare.

For further information on the history of the parish, contact Mr Graham Jackson and

                                                                             Mrs Helen Jackson

                                                                aja83810  at  bigpond.net.au

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