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William Westbrooke Burton, Esq., was a Judge of the Supreme Court of the Colony of New South Wales when he wrote The State of Religion and Education in New South Wales, published by J. Cross, London, 1840. It is of interest to the historian for the social conditions that it records.
pp. 225-235.
“COUNTY OF CAMDEN.
“The population of the County of Camden was computed, in the Census taken in 1836, at 3,161 persons, of whom 1,225 were returned as Convicts; 2,158 as Protestants, 992 Roman Catholics, 18 Jews, and 3 Pagans. This population may be considered as divided by the natural features of the country into three portions - one residing in and about the Cow-pasture nearest to the County of Cumberland, and in that part which lies to the North and North-east of the Mittagong Range; the second, residing South and South-west of that range; and the third, residing between the Sea Coast and a High Range of Mountains called the Coast Range. The first includes the district of the Cow-pasture, Bargo Brush, and Sutton Forest, to the distance of about seventy-three miles from Sydney; the second, Bong Bong and Berrima, and to the farthest extent of the County Southward; the third the District of Illawarra.
“At Camden, at Stone Quarry, and at the Oakes [The Oaks], which are all in the County of Camden, the Ordinances of Religion are at prsent administered occasionally by the Rev. Mr. Hassall of Narellan; but at Camden and the Oakes, subscriptions have been entered into, and arrangements made for the erection of Churches, each of which Stations will give occupation to an additional Clergyman. ‘The Messrs. Macarthur (writes the Bishop*) [Footnote - * Report of Diocesan Committee, January 1837] with their family and connexions, have displayed an example worthy of their station and property in the Colony, both by the munificence of their contributions and by the gift of a very valuable portion of land in a most eligible situation for the erection of a Church and Parsonage. Being desirous to evince by all the means in my power, my sense of their generosity in this good work, I have engaged to contribute towards it, on behalf of the Societies, the sum of 150l., and I entertain a perfect confidence that the result will be the speedy erection of a convenient Church in the midst of a population which is already very considerable, and must, from local recommendations, very speedily and steadily be augmented.’
“Sutton Forest.
“Sutton Forest is the Station of a Clergyman of the Church of England, the Rev. John Vincent. There is a small Chapel there, called the Chapel of All Saints, formerly used as a School, three miles from the residence where he officiates; it is the only place of Public Worship of any denomination whatever which exists in the vast district, extending to the Southward of the Cowpasture River. It is capable of containing about seventy persons, the average attendance id from thirty to forty. The duties of the Chaplain are at present confined to the County of Camden, including the districts of Bargo, Mittagong, Berrima, Sutton Forest, and extending Southward to the County of Argyle.
“At Sutton Forest the Clergyman officiates every Sunday morning, and every Sunday afternoon at the Stockade at Berrima, for the ironed gang and Military.
“Berrima is distant from his house ten miles; but the recent removal of the ironed gang and Military detachment from the Stockade into the interior of the County of Argyle, renders his attendance at Berrima for the present unnecessary, as he cannot, without them, collect even a small Congregation. A Goal is being erected at Berrima, which, when completed, will require a Chaplain. There is no regular Hospital requiring the visits of a Clergyman.
“Sutton Forest contains at least 800 Protestants, and a very small portion of that number ever enter the Church.
“Until January 1838, during the period of five years, the Clergyman regularly visited Quarterly the districts of Goulburn and Inverary, forty-five miles distant from his residence, and occasionally, as circumstances required, extended his periodical tour thirty miles farther, to Lake George, Lake Bathurst, and the adjacent places, travelling on such occasions over an extensive tract of country, frequently exceeding 200 miles, and suffering much from the inclemency and vicissitudes of the climate, especially in the winter season, his journey seldom being completed in less than fifteen days. He has now been relieved from these harassing duties, by the appointment of the Reverend Mr. Sowerby to Goulburn, and of the Reverend Mr. Cartwright to the Southward.
“The Chapel of All Saints is wholly unsuitable to a District so thickly peopled and improving in all its circumstances; and it is satisfactory to add, that chiefly through the exertions of the resident Chaplain, the Rev. J. Vincent, the Inhabitants have been induced to contribute a very liberal sum towards providing a more commodious place of Worship; and an acre and a half of land, extremely well situated, having been presented for the purpose by Mr. Charles Wright, the Bishop had the satisfaction, in January 8137, ‘of laying the Foundation-stone of All Saints’ Church, in the presence of a numerous assemblage of the Inhabitants who came together to witness the ceremony, which was conducted with extreme propriety and solemnity. The erection of a Parsonage-house will also be proceeded with; and when the occupation of the present Chapel shall be no longer required, in consequence of the completion of the Church, it is proposed to annex to it other requisite buildings, and to establish there a School for Boarders, and Day-scholars; and with respect to the former, to conduct it upon terms so reasonable as to place the benefit of a good Education within reach of children, even of parents of the humbler classes, who may reside so far from the School as to be unable to attend as Day-scholars.’* [Footnote - * First Report, Dio. Committee, 1837.)
“Berrima.
“At Berrima, which is the Station of a Stipendiary Police Magistrate, a Court-house has been recently erected, and a Goal on an extensive scale is in progress of erection for the Southern Districts.
“The recent return to the Colony, from leave of absence, of the Reverend J. Wilkinson, has enabled the Bishop to provide, although only temporarily, of the Ordinances of Religion in that part of the County of Camden in which it is situate.
“ ‘At Berrima (writes the Bishop, addressing the Diocesan Committee) it is proposed also to erect a small Chapel, towards which, some progress has been already made in a subscription; and a similar design is projected at Bong-Bong, which Charles Throsby, Esq., J.P. is prepared very warmly to espouse. These Stations would be served alternately by the Clergyman of All Saints. Towards these undertakings I have offered a donation of 100l., and shall most joyfully increase it, if the remaining resources will give me the power to do so.’
“Schools.
“There are no Public Schools within the district under the guidance of the Established Church. At Berrima an Elementary Presbyterian School has recently been opened, supported by subscription.
“Wollongong.
“At Wollongong, Illawarra, which is also the Station of a Stipendiary Police Magistrate, and where there is also a party of Convicts, under charge of a detachment from one of the Regiments doing duty in the Colony, consisting, at the close of 1838, of three men in irons, and 126 out of irons, and ninety-one under sentence to the roads, from England, Subscriptions have been entered into, and arrangements made, for the erection of a Church and School-house; and the Clergyman of the Church of England (the Reverend M.D. Meares) is appointed to administer the Ordinances of Religion to the residents in that District. Of these objects, the Bishop, addressing the Diocesan Committee, in 1838, says, (respecting the difficulties attending the progress of Public Buildings in the Colony) ‘At Wollongong, the effect has been to retard, until this time, a work which I was led to expect would have been undertaken a year ago; the land, however, on which the Church is to stand, having been made over, a Plan of the Building agreed on, and the sum of 800l. appropriated by the Committee for its execution, I entertain sanguine hope that the progress will henceforth be more rapid. In the meantime, I have purchased, at the expense of the Parent Societies’ Fund, an eligible Town allotment at Wollongong, and, with some further aid from these funds, combined with advances from the Diocesan Committee, and Subscriptions raised in the District itself, have provided, I trust, for the the Erection of a Large and Substantial School-house for Boys and Girls, with Rooms for the Master and Mistress. This ois already in progress, under the superintendence of the Reverend M.D. Meares; and I expect that, within a few months, there will be a convenient Brick-building, which, in addition to its purpose as a School-house, amay be opened on Sundays, for the celebration of Public Worship, until the Church is finished.’
“Presbyterians.
“Wollongong is also the Station of a Presbyterian Clergyman (the Reverend John Tait, connected with the Presbytery of New South Wales), who officiates at Wollongong, Kiama, and Shoalhaven, places which are from twenty to thirty-five miles apart.
“There was, in March last, a neat Presbyterian Chapel in progress of erection at Wollongong, and nearly completed.
“Roman Catholics.
“There was a Roman Catholic Chapel, and a Clergyman of the Church of Rome (the Reverend John Rigney) was sationed at Wollongong.
“Schools.
“The School-house, before noticed by the Bishop, was completed in March last, and attended by sixteen children, from three to twelve years of age, of whom two could read and write well, and knew the first four rules of Arithmetic; five could read the New Testament, but indifferently; and the remaining nine, from three to six years of age, were learning their Catechism, and to read.
“COUNTY OF ARGYLE.
“The population of the County of Argyle was estimated in the Census of 1836, at 2,417 persons, of whom 1.142 were returned as convicts; 1.618 as Protestants, 783 Roman Catholics, 13 Jews, and 3 Pagans.
“Two Churches for the celebration of Divine Worship according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England, have been projected, and the funds necessary for their erection have been contributed, viz. one to be named St. Saviour’s. at Goulburn, the other to be named Christ Church, at Bungonia.
“Goulburn.
“Goulburn is about 124 miles from Sydney, it is the Station of a Stipendiary Police Magistrate. There is a Hospital at Goulburn, and an ironed gang aemployed on the public roads, in the neighbourhood of Towrang, containing at the close of the year 1838, seventy men in irons, and twenty-one out of irons, under charge of a detachment from one of the Regiments doing duty in the Colony. The Bishop was enabled, by the arrival of ‘additional Clergymen, in the year 1838, to station a Clergyman at Goulburn, (the Rev. Mr. Sowerby) where he has been well received, and his Ministerial labours are rewarded by a steady increase in the number of his Congregation, and by the confidence with which he is regarded. A house designed for his residence was in a forward state in March last, but the Church had been undertaken, and will be proceeded with as rapidly as the mechanical means at the disposal of the Committee will permit.’* [Footnote - *2nd Report of the Diocesan Committee, 1838]
“Mr. Sowerby resides in the Township of Goulburn, and celebrates Divine Worship there every Sunday Morning, excepting once in six weeks, when he visits Bungonia.
“On the afternoon of the first Sunday in each month, he officiates at Dr. Gibson’s at Tiranna, five miles from Goulburn; on the afternoon of the second and fourth Sundays of every month he officiates at the ironed gang at Towrang, six and a half miles from Goulburn; on Wednesday mornings at the the Hospital, and on the afternoon of the third Sunday of every month at Lockyersleigh, fifteen miles from Goulburn. This arrangement is interfered with about once in six weeks, when he visits Bungonia, in the morning, twenty-five miles from Goulburn, and Ravenswood, in the afternoon, seven miles from Bungonia, and eighteen miles from Goulburn.
“Twice in the year he itinerates through the following district.
“On the Monday afternoon, after being at Lockyersleigh on the Sunday, he officiates at Arthursleigh, distant fifteen miles from the former, and nearly thirty miles north of Goulburn.
“On the Tuesday evening at Bonnaby, ten miles from Arthursleigh, and thirty-five miles from Goulburn.
“On the Wednesday evening at Richlands, fifteen miles from Bonnaby, and thirty miles from Goulburn.
“On the Thursday evening at Strathaird, ten miles from Richland, and twenty N.W. from Goulburn.
“On Friday evening at Chatbury, five miles from Strathaird and fifteen from Goulburn.
“The roads are generally what are denominated Bush Roads, and are pretty good, except where Ranges occur, and then they are very stony and rugged. The country generally consists of a succession of Ranges, covered with Gum Trees, and when suffering from long drought has a very barren appearance, but in ordinary seasons a great quantity of land is very productive; there are however extensive Plains, such as Goulburn Plains, the Breadalbane Plains, &c. There are no Churches or Chapels of other denominations, but a Presbyterian Place of Worship is about to be commenced at Goulburn, and it is understood a Roman Catholic Chapel also. The Reverend Mr. Hamilton, Presbyterian Minister, resides in Goulburn, and is the only Minister besides Mr. Sowerby, within a distance of forty-five miles.
“There is a Hospital at Goulburn, where Mr. Sowerby reads Prayers, and gives a short Exposition of the Lessons during the Service, on Wednesday mornings. The Reverend Mr. Hamilton, and the Roman Catholic Priest, occasionally visit these Establishments. The Priest resides at Yass, sixty miles from Goulburn.
“Bungonia.
“Bungonia is about 116 miles from Sydney, the Church at this place having been commenced, and raised to a considerable height above the foundations, became discontinued in consequence of the failure of the Contractor and the want of Mechanics, and it has not yet been completed. The Church has also experienced a melancholy loss in a warm and zealous friend, Robert Futter, Esq., Justice of the Peace, which may tend still further to retard it.
“Mr. Futter was formerly an Officer of the Royal Navy, who had successfully established himself in New South Wales as a Settler, and was every way calculated to benefit the Society in which he lived, as a good man and sincere member of that Church in connexion with which he died. He had scarcely attained the meridians of life when he was commanded to leave all he had, wife and children, home and land, and, it is trusted, to follow Christ.
“Presbyterians, &c.
“A Presbyterian Minister (the Rev. Mr. Hamilton) connected with the Presbytery, resides at Goulburn; he officiates at Goulburn, Braidwood, and other places in the District, and occasionally at the Hospital, and the ironed gang, (as does the Roman Catholic Clergyman stationed at Yass.
“A Presbyterian Church is in progress of erection under the charge of Mr. Hamilton.
“Schools.
“The only Schools in the district are two recently established at Goulburn, conducted upon the Church of England National School System, one for boys and one for girls, being both day schools and Sunday schools, and a Sunday School belonging to the Presbyterian Church.
“The Master (J. Whitlaw) of the first mentioned School is a member of the Church of England, and the Mistress (Jane Buchan) is a Methodist.
“In March, 1839, there were in the School seventeen boys and eighteen girls, of whom seven boys and nine girls could read the New Testament, not above four boys and two girls could write, and not one is acquainted with arithmetic,
“The children generally can repeat the Catechism, but not very correctly. Many of them are well acquainted with Wyatt’s Hymns. Mr. Sowerby instructs them on Religious subjects on Friday and Sunday mornings.”
p.241.
“COUNTY OF ST. VINCENT.
“The population of the County of St. Vincent was estimated in the Census of 1836, at 592 persons, of whom 352 were returned as Convicts; 430 Protestants, and 162 Roman Catholics.
“Presbyterians.
“At the commencement of the year 1839, a Presbyterian Clergyman, the Rev. George Macfie, was stationed at Bateman’s Bay, and a Subscription had been commenced for building a Place of Worship; the number of his Congregation was from forty to fifty persons.”
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