St John's
A church for growing people
A church for growing people
Rectors and Building Development
The nave section of St John the Baptist Anglican Church, Ashfield is of very early construction dating from 1840-45 and designed by a Mr Williams. Edmund Blacket tookover the supervision of the building after his arrival in the colony in 1843. The transepts and chancel were added to the design of Edmund Blacket in 1874-75. His sons Cyril and Arthur trading as Blacket Bros added the choir vestry and west door porch (now demolished) in 1885 shortly after Edmund Blackets death. The tower to the west door was added to the design of Cyril Blacket in 1901-04.
Detailed development of the site
1840-45
Nave constructed with gallery at west end, Rev Wilkinson carved thechancel furniture, gallery panels and screens and reredos panelling fromAustralian Cedar.
1860s
First suggestions for building a school hall
1867-1900 Rev Corlette
1871
Organ installed in the gallery by Mr Davidson of Sydney
1872
Enlargement of the church first suggested
1874-5
Transepts and Chancel added Edmund Blackets drawings show external lightweight porches to the transept doors, a chancel that projects only slightly into the crossing, the pulpit hard against the wall, a balanced layout with reading desk on the mirror side to the pulpit and the lectern in the centre, two choir stalls with frontals, pews extending almost right through the crossing and additional transept pews facing inwards the organ is located but was not installed as shown discrepancies in the window locations indicate that the construction was not carried out entirely as shown.
1879
Organ moved to south transept
1882
Organ sold to St Bartholomews Pyrmont
1885
Choir vestry and west door porch added Blacket Bros plans show thatchoir stalls have been moved about one metre outwards from the sanctuary, chancel layout is as per previous plan, crossing pews have been reduced slightly for larger chancel, choir vestry addition, porch addition to west doors, south porch shown as a baptistery with no external doors (this design intent was not carried out till 1891), internal door fromsouth porch cut out to larger opening to provide more space for baptistery,a detailed construction drawing of the pulpit (that matches the existing detail) shows that it dates from this period - Hill and Sons organ installed in north transept reducing extent of pews
1891
Alteration in the arrangement of the interior of the church at the west end removed the font to the new baptistery formed out of the old southern vestry (south porch), the west gallery was removed due to decay, the carved cedar work was placed around the baptistery (in what is now south porch)
1895
The parish hall is erected to the design of Ernest Scott, architect
1900
A peal of bells is purchased from England
1901-1916 Rev Yarnold
1901
The tower is built to the design of Cyril Blacket as a memorial to Rev Corlette the bells are hung but are soon removed due to their unsuitability
1903
Small parish hall infants classroom
1904
Jewelled cross and re-table in sanctuary adorning Broadhurst postcard of interior of church dated 1920-27 although the gas light fittings would indicate that the photo pre-dates 1914 the jewelled cross can be seen under the main windows
1914
First use of electricity in the church
1916-1926 Rev Hilliard
1919
The WW1 honour boards are installed
1921
There are changes to the church grounds
1922
The rectory is built - sandstone wall to Alt St is built
1926
Renovating and remodelling the church roof the floors are replaced
1927-1931 Rev Yeats very sick throughout and died after short incumbency
1927
Stone wall to Bland St constructed
1931-1939 Rev Cocks
1932
Baptistery built as a memorial to Rev Yarwood (no location but likely to be the present position), new west doors (likely to be the ornate carved timber doors into the nave rather than the older ledged external doors to the tower), introduction of side chapel in the south transept, and replacementof choir stalls several memorial windows installed research for church centenary. From the fabric it is also clear that the pews from the crossing and transepts were replaced at this time
1939-1950 Rev Sutton
Centenary and WWII, refitted and polished the reredos and other cedar joinery, recondition of the chancel, St Johns preschool established, a surplus army hut was purchased and erected adjacent to the small hall re-erected the gallery carvings around the baptistery, installed a new altar
1950-65 Rev Shaw
Organ rebuilt with an electronic action and console removed to other side of church, church replastered inside, circular staircase built in porch in memory of M.Alexander
1966-1973 Rev Seddon
Extensive repairs to rectory and west wall of church, retaining wall to stabilise movement in west wall, rebuilt organ, 1967 kneelers dedicated to Bishop Hilliard
1973-1979 Rev Twine
Electronic action of organ not working well organ rebuilt 1973 with mechanical action 1978 debate about columbarium, no decision, lapsed,rose garden instead died suddenly, memorial plaque over south vestry (indicating that this was no longer the baptistery & that the partition wall had been installed)
1980-1989 Rev Colefax
No building work during this period.
1990-2003 Rev Robinson
Steel tower built in crossing work for dole repairs to hall purpose built section of pre-school replacing two war time huts steel tower removed and roof framing repaired
20042005 Rev Le Huray (acting)
No building work during this period.
2005 Rev Katay
2006-7
Organ removed and rebuilt with modern electronic action. South vestry converted to crying room with panelled windows. Chancel and front pews remodelled to current curved shape. Open morning tea/supper area created at rear.