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St Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church
Penrith, NSW 2750
Church Information
| Church Name: | St Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church |
| Church Previous Name: | - |
| Denomination: | Anglican Church of Australia |
| Street Address: | 254 High St, Penrith NSW 2750, Australia |
| Suburb: | Penrith |
| State: | NSW |
| Postcode: | 2750 |
| Foundation Stone Laid: | 22-11-1837 |
| Foundation Stone Notes: | (The Australian - 28 November 1837) "PENRITH. On Wednesday, the 22d instant, the interesting ceremony of laying the first stone of Penrith Church was performed by His Lordship the Bishop of Australia, assisted by the Reverends S. Marsden, H. Fulton, T. Hassell, and H Styles, in their robes. Nearly the whole of the ladies and the gentlemen and the community of the village assembled to witness the execution of the prescribed formula. The Bishop, having gone through the usual ceremony assisted by the attendant chaplains, apologized to the meeting — that in consequence of ill health he was not able to do justice to the purpose of the meeting so fully as he would have wished, but notwithstanding he would dwell briefly on the subject. His Lordship then proceeded in a speech replete with eloquence and feeling, which lasted about twenty minutes, when after a short prayer the assemblage retired." The text of the foundation stone is not known. Information/photographs are invited. A tablet records: This tablet was unveiled by - The Most Revd H W K Mowll DD - Archbishop of Sydney - 22nd November 1937 - to commemorate the centenary of - the laying of the foundation stone - of this church by - Bishop Broughton - on 22nd November 1837. A notice board records: Historic Church of St Stephen, the Martyr - One of the oldest surviving buildings in Penrith. - Consecrated by Bishop Broughton in 1838 - it was said to give Penrith the status - of a small town. The Rev Henry Fulton - BA transported to the Colony in 1799 - and conditionally pardoned a year later - was the first incumbent. - Inspection of church by arrangement. |
| Date Opened: | 16-07-1839 |
| Date Closed: | unknown |
| Email: | admin@churchesaustralia.org |
Comments
(The Sydney Herald - 19 July 1839) "On Tuesday, the 16th instant, the solemn and gratifying ceremony of consecrating the Church of Saint Stephen the Martyr, at Penrith, was performed by the Lord Bishop of Australia, attended by the Rev. Thomas Hassall, as Chancellor, the Revs. Henry Stiles and Thomas Makinson, Chaplains, and the Rev. Henry Fulton, the Minister of Castlereagh and Penrith."
Built in local sun-dried brick, the exterior of the church began to crumble and was cement-rendered in 1906, both inside and out. Restoration and repairs have remained an on-going necessity.
No other details are known about the St Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church, Penrith. More historical information/photographs of the church/congregation are invited. Photographs uploaded 4/6/2018.
