Castlereagh Chapel
Castlereagh, NSW 2749
Church Information
| Church Name: | Castlereagh Chapel |
| Church Previous Name: | Castlereagh Wesleyan Methodist Church |
| Denomination: | Uniting Church in Australia |
| Street Address: | 297-305 Old Castlereagh Rd, Castlereagh NSW 2749, Australia |
| Suburb: | Castlereagh |
| State: | NSW |
| Postcode: | 2749 |
| Foundation Stone Laid: | unknown |
| Foundation Stone Notes: | No Foundation Stone or Memorial Plaque details are known. Information/photographs are invited. A notice board records: On this site John Lees built the first Wesleyan Chapel in Australia - 1817. |
| Date Opened: | 00-10-1817 |
| Date Closed: | unknown |
| Email: | admin@churchesaustralia.org |
Comments
The present Castlereagh Chapel was built about 1847.
An earlier Methodist Chapel at Castlereagh is believed to be the first Methodist place of worship built in Australia. It was a slab building attached to the home of John Lees. Later he built a weatherboard chapel which opened in October 1817. This he gave to the Methodist Church. "Lees was a former member of the NSW Corps and led a life 'highlighted by drink and gambling', until recovery from a snakebite precipitated his reform." (Extracted from https://penrithhistory.com/buildings/churches/castlereagh-methodist-church/)
A cemetery adjoins the chapel.
More historical information/photographs of the chapel/congregation are invited. Photographs uploaded 3/8/2020.
