Lower Hawkesbury Wesleyan Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lower Hawkesbury Wesleyan Chapel |
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Heritage boundaries
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| Location | Wisemans Ferry Road, Gunderman, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1852 |
| Owner | Dharug and Lower Hawkesbury Historical Society |
| Official name: Lower Hawkesbury Wesleyan Chapel and site; Wesleyan Chapel Gunderman | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 576 |
| Type | Chapel |
| Category | Religion |
| Builders | Greentree Brothers |
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The Lower Hawkesbury Wesleyan Chapel is a special old building located on Wisemans Ferry Road in Gunderman, Australia. It used to be a church for the Wesleyan Methodist group. Today, it is a place where people meet for events.
The Greentree Brothers built this chapel in 1852. Now, the Dharug and Lower Hawkesbury Historical Society owns it. This chapel is so important that it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This means it is protected because of its history and special features.
History of the Chapel
Early Days of Methodism
Around 1818, the Wesleyan Methodist religion became popular along the Hawkesbury River. Many settlers in the area came from places like Sussex, Kent, and Cornwall in England. They often held their church services in private homes. Ministers from Windsor would visit to help guide them.
George Everingham's Role
George Everingham was the first Wesleyan preacher born in Australia. His parents were Matthew Everingham and Elizabeth Rimes George, who were part of the First Fleet. In 1832, George bought a property called "Greens" in Lower Hawkesbury. He was very dedicated, often walking or rowing a boat for days to reach his religious meetings.
From 1841, George Everingham, John Laughton, and George Douglass started organizing local meetings at "Greens." George Douglass became a Methodist in 1838.
Building the Chapel
By 1852, the number of people attending services had grown too large for private homes. George Everingham generously gave half an acre of his "Greens" property to the church. This land was for building a chapel and a school.
The Greentree brothers built the chapel using sandstone. It cost 300 pounds to build. Before construction began, a tea-party helped raise 200 pounds. Later, on 9 June 1859, another tea-meeting raised 61 pounds to pay off the remaining debt.
The first church service in the new chapel was held on 22 April 1855. The people arrived on Sunday, but the minister, John Watkin, got lost and did not arrive until Monday! Most people came to the chapel by boat. Methodism continued to grow throughout the 1800s, and many local men became preachers.
Later Years and New Uses
By the 1950s, fewer people were attending services. The last Methodist service at the chapel took place in 1963.
After that, the Divine Word Missionaries, a Catholic group, leased "Greens" and the chapel for ten years. They paid a very small rent. The first Catholic Mass was held there on Sunday, 25 June 1965.
When their lease ended, the chapel was empty for many years. In 1984, the Dharug and Lower Hawkesbury Historic Society leased the building from the Uniting Church in Australia. They also paid a very small rent. In 1986, the Society received a special grant for Australia's Bicentennial. With this grant and a lot of fundraising, they were able to buy the property.
Today, the chapel and its grounds are used for meetings and social events. They are also part of historical tours in the area. Sometimes, church services are still held there if people request them.
What the Chapel Looks Like
Chapel Features
The chapel is made of sandstone and stands on the half-acre of land that George Everingham donated. The original roof, which was made of wooden shingles, has been replaced with a corrugated steel roof. The windows were also recently replaced to look just like the original ones. Inside, you can see several old church benches (pews) and a holy table.
Surrounding Area and Condition
On the grounds, there is also a small building with toilets. This building serves as a meeting area and a place for visitors on tours.
The chapel is in good physical condition. The Historical Society replaced the roof and windows because they had been damaged by termites. However, there is some sinking in one front corner. There is also a big problem with drainage because the building does not have proper drainage underneath it. The road level of Wisemans Ferry Road was raised, which made this problem worse.
The chapel still looks much like it did when it was first built. The only main changes are the roof, which is now tin but follows the original shape, and the windows, which were replaced with glass that matches the old ones. The small amenities block was built further up the property.
Why the Chapel is Important
Local Significance
The Lower Hawkesbury Wesleyan Chapel is very important to the local area. It shows how Wesleyan Methodism grew and was practiced in the Lower Hawkesbury. It also connects us to the early European settlers in the area. Because the community still uses it for social, historical, and educational events, it continues to be significant.
This chapel is a rare example of a Wesleyan place of worship from the 1800s in the Lower Hawkesbury. It is the oldest stone chapel from that time that is still standing and can be used.
The chapel has been used almost continuously by the community since 1855. This shows its strong connection to the area's settlement.
The Lower Hawkesbury Wesleyan Chapel was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Historical Importance
The land where the chapel stands has been part of the Lower Hawkesbury's history since the early 1800s. It was first the home of Richard Woodbury, the area's first police constable. Later, it became the home of George Everingham, who was very important in the development of Wesleyanism there. The chapel, built in 1855 on land given by George Everingham, is a key part of the early settlement's history. It also shows the development of the local community and the Wesleyan religion.
Many important people were connected to the chapel, either as preachers or attendees. These include lay preachers George Everingham and his wife Keturah, John Laughton and his wife Charlotte, and George Douglas and his wife Elizabeth.
Local Wesleyans raised all the money to build the chapel. It was the main religious and social center for the community from 1855 to 1963. The current owners, the Dharug and Lower Hawkesbury Historical Society, raised a lot of money, along with a grant, to buy the chapel in 1986. Some of the earliest members of the Historical Society, like Louise Prince and Freda Deas (who is now in her nineties), grew up in the area. They clearly remember attending church services and tea parties at the Wesleyan Chapel. Since buying the property, the Historical Society has done a lot of work to restore the chapel and improve the grounds. They continue to fund its maintenance.
This site is the only stone church built in the mid-1800s in the Lower Hawkesbury that is still standing and complete. This makes it very important historically for the local area.
Aesthetic Value
The chapel was a very noticeable landmark in the mid-1800s and early 1900s, before the road was built. It faces the Hawkesbury River because most churchgoers arrived and left by boat. There is a path down to a natural rock landing with iron rings, which people likely used to tie up their boats. The chapel itself is on a high point where the Woodbury house once stood in 1827. The worn steps show that it has been used constantly for over 130 years. As the oldest usable stone chapel in the Lower Hawkesbury, it adds greatly to the beauty of the area from the 1800s and 1900s. Even though the road is now higher, the chapel is still a clear landmark that can be seen from both the road and the Hawkesbury River. This gives it local aesthetic importance.
Social and Cultural Connections
The chapel was the main place for religious and social activities for the Wesleyan community from 1855 to 1963. From 1965 to 1973, the Divine Word Missionaries, a Roman Catholic group, used it for religious purposes. Since 1984, it has been the home of the Dharug and Lower Hawkesbury Historical Society. They bought the chapel in 1986. Since then, it has been regularly used for historical activities. It also holds the Society's archives, which contain written and picture records of the Lower Hawkesbury's history, including research on the pioneer families. This makes it very important socially for the local community.
Research Potential
The site likely contains archaeological evidence from its time as a Wesleyan Chapel. A review in 1997 noted that the two sandstone decorations (finials) and the round design and vent on the front of the building are unusual. They could be valuable for future research. There is also a large, single stone beam (lintel) and a carved stone with the date above the door, which also have research value.
The chapel also holds the archives of the Historical Society. These archives include Wesleyan history, as well as recordings and original research about the Lower Hawkesbury area, including its pioneer families. This makes it important for research locally.
Rarity of the Chapel
A heritage review in 1997 found the chapel to be rare in terms of its historical, aesthetic, and social importance for the local area. The two stone finials and the carved stone block with the date above the door are especially unique.
The Lower Hawkesbury Wesleyan Chapel is a rare example of a Wesleyan place of worship from the 1800s in the Lower Hawkesbury. As the oldest intact stone chapel from that time that can still be used, it is a rare example of its kind.
Demonstrating Characteristics
The chapel shows the main features of a religious chapel from its time period.
See also
- 1852 establishments in Australia
