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 very old building in Gunderman, New South Wales, Australia. It used to be a church for the Wesleyan Methodist people. Today, it's a place where the Dharug and Lower Hawkesbury Historical Society holds meetings and events. This chapel was built way back in 1852 by the Greentree Brothers. It's so important that it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, which means it's a protected historical site.
History of the Chapel
Early Days of Methodism
By 1818, a Christian group called Wesleyan Methodism became popular along the Hawkesbury River. Many settlers in the area came from places like Sussex, Kent, and Cornwall in England. At first, people held their church services in private homes. Ministers from Windsor helped lead these services.
George Everingham's Role
George Everingham was the first Wesleyan preacher born in Australia. His parents were Matthew Everingham and Elizabeth Rimes, who arrived with the First Fleet. In 1832, George bought a property called "Greens" at Lower Hawkesbury. He often walked or rowed a boat for days to reach his church meetings.
From 1841, George Everingham, along with 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 was too big for private homes. So, George Everingham 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 raised 200 pounds. Later, on June 9, 1859, another tea-meeting raised 61 pounds to pay off the remaining debt.
First Services and Growth
The first church service in the new chapel was held on April 22, 1855. The people arrived on Sunday, but the minister, John Watkin, got lost. He didn't arrive until Monday! Most people came to the chapel by boat. Methodism continued to grow throughout the 1800s, and many local men became preachers.
Changes Over Time
By the 1950s, fewer people were attending services. The last Methodist service at the chapel was in 1963.
Later, a group called the Divine Word Missionaries leased "Greens" and the chapel for 10 years. They paid a very small rent. The first Catholic Mass was held there on Sunday, June 25, 1965.
After 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 for a small rent. In 1986, they received a special grant and raised a lot of money. This allowed them 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 ask.
About the Chapel
What it Looks Like
The sandstone chapel sits on the half-acre of land that George Everingham donated. The original shingle roof has been replaced with a corrugated steel roof. The windows were recently replaced to look just like the old ones. Inside, you'll find several church benches (pews) and a holy table.
On the grounds, there's also a small building with toilets. This building is used as a meeting area and for visitors on tours.
Condition of the Building
The chapel is in good physical condition. The Historical Society replaced the roof and windows because termites had damaged them. However, there is some sinking in one front corner. Also, there's a big problem with water drainage. The building doesn't have proper drainage underneath, and there's no space for air to move around. When Wisemans Ferry Road was raised, it made this drainage problem even worse.
The chapel still looks much like it did when it was built, except for the new tin roof and glass windows. A small building for amenities has been added further up the property.
Why it's a Heritage Site
The Lower Hawkesbury Wesleyan Chapel is a very important historical site for the local area. It shows how Wesleyan Methodism grew and was practiced in the Lower Hawkesbury region. 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 important today.
The chapel is a rare example of a Wesleyan place of worship from the 1800s in this area. It is the oldest stone chapel from that time that is still standing and usable.
It has been used almost continuously by the community from 1855 until now.
The Lower Hawkesbury Wesleyan Chapel was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, because it met several important requirements:
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 officer. Later, it became the home of George Everingham, who was key to the growth of Wesleyanism. The chapel, built in 1855 on land given by George Everingham, is a big part of the story of early settlement, the local community, and the development of Wesleyanism.
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, also raised a lot of money (plus a grant) to buy the chapel in 1986. Some of the oldest members of the Historical Society, like Louise Prince and Freda Deas, grew up in the area and remember attending church services and tea parties at the chapel. Since buying it, the Society has done a lot of work to restore the chapel and improve the grounds. They continue to pay for its upkeep.
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.
Connection to Important People
The chapel has a strong connection to the early European pioneer families of the Lower Hawkesbury Valley.
Design and Appearance
In the mid-1800s and early 1900s, the chapel was a very noticeable landmark, especially before the road was built. The chapel faces the Hawkesbury River because that's how most people arrived and left. There's a path through the bush down to a natural rock landing, with iron rings in the rocks. Churchgoers likely used these, especially after George Everingham owned the property.
The chapel is built on a high spot where the Woodbury house once stood in 1827. The worn steps show it has been used constantly for over 130 years. As the oldest usable stone chapel in the Lower Hawkesbury, it adds a lot to the look of the area from the 1800s and 1900s. Even though the road is now higher, it's still a clear landmark visible from both the road and the river. This makes it important for its local beauty.
Community and Social Importance
The chapel was the main place for religious and social activities for the Wesleyan community from 1855 to 1963. From 1965 to 1973, a Catholic group called the Divine Word Missionaries 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 and holds the Society's archives. These archives contain written and picture records of the Lower Hawkesbury's history, including research into the pioneer families. This makes it very important socially for the local community.
Research Potential
The site likely holds archaeological evidence from its time as a Wesleyan Chapel. A review in 1997 noted that the two stone decorations (finials) and the round design above the front door are unusual. They could be valuable for future research. There's also a large, single stone beam and a carved stone with the date above the door, which are also valuable for research.
The chapel also holds the archives of the Historical Society. These include Wesleyan history, tapes, and original research about the Lower Hawkesbury area, including pioneer families. This gives it local research importance.
Rarity
A 1997 heritage review found the chapel to be rare in terms of its historical, aesthetic (beauty), 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 and usable stone chapel from that time in the area, it is a rare example of its kind.
Typical Characteristics
The chapel shows the main features of a religious chapel from its time period.
