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1921
1923
28 May 1923
The Pathway of the Pioneer.
A History of the Early Days of Mudgee Methodism.
The following address was given by the Rev. S. Bostock-Jones in the Methodist Church last night. It will recall many names and incidents of interest to old residents, and impress upon all the debt we owe to those who laid the foundations of a progressive community.
Colwell's 'Illustrated History of Methodism' is dedicated 'To the Memory of the Pioneers of Methodism in the Southern World.' Our services to-day are held in the memory of the pioneers of Methodism in Mudgee, in particular, with special reference to the laying of the foundation stone of the church in which we are now worshipping. It is not the anniversary of the beginning of Methodism here, for Methodists had been worshipping together in the then church, now the School Hall, for ten years before the foundation stone of this present Church was laid. Neither is it the Diamond Jubilee of the opening. That did not take place until the first Sunday in April, 1864. On that Sunday next year the event will be suitably recognised. At the same time, it will not be amiss to refer to the very early days when Methodism - Weslyan Methodism, as it was then known - was first introduced. The pathway of the first minister was truly a pathway of a pioneer. Fortunately, we have his own words taken from Colwell's 'Illustrated History of Methodism.' His name was the Rev. John Pemmell, who was the first minister appointed to the Rylstone Circuit in the year 1852. He says, to quote his own words: 'I was also the first Minister at Mudgee. Joe Taylor taking me over from Rylstone (Rylstone thus became the parent of the Mudgee Church) on horseback. We applied for lodgings at the only decent inn in Mudgee; but as there was no room, Mr. Simpson, a blacksmith, (opposite the Presbyterian Church in Mortimer street) took me into his house and I lay on the hard floor without bedding and a blanket over me.
I arranged for services in the Court House, attending the Church (the Church England) in the morning. At night the Court House was filled, Nicholas Bayley (owner of Havilah Station) being in chair. After the service, I asked all the Wesleyans to remain, and I formed a class, appointing Mr. Lovejoy (father of Mr. T. J. Lovejoy, Town Clerk) from Cow Pastures (near Penrith) to meet them during my absence. Mr. Moss allowed me the use of his slab hut for preaching for one your without payment. The hut was a mere frame, without floor or windows. Mr. Bayley, who gave me a home said: 'That room is yours, never mind who is here.' A lad helped me to saw logs for the support of the pulpit and boarded off part of the church for my bedroom.
Thinking of getting up a brick church. I selected two acres of land in Mortimer Street, formed a building committee of Messrs. Blackman (many of whose descendants are still in the town and district), Viles, Amos, Lovejoy and myself, and we determined to build a church 86ft, by 16ft. Mr. Blackman gave £50 and the cedar ceiling, and Mr. Viles £50 and all the carting. The building, which was fitted up with pews throughout, cost £500, and opened free of debt. The foundation stone was laid by the Rev. W. J. K. Piddington, and as we had nothing adequate to lower the stone Mr. Piddington pushed it into position. The Rev. B. Chapman came up from Sydney to dedicate the church. As there were several applications for pews, we resolved that at 10 a.m. on the Monday, the doors should be thrown open on the principle 'first come first served. Ten minutes after all the seats were taken, except one, which I took for my wife. We secured a bell from Broomby, and fixed it to a neighbouring chimney. When the church was built, I lived in the old slab hut. It is interesting to note that the first child baptised in that old church is still living in the town - Mrs. Cummings (formerly Honey of Gladstone-street.
Methodism prospered at such a rate in following years that the idea of a new and bigger church was mooted. A Building Committee was formed in the year 1882, consisting of the Rev. Thos. Angwin, Superintendent Minister (a tablet to whose memory was placed in the church and whose remains were interred in the Old Cemetery at the West End) Messrs. Bax (father of Mr. Ernest Bax, of Mudgee), Bridges (then Headmaster of the National School), afterwards Chief inspector of Schools), Clark (Mayor of Mudgee when the present Town Hall was erected in 1880. father of Mr. Clarke of Wollongong, and grandfather of Mr. Cal. Clarke of Mudgee), Goldsmith, Tebbutt and Gulley (storekeepers). Howell, at one time partner with Mr. W. Kellett, and father of Mrs. Carpenter (nee Minnie L. Rowell. author of that delightful book 'The Angel Adjutant; Mr. Rowell and his wife are still alive, living at Auburn). Kellett (for over 50 years a prominent worker in Mudgee Methodism as the tablet to his memory in the church witnesses). Con way (who afterwards left to live in Sydney, and who is remembered by the fact that, although through unfortunate circumstances he was declared insolvent he began again and lived to pay off all his creditors). Cassin (manager of Rouse's Flour Mill), and Orchard (closely related to the Newman family).
Mr. Conway was appointed Secretary and Mr. William Kellett, Treasurer.
The building of another new church within a few years of the erection of the old one was felt to be a big undertaking, but these pioneers met and prayed and worked with enthusiasm and hope. Mr. N. P. Bayley, of Havilah, although a member of another church, to wit, the Church of England, cheered the hearts of those early Methodists with a most generous promise of £500. The general response to the financial appeal was also good with the result that Mr. G. A. Mansfield, the architect for the Hotel Australia and many times for the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney, was requested to draw plans for a chapel not to exceed £2000.' Frequent committee meetings were held during the year. Plans were altered and improvements suggested with the result that when the time actually came she erection of the church, a tender by Mr. Silas Winters, who built some of the most important buildings in Mudgee and whose work after standing the test of time for so many years, is still a model for sound craftsmanship, and thoroughness, was accepted at roughly £3500. Two points need to be observed; first that the building was erected in such a manner as to 'leave room for extension at the rear with very little interference with the present structure, and secondly - a point to be regretted - that no vestry was provided for. It is to be hoped that before very long this will be added.
When the time arrived for the building committee to decide to whom the honour should be given, of laying the foundation stone, the choice fell upon Mr. J. W. Hardwick, of Rylstone, late father of Mr. Harold R. Hardwick, A.I.A., of Mudgee. Mr. Hardwick, at that time, was settled in Rylstone though he was by no means a stranger to Mudgee, having been in business here years before along with Mr. Ebenezer Lovejoy. Mr. Hardwick arrived in Australia when a boy came to Mudgee, remained a few years, and then went lower down the line to Rylstone. Here he became an active member of the Rylstone congregation, a Local Preacher, and Superintendent of the Sunday School. For thirty years he occupied the latter position, and rendered yeoman service. He was a man of high intelligence, and was a power as a public speaker. As a tribute to his ability in this direction, he was one of the laymen invited to address the large gathering in Sydney at the opening of the York Street Centenary Hall. Moreover we have had the pleasure of perusing an address delivered by him in the Mudgee Mechanics Institute - years ago - an address of deep interest for students of astronomy. The address at once suggests a spacious intellect and a devout soul. Those who knew him say, with all the meaning that such simple words can convey, 'He was a good man.'
With his name this church will always be associated. The foundation stone was well and truly laid by him on the 36th May, 1886, which day, I am given to understand, was also his birthday. There may be some people in Mudgee who remember the occasion and could give an interesting account of the function from the standpoint of an eye-witness. But to most of us, it is history, and we are entirely dependent upon the scant records available. It can be safely assumed, however, that a large and influential gathering of people was present. The enthusiasm of the people at that time was at high water mark. After the stone was laid, Mr. Hardwick was presented with a silver trowel and mallett, which was a gift treasured by him all through his life, and which after his death passed into the possession of his son, Mr. W. B. Hard wick, Chief Government Architect for Western Australia. The ad dress, or 'oration,' as the minute book describes it, was delivered by the Rev. W. J. K. Piddington, who later on joined the Anglican Church. Mr. Piddington was the father of Mr. A. B. Piddington, the well known barrister. A very successful tea and public meeting followed in the School Hall, the speakers being the Revs. T. Angwin and W. J. K. Piddington and Messrs. Hardwick and Conway. The treasurer's report was read by Mr. W. Kellett. Mr. N. P. Bayley occupied the chair.
Thus a day, big with importance for Mudgee Methodists, passed. The function was well organised, not a small part of the happy successful day being due to the ladies who were responsible for the good old fashioned Methodist Tea Meeting. To-day, on the 60th Anniversary, we do honour to those - the pioneers, the fathers and mothers of Mudgee Methodism, men and women to whom, apart from their homes and places of business, the church of God was everything. They blazed the trail, they laid foundation. They began what to-day is being continued. It will do us good to remember these pioneers. Their pathway was not easy. What pathway of a pioneer is? They had big initial difficulties to contend with. But great was their faith, loyal was their devotion, and whole hearted their service. When we come next year to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the opening, we shall, if spared, sit and listen to men from near and far who will, tell us something more than I have attempted to-night - tell us stories of noble men and women who have toiled in season and out of season for the honour of God and the good of the town and district through the Methodist Church. Let us then in this service - while we bear in the mind that particular part of its history already dwelt upon - look upon it as only preliminary to the still bigger function to be held next April. And, in the meantime, learn - as the result of a study of all that has been done by these who have gone from us, and some even who are still with us - what a debt we in this genera-tion owe to those who have preceded us2
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1926
21 June 1926
Mr. W. Carmichael is at present engaged in preparations for the erection of four lock-up shops at the corner of Church and Mortimer streets, for the Methodist Church authorities, and will later on construct a new two-storey school hall at the rear of the church building. The Rev. S. R. Robbins has shown commendable enterprise in connection with the building campaign, for which he is in no small measure responsible. Mr. Harold Hardwick is the architect3
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1928
26 May 1928
MUDGEE, beautifully situated on the banks of the Cudgegong, lies between Gulgong and Hill End, two of the most famous of the early gold fields of the State. Gulgong is to-day the head of a Circuit and the centre of an increasingly prosperous agricultural district. On the other hand, like many other early fields, Hill End has become a mere ghost of its former self.
To travel the road to Hill End is to catch a vision of the bustling, strangely-clad multitude, that made it one of the busiest of the State's highways in the roaring days of the gold boom.
It was a time of great activity, and even greater expectations, and in these Mudgee shared. It is this spirit, reflected in her buildings, which is partly the explanation of the fact that for over half a century Mudgee has been known as a town of beautiful churches. Indeed, it is questionable whether, even to-day, there is in this State a town that can boast ecclesiastical buildings of equal quality.
The earliest records available in connection with our buildings in Mudgee are the minutes of a meeting of trustees, held in July, 1858. At this meeting, Messrs. Gully, Bax, Orchard, Tarrant, and Allpass were present, with the Rev. W. J. K. Pidding ton in the chair. The chief business of the meeting was a resolution instructing Mr. Henry Tebbutt "to draw the necessary plans and specifications for the minister's residence and the chapel enlargement." At a later meeting, in February, 1859, a tender was accented for the alterations and enlargement of the original chapel, at a cost of £270. The report of the meeting of January, 1860, states "that Andrew McCauley's tender of £875, for the erection of the minister residence, was accepted; that the work be proceeded with immediately." It will be seen that the records do not carry us back to the beginnings of Methodism in Mudgee. There is no indication at what date the chapel referred to in the records was erected, nor whether it was the first building erected by the Methodists. But this chapel still stands. It was that portion of the old Sunday School nearest to and running parallel with Church Street, This building was twice enlarged, once by an addition to its own length and later by the removal of a portion of the western wall, and
the erection of a building similar to the original, thus doubling the accommodation. This building still stands. For over 60 years it served as the Sunday School Hall, and last year was incorporated with the shops, which now occupy a fine frontage at the corner of Mortimer and Church Streets.
The conversion of the old School Hall into shops was part of the building scheme undertaken two years ago. The site upon which our buildings were erected was a Crown grant of two acres, dated 21st February, 1860. It is situated right in the centre of the town, and for some years had presented some thing of a problem to the trustees. The area was so large, it was difficult to keep it in order, and the increasing rates meant added expense. Something had to be done, and finally it was decided to erect shops on the corner site and sell the rest of the Church Street frontage. There were some that doubted, but already the wisdom of the venture is clearly seen. The conversion of the old school into these shops paved the way for the erection of a new School Hall.
This has been built as a two-storied Memorial Hall, at the rear of and attached to the Church. The building, which was designed in keeping with the Church, was erected at a cost of £2,100. It provides ample accommodation for the needs of the school, and all young people's work, for very many years to come. Two new tennis courts have been built at the rear of the Memorial Hall, and to-day Mudgee may well claim to be one of the best-equipped Circuits in country Methodism.
The shops erected on the Church Street frontage add greatly to the appearance of the property, and will become, with the passing of the years, an increasingly valuable asset to our Church.
The Memorial Hall and shops were erected in the superintendency of Rev. S. R. Robbins4
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