HISTORY OF THE PARISH

In A.D. 1788, Richard Johnson, chaplain with the first fleet, began the work of God in this land. Men like Samuel Marsden, Bishop Broughton and Bishop Tyrrell carried forward the Church until the banner of the Cross was planted firmly into this district.

In 1888, 100 years after the beginning of the colony in Newcastle, St Augustine's church was commenced. Until the year 1889 parishioners of the Burwood, Junction and Glebe districts attended St John's church in Parry Street, either walking or travelling by a special railway carriage, drawn by a horse. (Col. Ranclaud was known to take his lunch with him to the 11am service so that he could remain for Sunday School.)

On 5th May 1889 through petition to the Bishop of the See of Newcastle, the church was consecrated.

Mr Edward Christopher Merewether commenced building the present
Church in 1888 on the site of a former cottage occupied by the Dudleys for
whom he constructed a small cottage adjoining the site of the present
Rectory.

The Rev. J Vosper became Priest-in-Charge of the new district the following year when a petition asking that the Church be made independent of the Mother Church was granted. The Church population (those over 14 years of age) was 681 and during the year there were 75 baptisms, 39 people confirmed, 9 marriages and 25 burials. The income for the Parish that year amounted to two hundred and forty one pounds eight shillings and three pence.

From this beginning we have journeyed to the Parish we are today, with 210 on our Parish roll, 66 baptisms, 51 marriages, and 27 burials in 1998.