AUS-PT-JACKSON-CONVICTS-L Archives

From: "Shirley McLeod" <>
Subject: Re: [PJ] orphans & churches
Date: Sat, 2 Apr 2005 21:50:42 +1000
References: <003e01c53774$e57325f0$0100000a@wilson>

HI Lois and all
St James Anglican Church at Smithfield is heritage listed and yes convict
bricks were reported to have been found in the foundations of the original
church floor but not the walls. In my recently completed Uni course I did an
assignment on St James and was given a photograph of the floor during
restoration in 1973. I was told that the bricks found in the original
foundations had convict marks on them but my tutor, the late Dr John Ferry,
believed that this was not so as the original church had its foundation
stone laid in 1857 as Lois said, and as transportation finished in 1840 and
the system was virtually at an end by 1850. I suppose it is possible that
older bricks were used in the foundations but that is not likely.
I only found out on Wednesday, when I attended the Male Orphan School
exhibition at the Fairfield Museum, that St James had closed. Everyone I
spoke to seemed most surprised, as was I. I attended that church as a girl
and was married and confirmed (in that order) there in 1955. Three of my
five children were baptised there and my youngest son was married there in
1999. The grave of my great grandparents, Bernard and Susan Stein, are
still there but most of the other gravestones were removed and placed around
the fence area and the graves were levelled and grassed. My aunt Valencia
Morris is one of them. I have quite a few photographs of the church and
graveyard which I used in my assignment.
The exhibition was very interesting although I have to go back again to have
a really good look as there were too many people there. I did however
purchase the booklet they had for sale.
The Museum itself is one that I can thoroughly recommend as there is a lot
to see especially the old buildings that have been moved onto the property.
I also did an assignment on the Museum for my Uni course.
Good to see that someone else has an interest in the church. It is on very
valuable land though and I dread to think that one day it may be gone. I
must say though that Fairfield City is very conscious of its heritage
buildings, so hopefully St James will remain of use and not be allowed to
deteriorate.


> Hi Listers, Recently on visiting Fairfield I was told that St James
> Anglican Church was to be demolished as they didnt have a minister or many
> congregation. WRONG. The church has been heritage listed as it was
> built in 1857 and it looks as if it was built from convict made bricks.
> My parents were married there and my grandparents were buried there so it
> is sentimental and heritage for me. Not sure what is going to happen to
> the graves but they could be moved elsewhere. Maybe some listers have
> rels buried there.
>
> ***************************************************************************************
>
> Another piece of info was the unearthing of the Male Orphan School at
> Bonnyrigg. Quote from the local Fairfield newspaper. "Descendents of
> the former Male Orphan School at Bonnyrigg will be attending the Fairfield
> Museum and Gallery's exhibition launch on the site new week.

>

This thread:

• orphans & churches by "Lois Wilson" <>

  • Re: [PJ] orphans & churches by "Shirley McLeod" <>