Methodist Church, Cygnet (1)

Open 1879. Replaced by a newer building in 1952.

The Mercury, 19 June 1875
The Mercury, 19 June 1875

Mr. THOMASON, bush missionary, gave an account of his work at the Huon subsequent to the period embraced in the report. On the 10th January last he entered upon his work, and from that time to the 7th of this month—a period of a little over four months—he had preached 102 times in Franklin, Port Cygnet, Irish Town, Castle Forbes Bay, Wattle Grove, Gardiner’s Bay, Surge’s Bay, Port Esperance, Hastings, Recherche, Southport, and other places. Although the distances had been long, he had every reason to be thankful with the success of his labours. He had met with the greatest kindness and hospitality ; and he had had the happiness of seeing no less than 34 souls converted to the truth. (Hear, hear.) Some present perhaps asked what conversion meant and he might answer, what made men praying men. All the 34 persons he alluded to had, since their conversion, engaged in public prayer, and some of the young men had conducted prayer meetings and Sunday-schools. At tho Huon there were 102 members in connection with the Wesleyan Church. With regard to finances, he might mention that the people of Port Cygnet, Irish Town, Gardiner’s Bay, and Wattle Grove had guaranteed to provide a sum of £42 a-year towards the bush mission in the district. (Hear, hear.) There were places far better than those which did not come out in that way. He was not able to state what the other side of tho Huon—Franklin, Castle Forbes Bay, etc.—would do, though he hoped to/be able to do so before the mission meetings closed ; but he believed the Huon district would be self-supporting, so far as the bush mission was concerned. (Applause.) As regards the attendance, the average at Franklin was 90, and at Port Cygnet, the last two or three times, there was not sufficient room for the people. The success of the work was not, however, due to him, but to men who had been labouring there for years for the salvation of souls. They had been ploughing, and sowing, and harrowing, and he had come in to help them to reap a little.
The Mercury, 16 May 1876
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St James Catholic Church, Cygnet (1)

Mary Street, Cygnet. Approximate location on Google Maps.

There seem to have been four Catholic churches at Cygnet. The first was a weatherboard, possibly temporary, building erected in the early 1860s. This was replaced in 1867 by a more a more substantial small weatherboard church, St James. In 1903 a stone church, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was constructed which incorporated the older building. This was later demolished and the current St James built in 1940.

Photos of older St James & newer building of both stone and weatherboard

The Church of St. James the Apostle at Port Cygnet was consecrated on Tuesday by, Dr. Murphy, Roman Catholic Bishop of Hobart Town. The services were witnessed by more than five hundred persons. The Very Reverend Dr. Hayes, Dean of Sandhurst, Victoria, delivered a most eloquent sermon. Several priests took part in the ceremony. Subscriptions amounting to £68 11s. 6d. were received. A sumptuous luncheon was subsequently given to the visitors in a spacious building adjacent to the church
Launceston Examiner, 21 February 1867
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Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Cygnet

Mary Street, Cygnet. Approximate location on Google Maps.

Opened 1903
Demolished c.1939

Photo, 1900s
Photos of older St James & newer building of both stone and weatherboard

There seem to have been four Catholic churches at Cygnet. The first was a weatherboard, possibly temporary, building erected in the early 1860s. This was replaced in 1867 by a more a more substantial small weatherboard church, St James. In 1903 a stone church, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was constructed which incorporated the older building. This was later demolished and the current St James built in 1940.

NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH AT PORT CYGNET.
LAYING FOUNDATION-STONE.
(By Our Special Representative.)
The ceremony of laying the first stone of the new Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Port Cygnet was performed on the 15th by the Most Rev. Dr. Murphy, Archbishop of Hobart. The weather was, unfortunately, very wet, with the almost necessary result that the attendance on the occasion was diminished.

Arrangements had been made for the fine steamer Mahinapua, of the Union Steamship line, to run from Hobart to Port Cygnet on the Sunday morning; the Hopetoun to run from Huonville, and call at Franklin, Jackson Point, and Shipwrights’ Point; and the Nubeena to run from Southport, and call at Port Esperance. The three steamers ran to Port Cygnet, but, as may be supposed, the passengers carried were far less in number than if the weather had been fine. For instance, 130 travelled by the Mahinapua, though she could have taken 350; and, beyond doubt, the latter number would have been carried had the day been inviting. However, the passengers by the Mahinapua made the best of the circumstances, and the operatic music furnished by a few Italian- minstrels helped materially to make the 45-mile trip to Lovell even pleasant. After the recent very hot weather experienced in Hobart, perfectly cool weather on board ship, even if accompanied by rain, was a delightful experience. The thunderstorm of the Saturday evening had palpably cleared the atmosphere, and the change from heat to cold-for people had to resort to overcoats-was grateful under any circumstances. The Mahinapua left the Elizabeth-street pier at 9.20 a.m., and landed her passengers at the lower jetty at Port Cygnet at 1.10 p.m.

At Port Cygnet, it had been raining since 2 o’clock on the Saturday, and the road from the jetty to Lovell, a mile in length, was marked by mud and water, just as it is often concealed by dust when the weather is dry and hot. So, on the 15th, it was not inviting to pedestrians, particularly ladies, and there are no trams connecting Lovell with the ship- ping. The Rev. P. J. O’Flynn, the pastor of the district, with great thoughtfulness, made all the arrangements possible for conveying the visitors to the site of the new church, but his resources were not illimitable. Not a few had to “negotiate” the wet and muddy road, and they did it courageously. So much for the weather and its consequences.

Now a word concerning the new church. The existing Catholic Church of St. James’s was opened and dedicated in February, 1867 – exactly 36 years ago. It was built by the Rev. J. Holehan, then pastor of Port Cygnet, but now in charge of Kingston. It is a wooden church, picturesque in design; but, as may be supposed, the congregation have outgrown the accommodation afforded. The Mass at the dedication of the present church was celebrated by the Very Rev. P. R. Hennebry, now pastor of St. Joseph’s, Hobart, and the sermon was preached by the Very Rev. Dean Hayes, of the Order of St. Augustine, then in charge of St. Kilian’s. Bendigo, Victoria. Soon afterwards, Dean Hayes was appointed Bishop of Armidale, Now South Wales, but he died in Dublin be- fore consecration. The present pastor of Port Cygnet has been in charge for the lost nine years, having boon sent thither from the Cathedral staff. The first contract for the erection of the new church is for the building of the chancel, the walls of which will embrace a portion of the present church. In fact, the new church will be built outside the old one, and the latter used as long as it does not stand in the way of the builder’s operations. When it does, of course , it will be pulled down.

The chancel now about to be built will, like the whole of the new church, be composed of Port Cygnet white stone, a new quarry of which has been opened at Cradoc Hill, three and a half miles from Lovell It will be 26 feet by 23 feet; the walls on the inside will be 16 feet in height ; and it will be 41 feet from the floor to the apex of the roof. the altar platform will be 3 feet above the floor. The floor will be of Tasmanian hardwood, and the ceiling of pine, nicely panelled,” stained, and varnished. The present contract is to be completed in six months. The contract price is £735. The architects are Messrs. Walker and Salier, of Hobart, and the contractor is Mr. Jonas Cranston, New Town.
[continued]
The Mercury, 16 February 1903

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Union Chapel, Woodbridge

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The Union Chapel, near the Cemetery, was built in 1858 on half an acre given by Mr Joseph Davies for a place of public worship and shared by the Protestants for many years. Parts of the old Government House in Hobart were used in the construction. In 1884 the Church of England withdrew to build St Simon and St Jude. The Wesleyans continued to worship there till the major bushfire of 1897 when the chapel was burnt. Today the old cemetery marks the site and the lives of first settlers.

New Methodist Church
St Simon and St Jude

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Better version of the photo

Anglican Church, Longford (first)

Wellington St, Longford, near current church. Google Maps.
Opened c.1831
Demolished c.1844 with the opening of Christ Church.

A Short Account
From A Short Account of Christ Church, Longford, the drawing “is made from the south of the [current] Church and shows the great window. The old Church is seen behind and more to the north; it was pulled down as soon as the other was in use, and the bricks were used for the building of the Sunday School, which seems to have been finished by December, 1845.”
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Anglican Church, Kingston (first)

Opened 1842.
Replaced 1894 by the current wooden church.

The Courier, 12 February 1841

Brown’s River.— The church at this place was opened to the public on Sunday last ; it was very much crowded, and the Rev. Mr. Freeman, who has been inducted to the parish of Kingboro’, delivered a very impressive and appropriate address on the occasion.
Cornwall Chronicle, 30 April 1842

KINGSTON CHURCH.
Sir,-Having read your report of the meeting held here on the 4th inst., which I was not at, I should like to say a few words upon the subject considered.

First, relative to Mr. Firth’s good-natured offer to give stone for the new church. When the old church was repaired in 1856-57, all the neighbours possessed of quarries willing to give the stone required for the purpose ; but I had the pleasure of having stone from a quarry on my land selected and used as the most likely to be enduring, some of the original stone having fretted away. The bell-tower, taken down some time ago, was entirely of my stone, and its quality for durability has been approved by all the builders who have seen it. Now, it is certainly desirable that a new stone of church should be built of the most durable material to be had ; therefore, before it is dually decided that Mr. Firth’s stone should be used, I think it should be compared by experts with mine, and any other that may be offered ; and in the event of the decision being again in favour of my stone, like Mr. Firth, I would be most happy to have it again used, free of cost.

I am far, however, from sure myself that it would be most advisable to build of stone. The foundation of the present structure is believed to have been the source of all the trouble there has been with it, and it is quite probable it may be difficult and very expensive to get a secure foundation for a new heavy building on the site of the old church, whilst the stability of the foundation would not be of the same consequence were the building to be of wood; and, again, a wooden building would be easier and less expensively enlarged as population increases, It might, too, be planned to provide for enlargement.

The Kingston church has within my recollection, been for 39 years a terror to churchwardens, and it behoves builders of a new church on the old spot to be careful what they are about. The church, in the course of a few years, showed signs of inclining towards the “eastern position,” and since then has cost, from time to time, nobody knows what for further repairs to the structure. Quite enough, I believe, to have built and kept in repair a good wooden church.

It is to be hoped that no unfortunate decision may be again arrived at, and that the new church, if of stone,’ will not pursue its ancestor’s vagaries.-Yours, etc
EDWARD INNES.
Brown’s River, December 7.

The Mercury, 14 December 1893

Wesleyan Chapel, Margaret St, Launceston (1)

“The building was of wood and had been erected at a cost of £250. It stood behind the present building.”

Margaret St, Launceston. Google Maps.

Opened c.1837.
Replaced in 1858 by a new building that was later the Sunday School, fronting Margaret Street.
In 1889, a larger building was constructed for use as a school, fronting Balfour St.
In 1918, this was converted for use as the church building, and the smaller building on Margaret St became the Sunday School.

The first reference to the establishment of a Methodist Church in Margaret-street occurs in the minutes of the quarterly meeting of the Launceston Circuit held at Paterson-street on May 7, 1836, under the question: “What more can be done to promote the cause of God in the Circuit?” Faded writing in the century-old minute book records the following re solution as the answer to the query: ‘”It being deemed desirable to have a place in which to hold religious ser vices in the south end of the town, and Mr. I. Sherwin having offered to the connexion a plot of land on which to erect a chapel, it is resolved that Mr. Sherwin’s offer be greatly accepted and that the property be settled on the conference plan without delay.'”

On June 30, 1836, it was decided to erect a chapel on the land at once with the means which may be realised, “the size to be according to the sum obtained on condition that the sanction of the district meeting be obtained.” There is no record extant of the actual opening, but Margaret-street appears on the plan for January, 1837, and in April of the same year it was decided that preaching be held at Margaret-street every Sunday afternoon. The building was of wood and had been erected at a cost of £250. It stood behind the present building.
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(site of) Temporary Independent Chapel, Frederick St, Launceston

A small wooden building “then considered an old one, and erected in another part of the town [that] was purchased and removed on wheels to the allotment in Frederick-street, where it was converted into a chapel”.
1839 Opened
1842 Replaced by St John’s Square Chapel
1885 Demolished.

Assessment roll
From the 1886 Assessement Roll for Launceston. The land marked replaces 3 occupied houses in the 1885 roll, which makes it likely to be the site of a wooden tenement proximal to the Primitive Methodist Chapel demolished in the previous few months. That site would be either next door or one building down from the Primitive Methodist Chapel (depending on the location of its associated house). Thus, it would be approximately here:

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St Mary’s Catholic Church, Gormanston (no photos)

Opened 1891.

Zeehan & Dundas Herald 11 September 1897
Zeehan and Dundas Herald, 11 September 1897

THE VINCENTIAN MISSION
After the termination of the Zeehan mission in connection with the Roman Catholic persuasion, the Vincentian Fathers will extend their labors to the Strahan, Queenstown, and Gormanston districts. The Rev. Father M. O’Callaghan has been in charge of that district during the past ten months, and his efforts have been crowned with a large measure of success. A church has been built at Queenstown, and land has been bought and paid for at Strahan, while a contract has been accepted for the erection of a church at Gormanston. The Vincentian Fathers will open missions at the Court house, Strahan, at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 1st, and will close on the following Friday evening. They will also open at the A.M.A. Hall, Gormanston, on the same day, at 7.30 p.m., and close on the following Saturday evening. The dedication of St. Joseph’s Church at Queenstown, will take place on Sunday, the 6th of February, and the ceremony will be conducted by His Lordship the Coadjutor Bishop of Hobart, and the occasional sermon will be preached by the Rev. Father McCarthey (Vincentian Father). On that important occasion a strong choir will sing Mozart’s 12th Mass, and a special collection will be taken up to assist in the liquidation of the debt upon the church. Father O’Callaghan appeal to his many friends for their earnest support in connection with this important matter.

Zeehan & Dundas Herald, 26 January 1898

Gormanston chapel is being rapidly pushed on.
Launceston Examiner, 14 February 1898

OPENING ST. MARY’S CHURCH, GORMANSTON
The solemn opening and dedication of St Mary’s Catholic Church, Gormanston, will take place on Sunday 29th inst. The mass will be a Missa Cantata, and the choir will be assisted by the full strength of St. Joseph’s Church, who intend journeying from Queenstown to assist at the opening ceremony. The Rev. M. W. Gilleran, of St Mary’s Cathedral, Hobart, will preach the occasional sermon. Admission will be by ticket, the proceeds being in aid of the debt on the church. Evening devotions and sermons will be held at 7 p.m. The pastor, Rev. M. O’Callaghan has been generally congratulated on the success that has followed his efforts in having such a pretty church erected in the short time that he has had charge of the district.

Zeehan & Dundas Herald, 19 May 1898