Stages of Development

The nave section of St John the Baptist Anglican Church, Ashfield is of very early construction dating from 1840-45 and designed by a Mr Williams. Edmund Blacket took over the supervision of the building after his arrival in the colony in 1843. The transepts and chancel were added to the design of Edmund Blacket in 1874-75. His sons Cyril and Arthur trading as Blacket Bros added the choir vestry and west door porch (now demolished) in 1885 shortly after Edmund Blacket’s death. The tower to the west door was added to the design of Cyril Blacket in 1901-04.

Detailed development of the site

1840-45
Nave constructed with gallery at west end, Rev Wilkinson carved the chancel furniture, gallery panels and screens and reredos panelling from Australian Cedar.

1860s
First suggestions for building a school hall

1867-1900 Rev Corlette

1871
Organ installed in the gallery – by Mr Davidson of Sydney

1872
Enlargement of the church first suggested

1874-5
Transepts and Chancel added – Edmund Blacket’s drawings show external lightweight porches to the transept doors, a chancel that projects only slightly into the crossing, the pulpit hard against the wall, a balanced layout with reading desk on the mirror side to the pulpit and the lectern in the centre, two choir stalls with frontals, pews extending almost right through the crossing and additional transept pews facing inwards – the organ is located but was not installed as shown – discrepancies in the window locations indicate that the construction was not carried out entirely as shown.

1879
Organ moved to south transept

1882
Organ sold to St Bartholomew’s Pyrmont

1885
Choir vestry and west door porch added – Blacket Bros plans show that choir stalls have been moved about one metre outwards from the sanctuary, chancel layout is as per previous plan, crossing pews have been reduced slightly for larger chancel, choir vestry addition, porch addition to west doors, south porch shown as a baptistery with no external doors (this design intent was not carried out till 1891), internal door from south porch cut out to larger opening to provide more space for baptistery, a detailed construction drawing of the pulpit (that matches the existing detail) shows that it dates from this period - Hill and Sons organ installed in north transept reducing extent of pews

1891
Alteration in the arrangement of the interior of the church at the west end – removed the font to the new baptistery formed out of the old southern vestry (south porch), the west gallery was removed due to decay, the carved cedar work was placed around the baptistery (in what is now south porch)

1895
The parish hall is erected to the design of Ernest Scott, architect

1900
A peal of bells is purchased from England

1901-1916 Rev Yarnold

1901
The tower is built to the design of Cyril Blacket as a memorial to Rev Corlette – the bells are hung but are soon removed due to their unsuitability

1903
Small parish hall – infants classroom

1904
Jewelled cross and re-table in sanctuary adorning reredos Broadhurst postcard of interior of church dated 1920-27 although the gas light fittings would indicate that the photo pre-dates 1914 – the jewelled cross can be seen under the main windows

1914
First use of electricity in the church

1916-1926 Rev Hilliard

1919
The WW1 honour boards are installed

1921
There are changes to the church grounds

1922
The rectory is built - sandstone wall to Alt St is built

1926
Renovating and remodelling the church roof – the floors are replaced

1927-1931 Rev Yeats – very sick throughout and died after short incumbency

1927
Stone wall to Bland St constructed

1931-1939 Rev Cocks

1932
Baptistery built as a memorial to Rev Yarwood (no location but likely to be the present position), new west doors (likely to be the ornate carved timber doors into the nave rather than the older ledged external doors to the tower), introduction of side chapel in the south transept, and replacement of choir stalls – several memorial windows installed – research for church centenary From the fabric it is also clear that the pews from the crossing and transepts were replaced at this time

1939-1950 Rev Sutton

Centenary and WWII, refitted and polished the reredos and other cedar joinery, recondition of the chancel, St John’s preschool established, a surplus army hut was purchased and erected adjacent to the small hall – re-erected the gallery carvings around the baptistery, installed a new altar

1950-65 Rev Shaw

Parish finances depleting – organ rebuilt with an electronic action and console removed to other side of church, church loses right of nomination, church replastered inside, circular staircase built in porch in memory of M. Alexander

1966-1973 Rev Seddon

Extensive repairs to rectory and west wall of church, retaining wall to stabilise movement in west wall, rebuilt organ, 1967 kneelers dedicated to Bishop Hilliard

1973-1979 Rev Twine

Electronic action of organ not working well – organ rebuilt 1973 with mechanical action – 1978 debate about columbarium, no decision, lapsed, rose garden instead – died suddenly, memorial plaque over south vestry (indicating that this was no longer the baptistery & that the partition wall had been installed)

1980-1989 Rev Colefax

Declining congregation – youth group ceases – Sunday School numbers dropping – regained right of nomination – 1982 “Friends of St Johns” - 1988 Bicentenary grant to restore cemetery – Korean church formed

1990–2003 Rev Robinson

Steel tower built in crossing – work for dole repairs to hall – purpose built section of pre-school replacing two war time huts – steel tower removed and roof framing repaired

2004–2005 Rev Le Huray (acting)

No building work during this period.

2005– Rev Katay

2006
Major organ, chancel and south vestry refurbishment about to commence!!