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History

The first service on the St John's property was held in 1840, and the building which was designated as St Johns Ashfield was opened in 1845. St Johns was the first church between Sydney and Parramatta, and planted numerous churches in the area in its early years, including at Balmain and Enfield.

On this page you can find out about: Aboriginal Inhabitants, European Settlement, Land Division, St John's Establishment, Early Ministry, Building, Cemetery, Memorial.

Aboriginal Inhabitants

Prior to white settlement the area was heavily wooded and a fantastic habitat for the local aboriginal tribes. The local Eora group ranged from the coast to around Parramatta, predominately south of the river down to Botany Bay.  With the coming of white man came the introduction of diseases, especially small pox. It is thought that about half of the Sydney aboriginal population was killed mainly through disease within the first 2 years of the British colony being established.

European Settlement

The first recipient of land in Ashfield was the colony's first pastor, Richard Johnson. Johnson worked hard preaching the gospel but the early inhabitant was a tough environment - his church was burnt down and he was despised by many. But he had a deep passion to tell people of the fantastic grace of God. Despite being young, newly married, hated and abused and able to get a cushy job back in England, he stayed in Australia, farming in Ashfield to make a living and telling people about the great new of Jesus where ever he could.

The first European to actually live in the area was Augustus Alt. He owned most of the property from Bland St down to the canal beside Croydon Ave. He was the surveyor general for the city (the senior town planner). The town plan that he and Governor Phillip devised was quite impractical. It contained 60m wide streets and enormous block sizes. The early colony was struggling just to feed itself and had no time to put into grand infrastructure - they needed something quick and easy and practical. As a consequence of the lack of resources Alts plan was shelved and the town grew in a haphazard manner.

Some of the other early land owners around Ashfield were more questionable characters.  Henry Kable and Simeon Lord were both originally convicts but ended up being heavily involved in the NSW Corps.  The NSW Corps were theoretically law enforcers, but basically the strong arm bullies of the early colony, a group made up of second-rate soldiers and ex-convicts.  They controlled supplies and made huge profits through corruption and extortion. Governor Bligh tried to oppose them but was somewhat of a tyrant himself and all he managed to achieve was a stand off with the NSW corps and rebellion.

Land Division

In those early days the Ashfield area was carved up into small packets of land. These were bought up and consolidated by a man named Campbell, and were eventually bought by Joseph Underwood in 1817. Underwood owned most of the land between Liverpool Rd and Parramatta Rd and the railway line. He came from Ashfield in England and called his property Ashfield Park.

Josephs brother James, of less noble character than his brother, bought Summer Hill from Kable in 1821 and the 2 brothers had adjacent properties. James was a convict and was involved with the ill reputed NSW Corps. At his death his will left money and property to children of 3 marriages and 2 extramarital affairs. He left behind a fractured family with poor relationships who in their greed had protracted legal battles over the will for almost 30 years. It required an act of parliament to resolve this bitter dispute.

In 1838 after Joseph Underwoods death, his widow Elizabeth subdivided a large portion of the Underwood estate. This original township of Ashfield extended from Alt Street to Liverpool Road and comprised just 70 blocks.

St John's Establishment

Elizabeth Underwood donated a portion of the subdivision to the Anglican Church. Prior to this church services had been held in the Underwood home.

The church wasnt completed for around 7 years. But in 1845 it was opened as the first church between the city and Parramatta.

People would come large distances in order to get to church. Church Street was originally a track formed by people walking from Burwood to come to church. They came up that way through the Underwood estate because a tree had fallen across Iron cove creek, providing a convenient footbridge. Over the years the foot track was consolidated into a roadway.

Early Ministry

Mr Wilkinson, the minister who opened the church was a man of incredible energy. In the 11 years that he was at St Johns he built 3 churches, this one, St Marys in Balmain and St Thomas in Enfield. At the same time as this he ran a school in his home in Enfield. This school called The Meads had a very good reputation and many of the posh families sent their kids there. Just prior to the church being opened he purchased for the church an additional 2½ acres, over and above that given to the church. He paid the considerable sum of ₤100.

On top of this, Mr Wilkinson was a keen wood carver, carving the interior decorations for the church out of cedar.

This man of great industry was succeeded by his nephew Thomas. This second Wilkinson married into the local royalty (so to speak) by marrying Julia Underwood, daughter of Elizabeth. Thomas did ministry in a number of parishes around the area, but died at the early age of 55 and is buried in the graveyard at St John's.

It was during Thomas Wilkinson's ministry at St Johns in 1858 that Elizabeth Underwood died. Her family subdivided the remainder of her land, (approx. 200acres) which enabled much of Ashfield to be developed.

Building History

The St John's church building is a stone and brick cruciform church with five bays to the nave, two to the transepts and one to the chancel. There is a north and south porch to the central bay of th enave, and a choir vestry to the north of the chancel. A tower marks the west entry. Every external wall except for the face stone transepts and chancel are in rendered brickwork.  The nave section of the building dates from the 1840s and was initially designed by a Mr Williams, though supervision of the building was taken over by Edmund Blacket upon his arrival in the colony in 1874-75.  For details of the stages of development see the list of rectors and building works

Memorial Cenotaph

The memorial cenotaph in front of the church building was donated by Mr Whitehurst whose son was a fighter pilot during WWII.  There are 22 names listed on it, all of whom were members of St John's killed in action.  A memorial parade is held at St John's by the Australian Air Force Cadets in August.