St John the Evangelist Anglican Church

Item details


Name of item:	St John the Evangelist Anglican Church
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Religion
Category:	Church
Location:	Lat: -32.9386 Long: 151.1392
Primary address:	2985 Paynes Crossing Road, Wollombi, NSW 2325
Parish:	Corrabare
County:	Northumberland
Local govt. area:	Cessnock

Boundary:

Maitland Road, Wollombi.

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
2985 Paynes Crossing Road	Wollombi	Cessnock	Corrabare	Northumberland	Primary Address

Statement of significance:


	This church is very well conserved and picturesque in the valley landscape. It is historically significant because it demonstrates the prosperity and expectation of the time. It is also historically significant because it is an example of Edmund Blacket early work in NSW. It is aesthetically significant because of its design, setting and the use of local stone. It is socially significant because of its demonstrated value both spiritually and socially to parishes of the 1840’s to this day. It is significant for research purposes because it is an early Blacket church and because of its 1949 flood marker. Its intactness and high integrity makes it at least of high local significance and possibly of state significance.
	Date significance updated: 03 Sep 13
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	Edmund Blacket
Construction years:	1846-
Physical description:	Simple village church - Old Colonial Gothic Picturesque style; rectangular plan with projecting porch; vestry and chancel lit by single lancet windows. Gable ornamented by small belfry at one end and stone cross at the other. Built of local sandstone of a variegated golden colour. Simple pitched iron roof. Internal fittings and pews of the finest cedar. Approached through a characteristic picket fence under a fine wrought iron lantern. (Source: Pike, Walker and Assoc, 1994) See also Anglican Diocese 1920 Plans on 'Images' page.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Church is in original condition
	Date condition updated:03 Aug 02
Modifications and dates:	1864 - Nave lengthened


Current use:	Church
Former use:	Church

History

Historical notes:

In May, 1845, district residents met to plan for the construction of a protestant episcopalian church. By 1846, the architect had been selected, the site granted by the government and tenders called for the stone and woodwork. The church was designed by Edmund Blacket who had arrived in the colony in 1842. This was one of his early buildings. The foundation stone was laid in July, 1846, and the church consecrated on 15th February, 1849, by the Bishop of Newcastle. The nave was lengthened by 20 feet in 1864 (commenced 1862). The extensions were designed and supervised by Blacket.

Anglican Diocese 1920 photo states "Erected 1847 - ..added 1864 - seat 160"

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Community organisations-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The item is historically significant because of the period in which it was built when the importance and future prosperity of Wollombi was linked to the Great North Road and Governance of the district.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	This item is historically significant by its association with Architect Edmund Blacket and the fact the church is one of his early commission in NSW.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The item is aesthetically significant because of its design, use of local materials and landscape context.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The item is socially significant because it demonstrates its value to its parishiners of yesterday and today for spiritual and social support and reflects the ?? And expectations of the community in the 1840's.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	The item provides the opportunity for research because it is an early work of Edmund Blacket and because it is a depth marker of the 1949 flood level (which has been used in assessing developmen applications before Council)
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The item is representative of Blackets early work and representative of local parishes churches in early 19th Century townships.
Integrity/Intactness:	The building remains predominantly intact (inclusive of modifications like the nave extension, organ and repairs). Its integrity is very high given its state of conservation, completeness of context and original building.
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Recommended management:


	Comments - The fabric of the church has not been interfered with in any way by any well meaning "improvers" - in this lies its importance; Conservation action - Maintain as is

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date
State Environmental Planning Policy	Hunter Heritage REP, 1989	Sched 2 - Items of Regional Environmental Heritage	25 Sep 89
Local Environmental Plan	Cessnock Local Environmental Plan 2011	I200	23 Dec 11
Heritage study

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
City of Cessnock Heritage Study	1994	101	Pike, Penelope; Walker, Meredith and Associates		Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title
Photograph			Anglican Diocese of Newcastle Archive A5352c 174, held at Archives, Rare Books and Special Collections Unit, Auchmuty Library, University of Newcastle
Written	Elkin, A.P.	1955	The Diocese of Newcastle
Written	Elkin, A.P.	1946	The Wollombi and the Parish of Wollombi - a History
Written	Herman, Morton		The Blackets
Written	Register of the National Estate SHI Record
Written	Wollombi Valley Progress Association	1979	Wollombi Valley Description and History

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Local Government
Database number:	1340099

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