“Onward and Upward”

A History of the Ashford Anglican Church – a Bush Church in the Diocese of Armidale

Reverend David Wiedemann

Centennial Edition 1914 - 2013

This is what it’s about:

“Onward and Upward” is history to mark the centenary of a small country parish in Northern N.S.W. which co-insides with the centenary of the Diocese of Armidale. It includes a brief account of the history of the Anglican Church in Australia which led to the development of new dioceses and the parishes in the New England district in particular.

It tells the story of pioneer squatters and settlers who established many far-flung centres of worship, and their successors, who faithfully struggled against the vagaries of rural living, to provide for the ongoing Christian witness and ministry by supporting the ministers and church activities. It incorporates the rise and fall of many parish centres, and the progress of the main commercial centres, of which the church has a central place in the community. The story is set within the wider context of the Christian church, and includes some unique features, including amalgamation with the neighbouring parish of Delungra and the ministry of women.

The author has drawn on many and various sources, and collates the historical information contained in parish records and registers. It summarises the data in strategically placed tables. It is fully illustrated and includes thirty-six pages of appendices, maps, a bibliography and an index of names.

Contents

Foreword 10

Introduction 11

Section 1 - The Nineteenth Century. 18

Section 2 – Early Settlement of the Bukkulla District. 43

Section 3 – Ashford, N.S.W. 65

Section 4 - The Centres of the Anglican Parochial District of Ashford. 117

Section 5 – Delungra. 157

Section 6 – Amalgamation. 207

Section 7 - The Tyranny of Distance. 229

Afterword. 254

Appendices. 256

Index 294
Scripture Index 305

(An Extract from the …)

Introduction

(On how this book came about and what it is about)

I grew up on a subdivision of the squatter run, Auburn Vale, about five miles (8 km) south of Inverell in northern NSW. Across the road from our home there was a district hall that had been built in 1914. I remember a dance being held there during the 1950s and everyone who entered paid a man in a tiny ticket office at the front door. There were cars parked along both sides of the iron-stone gravel road out the front. Everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves. As it was the last dance to be held there, the hall was soon abandoned. About two hundred yards along the road towards Inverell was a disused school ground. The long grass had become a home for hares and snakes. Our neighbours said they used to attend school there during the 1930s and 40s. In the school ground were some pine trees, a fruit tree and a few ornamentals. An old bird-bath lay in ruins and the tennis court was overgrown. Towards the rear of the block were two depressions; tell-tail signs of long gone “Boy” and “Girl” pit toilets. Through the fence, on my father’s property, was a galvanised iron school-room filled with hay. The country hall and old school yard were all that remained to indicate the presence of a social centre. Social life for the district residents continued for many years as, during the 1950s and 60s we celebrated Empire Day with huge bonfires and fire crackers, attended Christmas Tree gatherings at Copeton, and Boxing Day picnics at ‘Little Manly’ on the Gwydir River. For church and Sunday school we travelled to Inverell by Holden car, singing hymns like How Great Thou Art as we went. The old hall was a popular playground for my siblings and me before it was condemned and demolished in the early 1960s. The old school yard was redeveloped with three tennis courts, a clubhouse and new “Ladies” and “Gents” pit toilets. This was where I spent my weekends playing tennis for years to come, honing my skills and aspiring to play like Ken Rosewall, Rod Laver, John Newcombe and Tony Roach. The tall pine tree was fun to climb as well. These childhood memories have contributed towards my interest in local history today. The changing face of country life in rural settings around Inverell is worth preserving and while Auburn Vale’s history has not been my special interest, the development and later life of the Anglican Parishes of Delungra and Ashford, with their many centres of social and church activity, has been.

There are several reasons why I have written this history of a bush church in a country diocese. Firstly, the Christian church is an institution that plays a vital role in the colonisation and development of the isolated bush communities. This is acknowledged in histories such as World Of Its Own and Holding Its Own, the two-volume history of Inverell and district by Elizabeth Wiedemann (my sister-in-law). Of necessity, the coverage of the churches in these books is brief, but it has provided a starting point for writing a more detailed account that includes the early struggles to provide ministers and buildings, the issues faced by the wider Christian community, and the joys and difficulties associated with maintaining a Christian witness and ministry for the greater glory of our Heavenly Father. The communities of Ashford and Delungra owe a lot to Christianity and the church continues to have a vital role to play in shaping our values today. Drawing on many primary documents, this history will provide answers to such interesting questions as: Who first used red crayon to mark registered mail instead of red tape?, When did the Church of England Women’s Fellowship begin?, What effect did World War Two have on building extension projects?, Who were the first females to be licensed as lay-preachers in the Anglican Church anywhere in Australia?

(An Extract from page 28...)

1.5 ‘Grafton and Armidale’ – A missionary Diocese 1869- 1914

Bishop Tyrrell, addressing his Diocesan Synod in May 1869 said: “As the late lamented Bishop had not taken legal possession of his Diocese by being installed in his Cathedral Church the charge of that Diocese reverts to me.” Mr Tyrrell preached on 2 Samuel 24:24 at the service in Armidale – the new centre for the new diocese. The Rt Rev. James Francis Turner (1829-1893) was installed as the first Bishop of Grafton and Armidale on 10^th September 1869. There were ten clergy, mostly itinerant. The see was equal in area to England and Wales and had a population of about 25,000 people.

The Diocese had its own Church Society to raise funds for clergy support and church extension. This was all the more necessary as Mr Turner did not receive financial aid from any of the British missionary societies.

Bishop Turner summoned the clergy and laity to convene for the first synod of the diocese in 1873 at which he appointed his Diocesan Council. John Everett’s brother, Edwin of Tenterden, and Mr James Mackenzie, manager of Ollera, attended this synod. Mr Mackenzie represented Glen Innes and Edwin represented Bundarra which included the Ashford area. Saint Bartholomew’s church was built at Ollera in 1876. The cathedral, St Peter’s, was opened in 1875 and consecrated the following year.

With regards the Colonial church in NSW the decade of 1870s witnessed a complete turn around. The Church of England had five bishops and 164 ministers. The number of attendants at the principal service on Sundays was 37,019. The Roman Catholic Church had five bishops as well, and 115 clergy. The number of attendants at their principal service on Sundays was 35,514. Another 112 clergy served about 44,000 people in the Methodist, Presbyterian, Congregational and Baptist churches. The Jewish synagogues in Sydney had five Rabbis and served 330 people. A further seven clergy served various congregations, each of less than 100 adherents. “In one word, the colony (of NSW) has undergone a wonderful change for the better during the last thirty to forty years (to 1880). All traces of its origin (perhaps an overstatement) as a penal settlement have long since disappeared … in reality it would stand a comparison with most parts of the United Kingdom...”

(An extract from page 49…)

2.2.1 Bukkulla - Bukkulla Union Church

Even though the people living in the nineteenth century had deep denominational loyalties, occasionally they got together and combined their resources and efforts to build a church for the use of all Protestant denominations. In this district, Union Churches were built at Graman, Bukkulla and Ashford.

At Bukkulla, a Union Church was built on land next to the school and administered by trustees. It is thought that Malcolm Southam was one of the original trustees. The timber building had uprights and foundations that were each made of a single tree cut on Glenorchy. The church was opened in 1906. The first wedding conducted by Mr Smith at the Union Church in Bukkulla took place on 27^th December 1911 between Cornelius Gamble and Ina Catherine Ross-Mackenzie (who was born in New Zealand). In 1918 Mrs Hugh Wyndham donated a handsome set of Altar Linen.

An extract, from The Record, 11^th December 1922 reads "One is always struck with the very large number of women and children at our services here (at Bukkulla), and our first evening service this year was no exception. After a hearty and devotional service of Holy Communion at 8 a.m. we found that a congregation of well over 50 assembled for the Evening Service."

The trustees in 1926 were: Richard Tighe, George Grant, William Thos Moffitt and John Macintyre.

(An Extract form Page 202…)

Table 10. Significant Historical Events of the Special District of Ashford/Delungra, 1981 – 2013.

1/1981	The Rev. Noel Boyce leaves. After twelve months, the Rev. Don Gowing is appointed.
1/12/1980	Special District of Ashford/Delungra founded.
1983	Outreach ’83 Mission. Visiting Clergy preached at each centre.
27/10/1985	Graman Community Church Silver Jubilee.
1/1987	The Rev Don Gowing leaves. District is vacant for twelve months. The Rev. Stephen Farrer arrived in January 1988.
17/3/1988	Operation Good News – parish joined with other denominations and presented New Testaments to every household.
9/12/1989	Parish picnic was held at Ashford Memorial Swimming Pool - A Christian Community in Action activity.
1990	Decade of Evangelism begins with workshop at Delungra on “How to share your faith” and a BBQ for men held on 16^th March.
24/2/1991	Commissioning service at Ashford for Minister-in-Charge, Rev. Ted Potter.
May/June1991	Ashford/Delungra Anglican (ADA), a bimonthly parish paper published. I was registered for posting in September.
4/1993	New Mission Praise Hymn books purchased.
4/1994	Church participates in the Hand Written Bible Project.
1994	Two Christianity Explained courses completed in 1994.
30/4/1994	Bush Dance at Graman. (See Appendix 4.11 for details.)
13/10- 4/11/1994	Retired to Retired (R2R) mission team led by Ted Potter “99 doors knocked on”
17-19/2/1995	Parish camp held at Bendemeer.
28/11/1995	Mission Statement Adopted: “To know Christ and to make Him known”.
6/7/1997	The Rev. Brian Kirk leaves and there is a vacancy for almost eighteen months.
21/12/1998	The Rev. Christopher Pears inducted at Delungra.
16/5/1999	Parish Consultation led by Bishop Peter Chiswell and Miss Wendy Smith was held at Burmah.
11/6/2000	Parish Picnic to welcome Bishop Peter Brain was held at Burmah.
13-15/10/2000	Parish Weekend by the Water at Copeton Dam with Warialda Parish. The speaker was Mr Andrew Alexander on the Book of Job. Sixty people attended.
2001	NSW Centenary Project: “Preserving Peoples Parishes”; Parish Registers were filmed for prosperity.
17/3 – 23/3/2002	Good News Week. A mission team from SMBC conducts a parish mission in conjunction with Warialda parish.
8/9/2002	The Rev. David Wiedemann begins ministry on a part-time basis for two days per week. He resigned in December 2012.
2004	Occupational Health and Safety regulations implemented.
24/12/2004	St Luke’s, Bonshaw, sold.
16/7/2006	Services of Fred Calderbank Col Miller, Pansy and Allan Jurd acknowledged.
14/8/2008	Parish Picnic was held at Burmah.
13/9/2009	Inaugural Back to Church Sunday. (Repeated in September 2010, ’11 and ’12.)
Sept/Nov 2009	Jesus – All About Life campaign.
2010	MAP Strategic Planning.
4/2011	Children for Christ Mission at Delungra and Ashford.
26/6/2011	Celebration of 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible (Authorised Version).
2012	Parish delegation meet with new Bishop, Rick Lewers, to discuss future of the Parochial District.

About the Author

David Alan Wiedemann. B. Ru. Sc, B.Th., B Couns. David recently resigned from being the part-time Vicar of the Anglican Special District of Ashford/Delungra after ten years on ministry.

Qualifications: David has diverse academic experience. He has completed degrees in Rural Science at the University of New England (1975) and Theology at Moore College (1984). Furthermore, he has completed a post-graduate degree in Counselling at UNE (1998). He also has a Certificate IV in Competency Based Training and Assessment.

Background: David grew up on a farm in the Inverell district. David has experience in mixed farming, selling, agronomy and crop protection and agricultural research. Added to this is pastoral care, teaching and preaching, counselling and group work. He has therefore worked right across the primary production line and mixed with people from all walks of life.

Work Experience: David’s studies in Rural Science thoroughly introduced him to using a systems approach to managing agricultural enterprises and to seeking solutions to problems in the context of the physical, economic and social environment. David has demonstrated his capacity to integrate research and extension in his roles in rural extension, Anglican ministry and Drought Support work with NSW Agriculture (1994-96). These skills continued to be very useful in his role as PMP Facilitator in the Farming For the Future Program (1997-2000). David has also managed Kirinari Community Services and Taught at New England Institute of TAFE. David communicates well as evidenced by his public speaking engagements and workshop leadership. During the past ten years while part-time ministering at Ashford and Delungra, parish history has been a hobby.

Professional Interests: David is interested in promoting emotional, physical and spiritual health. He enjoys working with individuals and groups. He is currently pursuing an interest in writing.

Personally: David is a husband and father of five adult children. He enjoys tennis, bushwalking, photography and reading.

All rights reserved. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, no part of this work may be reproduced by electronic or other means without the permission of the author.

Author: David A Wiedemann

Title: “Onward and Upward” – A Centennial History of the Ashford Anglican Church - a Bush Church in the Diocese of Armidale.

Edition:1^st, 2013 Edition.

ISBN: 9 78-0-646-91108-3

Notes: Incorporating A Short Account of the Delungra Anglican Church in History, and

The Church at Graman – A History.

Appendices

Place and Name Index

List of Sources

Subjects: Anglican Church – Armidale Diocese – Ashford & Delungra Parochial District - History

Biography – Anglican Ministers – Ashford & Delungra (and Tingha) - History

Dewey No: 283.9 WIE

Published by David Alan Wiedemann, 1 Leonard St Inverell 2360 wiedemannd@tpg.com.au

Cover Design, Design and Layout: David Wiedemann; St Mark’s Church, Ashford; Photographer: D. Wiedemann (DW).

Heartstrings

Monday, November 10, 2014

Four ways to live.

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Bishop Gene Gets a Divorce

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Rural (Drought) Support Worker

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

"Onward and Upward"

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Christmas letter 2013

Monday, October 21, 2013

Book Launch 16th November 2013

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

New book: "Onward and Upward"

This is what it’s about:

Introduction

About the Author

Favourite Songs

Web Sites Worth Visiting