Religious Traditions in Australia pre-1945 - quotes and egs

Arrival of Christianity - Overview of different religions and denominations

• Arrival in 1788 in Sydney Cove on the First Fleet, mostly Church of England and Presbyterian (and other Protestant denominations)

• Other - Catholic (half were Irish), conflicted with Anglicans/C of E due to English Reformation, Conquest of Ireland and the eradication of Catholocism in England, also Jews (15 people on First Fleet)

• By 1868 (end of transportation to Australia) convict population was - 70% English and Welsh convicts, mostly C of E or Protestant denominations, 5% Scottish (mostly Presbyterian), 24% Irish convicts (mostly Roman Catholic)

Arrival of Christianity - ‘The Early Years‘

• Reverend Richard Johnson was the first Chaplain of the Colony - Anglican (Minister of Church of England), from 1787 to 1800 (13 years), responsible for performing serves, sermons and rituals. Executions - redeemed souls, organised first church, Christian schools for chidlren, rehabilitate people/convicts

• 1791 - Order for Attendance at Church, increased conversions to Christanity as those who did not attend god reduced rations, aimed to rehabilitate convicts

• Reverend Samuel Marsden arrived in 1794 to assist him.

• First church was built in 1793, in Parramatta, which was funded by Johnson. Left frustrated at lack of support, Church burnt down.

• St Philip’s and St John’s parishes were established by 1800.

• First Catholic mass was celebrated by Father James Dixon in sydney in 1803.

• Robert Raikes founded the first Sunday School in England - encouraged attendance. Children of missionary families, the Hassals and the Marsdens established and taught at the first Sunday School in Sydeny.

• C of E worked with the State to maintan order and orgaise the education system - largest, and most recognised as British - was the established Church before the 1820s

• First NSW census in 1828 - only 19 people not Christian - were Jewish, Islamic (called Mohammedan and pagan) of 36 000

• Samuel Marsden established an orphanage and school in Sydney in 1801, missionary activies and organised the first Christian mission to the Maori and New Zealand

• Aboriginal spirituality was not recognised

Arrival of Christianity - Arrival of different ministers

• Methodist - Rev Walter Lowry

• Presbyterian - Rev John Dunmore Loang

• Baptist - Minister John McKaeg

• Roman Catholic - Fathers John Joseph Therry and Philip Connoly

Establishment of Christianity - After the first fleet

• Sectarian division - since the reformation in the 16th century, political and religious division between the English and the Irish

• Sabbath observance - Governor Philip insisted all must attend the C of E Divine Service, caused resentment, forced other denominations to worhsip in the C of E Church

• Religion, law and punishent - Ministers of C of E acted as magistrates, judged crimes of the colony, gave severe punishments. Second chaplain, Marsden - ‘floggin parson‘.

• Dominance of C of E - Largest and most influential, the Established Church, favour of government. Catholic Church was in dispute with English authorities, not permitted until 1820, Methodists and Presbyterians were also well established

Establishment of Christianity - The Church of England (Anglican)

• First 30 years - default, C of E ministers were mostly evangelical (‘Low’ church) in the early days

• All convicts were forced to attend Church

• Considered to be morally corrupt, a community of exiles

• Focus on Bible, Salvation, and personal and public morality

• Closely tied to political system of the colony

• The first Bishop of Sydney (and Australia) was Biship William Grant Broughton

• Not officially separated from England until 1962

• Local synods, council of Churches, existed until the Australian synod of 1872

• All Bishops until 1966 were from England

Establishment of Christianity - The Church of Scotland (Presbyterian)

• Were on first fleet

• Dominant protestant religion of Scotland

• Important early individuals were Presbyterians e.g. John Hunter, former minister

• Missionaries were sent to Australia to spread their faith

• 1901 - groups came together to from the Presbyterian Church of Australia

• Minister Rev William Hamilton wrote “I am continually shocked by the religious indifference of those among who I live”

Establishment of Christianity - The Church of Rome (Roman Catholic)

• First were Irish Catholic convicts

• Significant portion of convents, increased after the 1798 Irish rebellion

• Were often political prisoners

• Celebrated mass in secret using lay ministers, could only perform sacrements under the C of E, resented for this

• 1800 - Irish priests arrived, although unsanctioned by the government

• The Governor King gave persmission for Father Dixon (convict priest) to say the first Mass in 1803.

• Uprising in 1804, upset peace - Marsden blamed Catholics, worship was banned again

• 1820 - first authorised priests arrive, 1817 an unsanctioned priest was arrested

Establishment of Christianity - The nonconformist Churches (Methodist and Congregationalist)

• Congregationalists came in 1798, first minister in 1830

• Methodist came in early 19th century, focused on misisonary work, branches unified in 1902 to form a single Methodist Church

• First Methodist minster of NSW in 1815 was Samuel Leigh

• Lutherans (German speaking immigrants) arrived in the 1830s, large numbers, settled in SA, escaping political and religious unrest

• Quakers arrived in the 1830s, lamented the lack of morality. James Backhouse and George Walker write in 1837: “We cannot overlook the low state of morality…“

• Baptists arrived in 1831, first preacher was John McKaeg

• Their first pastor was Rev John Saunders in 1834, opened a church in 1836, several Baptist variants often conflicted

• The national Baptist Union was founded in 1926

• The nonconformist Churches were initially not accepted as legitimate

Arrival of Judaism

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Establishment of Judaism

Arrival and establishment of Islam

Issues related to the development of Christianity - Sectarianism

Issues related to the development of Christianity - Social welfare

Contribution of Christianity in Australian to: Rural and outback communities

Contribution of Christianity in Australian to: Education

Contribution of Christianity in Australian to: Public morality