St Alban's, Five Dock

About

St Alban's Anglican Church is a heritage-listed and active Anglican church at 171 Great North Road, Five Dock in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The property spans back to the early days of British settlement in Australia. The site underwent multiple evolutions and renovations until it became originally included in St Phillip's Parish on 23 June 1802. The foundation stone of the church building was laid on 17 September 1858. The church building was intended to be divided into two parts, as a Parochial School and a Mission Church. The church's life and management relied heavily on the 'mother church' of the district, being St John's, Ashfield which was in close proximity to St Alban's and shared rectors over both sites. The church itself holds not only the church building itself, but a heritage-listed rectory and a centre for both ministry needs and community events called the 'Ridley Centre'. The somewhat expansive property contributes to community events such as the 'Ferragosto' festival and the 'We Love Five Dock' which attracts a number of patrons. It is a heritage-listed item in the Department of the Environment and Heritage's Australian Heritage database. Notable attributes...

St Alban's history began during the time period in which British settlement took place in Australia. It progressed from farm land ownership up until 1828, when Joseph Nettleton, a former convict, leased the Five Dock estate. Ministry and site constructions was initially sluggish due to the lack of clergy in close proximity. The Rev. Richard Johnson, found a sense of indifference and lack of support and felt obligated to build the first church at his own expense. The church land was donated by Mr William Wright, a successful merchant born at Colchester, England in 1803.

Initial construction did not come to fruition, initially. Rev Joseph Kidd Walpole arrived in the colony in 1837. Due to there not being a physical church in the district, his task of ministering was made difficult. Two years beforehand, Elizabeth Underwood announced that she had reserved land 'for the building of an Episcopalian church', and the Lord Bishop of Australia announced its erection yet was never seen. Several years later, the foundation stone of the first Five Dock church was laid by the Right Rev. Dr Frederick Barker, the Bishop of Sydney, on 17 September 1858. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that: "Increased power and extended usefulness of the Anglican Church within the last four years are very noticeable. The zealous efforts of the Bishop of Sydney to place churches in neglected localities show a result highly favourable to his episcopate". The builder of the first church was Thomas Rex. The church building was intended to be both a Parochial School and also a Mission Church including residence for the current rector. The building measured fifteen metres by seven metres and was opened for worship by Bishop Barker on St Alban's Day 17 June 1859. Further additions to the church took place, increasing the size and features of the church with the consecration of chancel at the east end of the church, a font, a communion service and a reading desk. The church was named in honour of St Alban, who was the first Christian martyr in Britain. The licence for the consecration of the Church of St Alban was issued on 13 August 1866.

Post initial construction of the church grounds, education began as the first and only school in the Five Dock district. The first headmaster was Mr William Booth, and his successor was Mr Peter McCormick (also known as 'Amicus'), who wrote the words and composed the music for Australia's current national anthem, Advance Australia Fair. The school was firstly started under a 'dual education' system similar to the Irish National Education System until 1861 when it became a public school under the Board of National Education. Attendance spanned between 27 and 60 children, as compulsory attendance was not enforced.

During the construction of the new church on 27 November 1923, a strong southerly wind blew down the west wall of the church causing considerable damage. This event caused further funds to be used and pushed back the construction completion date.

Initial construction did not come to fruition, initially. Rev Joseph Kidd Walpole arrived in the colony in 1837. Due to there not being a physical church in the district, his task of ministering was made difficult. Two years beforehand, Elizabeth Underwood announced that she had reserved land 'for the building of an Episcopalian church', and the Lord Bishop of Australia announced its erection yet was never seen. Several years later, the foundation stone of the first Five Dock church was laid by the Right Rev. Dr Frederick Barker, the Bishop of Sydney, on 17 September 1858. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that: "Increased power and extended usefulness of the Anglican Church within the last four years are very noticeable. The zealous efforts of the Bishop of Sydney to place churches in neglected localities show a result highly favourable to his episcopate". The builder of the first church was Thomas Rex. The church building was intended to be both a Parochial School and also a Mission Church including residence for the current rector. The building measured fifteen metres by seven metres and was opened for worship by Bishop Barker on St Alban's Day 17 June 1859. Further additions to the church took place, increasing the size and features of the church with the consecration of chancel at the east end of the church, a font, a communion service and a reading desk. The church was named in honour of St Alban, who was the first Christian martyr in Britain. The licence for the consecration of the Church of St Alban was issued on 13 August 1866.

Post initial construction of the church grounds, education began as the first and only school in the Five Dock district. The first headmaster was Mr William Booth, and his successor was Mr Peter McCormick (also known as 'Amicus'), who wrote the words and composed the music for Australia's current national anthem, Advance Australia Fair. The school was firstly started under a 'dual education' system similar to the Irish National Education System until 1861 when it became a public school under the Board of National Education. Attendance spanned between 27 and 60 children, as compulsory attendance was not enforced.

During the construction of the new church on 27 November 1923, a strong southerly wind blew down the west wall of the church causing considerable damage. This event caused further funds to be used and pushed back the construction completion date.

The original church building, which began its uses in 1859, served as a reliable place for the community to use as a place of worship. This original building was in use up until 1934, when a new church was erected to improve upon the outdated previous one. The previous church was used as a hall until the completion of the current building. Fund raising events were run to pay off the debt, such as three-day bazaars, concerts, street stalls and social evenings.

St Alban's is known for having particularly notable stained-glass windows due to their artistic design and long history. To supplement the construction of the current church, three stained-glass windows were donated by Mr W. R. Crocker, in memory of his father and uncle, William and John Crocker.

The rectory is a two-story building of terracotta-coloured handmade sandstock bricks. It has nine rooms, a scullery and a kitchen. The first resident was Rev. J. Howell-Price as the appointed Rector.

Formerly known as the Majestic Hall, then the St Alban's Parish Hall in 1949, the Ridley Centre was erected to aid in space for Sunday school, ministry and for further church and community activities (see Current Uses section). It is named after Nicholas Ridley, the former Bishop of London and English Reformation martyr under the reign of Queen Mary I.

The original church building, which began its uses in 1859, served as a reliable place for the community to use as a place of worship. This original building was in use up until 1934, when a new church was erected to improve upon the outdated previous one. The previous church was used as a hall until the completion of the current building. Fund raising events were run to pay off the debt, such as three-day bazaars, concerts, street stalls and social evenings.

St Alban's is known for having particularly notable stained-glass windows due to their artistic design and long history. To supplement the construction of the current church, three stained-glass windows were donated by Mr W. R. Crocker, in memory of his father and uncle, William and John Crocker.

St Alban's is known for having particularly notable stained-glass windows due to their artistic design and long history. To supplement the construction of the current church, three stained-glass windows were donated by Mr W. R. Crocker, in memory of his father and uncle, William and John Crocker.

The rectory is a two-story building of terracotta-coloured handmade sandstock bricks. It has nine rooms, a scullery and a kitchen. The first resident was Rev. J. Howell-Price as the appointed Rector.

Formerly known as the Majestic Hall, then the St Alban's Parish Hall in 1949, the Ridley Centre was erected to aid in space for Sunday school, ministry and for further church and community activities (see Current Uses section). It is named after Nicholas Ridley, the former Bishop of London and English Reformation martyr under the reign of Queen Mary I.

The nephew of Rev. Frederick Wilkinson, he was one of the first students ordained at St James' Sydney in September 1846. Served six years in the Parish of Ashfield.

In 1860, a month after his ordination as priest, Rev. W. Lumsdain was licensed as 'Minister in the United Parishes of Ashfield, Enfield and Burwood'. He was a Moore College student and was formerly a Presbyterian minister. Rev. Lumsdaine was in charge of four churches. During his time, the parishioners erected a font, in which Rev. Lumsdaine performed the first baptism ceremony. This was held on 17 June 1866, and others included well-known names of district pioneers such as Flippance, Budd, Dening, Burton-Bradley and Heming. He also conducted the first wedding and confirmation; the confirmation was held on 21 May 1869.

He took charge of Five Dock Parish after he was granted a general license in 1878. He held a Cambridge M.A. degree and was ordained deacon in 1860 and priest in 1861 by the Bishop of Llandaff (Wales). Rev. Newton also established the Croydon Collegiate School in 1878, also known as 'Rugby House' and 'The Grammar School'. This later became part of Presbyterian Ladies' College.