St Jude's Church, Randwick

About

The St Jude's Church is an active Anglican church in Randwick, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is part of a significant heritage group that includes the church, cemetery, rectory and original Randwick Borough Chambers, later converted to church use. The group is located on Avoca Street, Randwick, and has a federal heritage listing. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Pre-1780s the local Aboriginal people in the area used the site for fishing and cultural activities; rock engravings, grinding grooves and middens remain in evidence. In 1789 Governor Arthur Phillip referred to "a long bay", which became known as Long Bay. Aboriginal people are believed to have inhabited the Sydney region for at least 20,000 years. The population of Aboriginal people between Palm Beach and Botany Bay in 1788 has been estimated to have been 1500. Those living south of Port Jackson to Botany Bay were the Cadigal people who spoke Dharug, while the local clan name of Maroubra people was "Muru-ora-dial". By the mid nineteenth century the traditional owners of this land had typically either moved inland in search of food and shelter, or had died as the result of European disease or confrontation with British colonisers.

One of the earliest land grants in this area was made in 1824 to Captain Francis Marsh, who received 12 acres bounded by the present Botany and High Streets, Alison and Belmore Roads. In the 1830s land purchases were made at Little Coogee by William Wentworth and William C. Grenville, a clerk in the Colonial Secretary's Office. In 1839 William Newcombe acquired the land north-west of the present town hall in Avoca Street.

Randwick takes its name from the town of Randwick, Gloucestershire, England. The name was suggested by Simeon Pearce (1821–86) and his brother James. Simeon was born in the English Randwick and the brothers were responsible for the early development of both Randwick and its neighbour, Coogee. Simeon had come to the colony in 1841as a 21 year old surveyor. He built his Blenheim House on the 4 acres he bought from Marsh, and called his property "Randwick". The brothers bought and sold land profitably in the area and elsewhere. Simeon campaigned for construction of a road from the city to Coogee (achieved in 1853) and promoted the incorporation of the suburb. Pearce sought construction of a church modelled on the church of St. John in his birthplace. In 1857 the first St Jude's stood on the site of the present post office, at the corner of the present Alison Road and Avoca Street.

Randwick was slow to progress. The village was isolated from Sydney by swamps and sandhills, and although a horse-bus was operated by a man named Grice from the late 1850s, the journey was more a test of nerves than a pleasure jaunt. Wind blew sand over the track, and the bus sometimes became bogged, so that passengers had to get out and push it free. From its early days Randwick had a divided society. The wealthy lived elegantly in large houses built when Pearce promoted Randwick and Coogee as a fashionable area. But the market gardens, orchards and piggeries that continued alongside the large estates were the lot of the working class. Even on the later estates that became racing empires, many jockeys and stablehands lived in huts or even under canvas. An even poorer group were the immigrants who existed on the periphery of Randwick in a place called Irishtown, in the area now known as The Spot, around the junction of St.Paul's Street and Perouse Road. Here families lived in makeshift houses, taking on the most menial tasks in their struggle to survive.

In 1858 when the NSW Government passed the Municipalities Act, enabling formation of municipal districts empowered to collect rates and borrow money to improve their suburb, Randwick was the first suburb to apply for the status of a municipality. It was approved in February 1859, and its first Council was elected in March 1859.

Randwick had been the venue for sporting events, as well as duels and illegal sports, from the early days in the colony's history. Its first racecourse, the Sandy Racecourse or Old Sand Track, had been a hazardous track over hills and gullies since 1860. When a move was made in 1863 by John Tait, to establish Randwick Racecourse, Simeon Pearce was furious, especially when he heard that Tait also intended to move into Byron Lodge. Tait's venture prospered, however and he became the first person in Australia to organise racing as a commercial sport. The racecourse made a big difference to the progress of Randwick. The horse-bus gave way to trams that linked the suburb to Sydney and civilisation. Randwick soon became a prosperous and lively place, and it still retains a busy residential, professional and commercial life.

Today, some of the houses have been replaced by home units. Many European migrants have made their homes in the area, along with students and workers at the nearby University of NSW and the Prince of Wales Hospital.

The site was originally a portion of a grant issued to Captain Francis Marsh, an officer of Her Majesty's 80th Regiment of Foot, on 21 September 1847, being a portion of 4.9 hectares (12 acres) (bounded by the present day Botany & High Streets, Alison & Belmore Roads) offered "as part liquidation of a remission of A£ 200 allowed to him as a Captain in the regiment." Captain Marsh sold his grant of land to George Hooper, a market gardener who erected a building and set about cultivating some of the land. Hooper also possessed extensive holdings adjoining what is now Queen's Park and had erected a stone house which stands in Gilderthorpe Avenue. On 21 September 1847, Simeon Pearce purchased 1.6 hectares (4 acres) from George Hooper for £20. He subsequently sought from and was granted by the Government in 1854, a block of land in Avoca Street, next to the land previously purchased. This grant was for the purpose of erecting a school, church and parsonage.

Simeon Pearce was a prominent and enthusiastic lay worker for the Church of England in New South Wales. He had considerable influence throughout the community and was devoted to church activities and associated charities. He was also a very shrewd, ambitious and hard employer. Church services were held in Pearce's residence, Blenheim House, until the completion of St. Jude's Church. It was the express wish of three trustees to the land grant, Simeon Pearce, S. Hebblewhite and W. B. Holdsworthy that a larger and more imposing church be erected when funds became available and the population justified it.

Differing views exist as to who was the architect for St Jude's. Simeon Pearce has been suggested, as well as Edmund Blacket. The central tower and buttressed side aisles were said to be inspired by the Parish Church of St. John in Randwick, Gloucestershire. The foundation stone was laid on 25 May 1861 by either The Rt. Rev. Dr. Frederick Barker or by Canon Allwood, the then Rector of St. James Church, King Street, Sydney.

St. Jude's Cemetery opened in 1853 as part of a larger cemetery grant for all denominations. Public agitation against the possible pollution of Sydney's water supply caused the closure of the other sections in the 1860s, however St. Jude's remained.

The cemetery is older than the present church building. The earliest date discernable on tombstones is 1843, but it is believed that some of the graves could be much older. Many well-known early settlers are buried in this graveyard, including NSW Colonial Secretary Edward Deas, Sir Alfred Stephen and bushranger Ben Hall 's pursuer Sir Frederick Pottinger.

It is a veritable roll call of the rich and famous in the late 19th century. At least eight religious ministers are memorialised, including Archdeadon William Cowper (d.1858) whose remains were reinterred from the Devonshire Street Anglican Cemetery. Notable graves include Ann Hordern (c1793-1871), the wife of Anthony Hordern of the retail empire Anthony Hordern & Son; civil servant, land agent and "father of Randwick", Simeon Henry Pearce (1821-1886); and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and legislator, Sir Alfred Stephen (1802–94). Other prominent citizens and families of the 19th century buried here include pastoralist, politician, son of John Busby of ' Busby's Bore ' fame, William Busby (1813–87); Benjamin Darley, The Reverend Cowper, Sir Frederick Pottinger and merchant, pastoralist and namesake of the suburb of Mosman, whaler Archibald Mosman (1799-1863). His grave is maintained by the Municipality of Mosman. Other notable internees include the judge, politician and chancellor of Sydney University, William Montagu Manning, who was buried at St Jude's in 1895; and colonial administrator, Edward Deas Thomson.

The church has faced some difficulties and controversies over the past 150 years. The famous 'St. Jude's Case' was one. It comprised two cases: the first commenced in 1861. The legal action was to prevent church trustees using proceeds from Frederick Jones' will to construct the second (present) St. Jude's Church. The first case was withdrawn on a technicality. In 1862 the parties returned to the Equity Court. In the end to Judge ruled in favour of the trustees. By then a sizeable proportion of the original bequest had been taken up with legal fees.

In 1862 the verger's residence was built at a cost of A£700 and was designed by Thomas Rowe. It was originally used as the Randwick Council Chamber and Offices. It was purchased by the Church of England in 1895.

Two court cases held to determine the location of the church delayed construction of the church and as a result it was not completed until 29 June 1865. In May 1865 the church organ was ordered from Mr. Walker of Tottenham Road London. It was delivered to Sydney in October 1866. Plans for the rectory commenced in 1866 and it was constructed in 1870. In 1877 the church tower was increased to a height of 22.77 metres for the purpose of housing a chiming clock. The tower also has an excellent peal of eight bells, hung in the tower in 1872. In 1888 the architect Henry M Robinson was asked to add two transepts to blend with the existing building and the original chancel was extended to form a new chancel/sanctuary and provision for an organ chamber. The work was completed in six months and dedicated on 21 September 1889 at a cost of 2800 pounds.

The church was associated with many local identities, including "the Barkers". Frederick Barker was to become the second bishop of Sydney, and Mrs Jane Barker founded St. Catherine's School at Waverley.

The parish hall was constructed in 1899 and initially served as the St. Jude's Day School. Canon Cakebread was rector between 1912 and 1939. In 1921 Mr E. Bossier designed the vestries to commemorate the diamond jubilee of the church. In 1922 the lych gate at the street frontage, directly opposite the main entrance to the church, was constructed. The lych gate and wall were given by Edwin Fieldhouse. In 1955 the columbarium was constructed.

Pre-1780s the local Aboriginal people in the area used the site for fishing and cultural activities; rock engravings, grinding grooves and middens remain in evidence. In 1789 Governor Arthur Phillip referred to "a long bay", which became known as Long Bay. Aboriginal people are believed to have inhabited the Sydney region for at least 20,000 years. The population of Aboriginal people between Palm Beach and Botany Bay in 1788 has been estimated to have been 1500. Those living south of Port Jackson to Botany Bay were the Cadigal people who spoke Dharug, while the local clan name of Maroubra people was "Muru-ora-dial". By the mid nineteenth century the traditional owners of this land had typically either moved inland in search of food and shelter, or had died as the result of European disease or confrontation with British colonisers.