Isn’t it amazing that St Stephen’s Anglican Church has stood here for 150 years? This isn’t just a building. It embodies our collective history. St Stephen’s Anglican Church stands as a testament to Edmund Blacket’s architectural brilliance. It’s more than a place of worship. It is revered across New South Wales.
Today we will explore the history of St Stephen’s Anglican Church. We’ll discover its origins and some interesting stories. This graceful building overlooks Newtown and Camperdown. It has sustained a Christian community. This has been through the Victorian era. It has also been through two world wars. It has even seen the emergence of contemporary Australia.
Edmund Blacket designed St Stephen’s. Many consider it one of his most mature achievements. The church was nearly bereft of a congregation in the 20th century. Today it hosts a vibrant community. It feels like a new flowering.
The senior minister Andrew Errington says 150 years is a mere drop in the ocean. He speaks of the site’s history. The native grasses in Camperdown Cemetery remind us. They remind us of when the Gadigal people dwelt and cared for this place.
St Stephen’s contributions to cultural history include frequent appearances as a filming location. Some people might remember E Street and My Place. Both were filmed at St Stephen’s. The recent ABC series of Marcus Zusak’s The Messenger also filmed here.
Let’s step back to the beginning. In 1805, 100 hectares were given to Governor William Bligh. Yes the same William Bligh from the mutiny on the Bounty. He named his land grant Camperdown. This was after his most victorious sea battle.
Bligh’s daughter Mary married Lieutenant Governor Sir Maurice O’Connell. She took up residence in the Bligh Terrace. The locality became known as O’Connell Town. A section of Bligh’s Camperdown estate was gifted by the Bligh daughters. It was for building a new branch of the Church of England. In 1844, the foundation stone was laid. The new church was named St Stephen’s Camperdown. A decade later this area became known as Newtown.
The original St Stephen’s Anglican Church was built in 1845. It wasn’t the majestic building that now stands in Church Street. The congregation realised it was too small. They set out to build a bigger church. Nearby land within the Church of England cemetery was the obvious location.
The new St Stephen’s building was consecrated in the graveyard in 1874. The original St Stephen’s was converted into a Church of England school. It later served as their parish hall. In 1938, the original church burnt down. A gusty gale flung sparks onto the church roof.
St Stephen’s is an English Decorated Gothic Revival church. It has a cruciform plan with side aisles, a gallery, two vestries and a porch. The fine 43-metre high stone tower and spire dominate the north side. The walls are sandstone from the nearby Pyrmont stone quarries. Interior columns are Melbourne bluestone. The roof is slate. The dimensions are 34 by 15 metres. The final construction cost was A£13000. It was the largest and most prominent building in the area. Many recognized it as one of Edmund Blacket’s finest designs.
The two-manual pipe organ was built in 1874. Blacket designed the organ case. The bells were ordered from the foundry of Messrs. Mears and Stainbank. They were exhibited in the Sydney International Exhibition of 1879–80.
The adjoining Rectory was built in 1910. The Sexton’s Cottage was built in 1848. The Camperdown Cemetery was established in 1848. It was the main cemetery for Sydney from 1849 to 1867.
St Stephen’s Anglican Church was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
St Stephen’s is more than bricks and mortar. It’s a living testament to faith community and history. Take a moment to appreciate its beauty. Remember the stories it holds.