Site of St Thomas’s church Plaque

Did the ground beneath the Site of St Thomas’s church Plaque always hold such significance? The Site of St Thomas’s church Plaque marks a place brimming with history. It whispers tales of early Sydney, of faith, and of the community that built not one, but two churches here. The first St. Thomas’ church, a simpler structure designed by Conrad Martens, opened its doors in 1846 in what was then called St. Leonard’s. Martens, a prominent figure in the community, not only designed the church but also personally carved the baptismal font. This font survived the test of time and can still be seen in the present church. The early congregation included notable figures like Alexander Berry, William Miller, and the architect of the first church, Conrad Martens himself. As the area around St. Thomas’s thrived, so did the congregation. It soon outgrew the original building. In 1881, the cornerstone of a new, grander church was laid. This Victorian Academic Gothic structure, designed by the renowned Edmund Blacket, opened in 1884. The new St Thomas’s church literally enveloped the old, with services continuing in the original structure until the new nave was completed. The old church was then carefully dismantled, stone by stone, and removed through the west door of its successor. The plaque we stand before commemorates the founders of the original St. Thomas’s church. In 1938, Lord Wakehurst, the then Governor of New South Wales, unveiled the plaque and the wall surrounding the church grounds. The plaque serves as a tangible link to those early pioneers of North Sydney who laid the foundations, both literally and figuratively, for the vibrant community we see today. So, the next time you pass the Site of St Thomas’s church Plaque, pause and consider the layers of history beneath your feet. Remember the dedication of those who built not one, but two testaments to their faith on this very spot.