61. SOUTH NAVE WALL

Standing in the crossing, we now look Westwards along the nave South wall. The pattern continues: here we see four windows with various plaques and memorials arranged between.    PLAN

62. WATKINS MEMORIAL

The first large memorial was erected by the parishioners of St John’s Parramatta in grateful remembrance of Francis Netterville Watkins Esquire who was a trustee, church-warden and treasurer for upwards of 20 years, and under divine providence, one of the principal promoters of the rebuilding of this church.

63. THREE PLAQUES

These three plaques commemorate the lives of members of this congregation. • Francis Thomas Watkins 23rd April 1842 – 13th December 1913 for many years Trustee and Warden of this Church. • Mary Ann Harper Died September 4th 1905 aged 76 years Baptised in this church and continued a member of the congregation till God called her home • Charlotte Emily Tonks, daughter of the late Richard and Mary Jane Harper Died September 24th 1938 Aged 83 years. For over 50 years a worker in this parish.

64. FOUR SOUTH WINDOWS

The windows show (from left) • the sower sowing his seed. A script at the top reads: ‘A sower went forth to sow.’ (Matthew 13:3) • St John holding a quill and a book. • The disciple Nathaniel with the text ‘Behold an Israelite in whom there is no guile’ (John 1:47). • Jesus with Joseph in the carpenter’s shop. It illustrates Mark 6:3: ‘Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary ... ?’

65. MEMORIAL TABLETS

Two more memorials. • Eliza Eleanor Foreman was the beloved wife of Captain John Foreman. She died on May 26th 1836 at age 42. Her remains were placed in the Parramatta Burial Ground. • John Brown was born in Copenhagen on April 26th 1787, and died at Parramatta on July 9th 1860 aged 73. His son William was born in Serampore, India on October 29th 1826 and was murdered by the Chinese at Canton together with five of his companions on December 5th 1847 aged 21.

66. SOUTH WALL MEMORIALS

The next two plaques celebrate the lives of two men who served outside the church. • Matthew Anderson R.N. was in charge of the Parramatta Colonial Hospital for many years. He died on 7th July 1860 aged 61. • Major Charles G. Gordon was killed in action in Gallipoli in April 1915.

67. OAKES MEMORIAL

High up on the nave South wall is this large memorial in the shape of a cross remembering the Oakes family. Francis Oakes was a pioneer missionary, born in England on April 15th 1770, and died in Parramatta on February 15th 1844. His wife Rebecca and family are also remembered. He was a missionary only for a short period, being employed in NSW mainly as a police constable.    

68. FOUR PLAQUES

Two plaques here are in memory of William James Willis Gunther and his mother Mary Jane. WJW Gunther was the son of Archdeacon William James Gunther who was Rector of this parish for 15 years. Another plaque is in memory of Thomas Diron who died in Parramatta April 15th 1905 aged 76 years. The bottom plaque commemorates the confirmation of 116 candidates in the first confirmation service held in this church by Bishop William Grant Broughton in 1838.

69. ROLL OF HONOUR

The Roll lists the Bishops of Parramatta since the Diocese was formed in 1967.

70. RECULVER STONE

The stone is the gift of the Historic Buildings Commission of England. It comes from the site of the Reculver Towers in Kent, upon which the design of the twin towers of St John’s Church is understood to be based. ... The two 12th Century towers still stand though the church fell into disrepair in the 19th Century.

71. BELL PULLS

The South Western tower houses the Cathedral memorial carillon installed in 1923. There are 13 bells, each a memorial to people from significant families associated with St John’s, with the exception of Number 11, which was dedicated to the memory of Bishop Alfred Barry, Bishop of Sydney 1884 – 1889. This is the largest bell, the gift of parishioners, and was dedicated to his memory.

72. CATHEDRAL BANNER

This banner hangs next to the bell pulls. The smallest bell was paid for by the children confirmed in that year, and was dedicated to the memory of soldiers who fell in the Great War. The carillon is a memorial to Archbishop W. J. Gunther, Rector of St John’s 1867 – 1910.   

73. HIGH NAVE VIEW

The North West tower houses the workings of the clock, and also a collection of historical records of the Cathedral. From the balcony we obtain a fine overall view of the Cathedral.

74. NAVE ROOF

I usually include a photograph of the nave roof – in this case a very simple gable construction.

75. CLERESTORY WINDOW

It is easy to miss the clerestory windows, which like some of the older lower windows are made of ‘pressed quarry glass’ Dating from 1856, these windows are in amazingly good original condition.

76. RECULVER VIEW

The twin towers of St John’s are by far the oldest part of the Building. It is believed that they were inspired by the wife of Governor Lachlan Macquarie who had observed the Reculver Towers of the 12th Century rebuilt St Mary’s Saxon Church in Kent, England (seen in this old postcard).

77. 1819 SKETCH

The Colony’s Governor, Philip Gidley King, declared St John’s a Parish on 23rd July 1802. A plaque in the church grounds records the opening of the first St John’s Church on 11th April 1803. This is the oldest continuous place of worship in Australia. It is thought that Governor John Hunter laid the original foundation stone about 1799. Reverend Samuel Marsden opened the Church on Sunday 10th April 1803. From the sketch we note the twin towers, and that the remainder of the church is somewhat different from the Cathedral today, having no transepts, clerestory windows, or Eastern porches. [Photo Credit: nla Friedrich Schroeder sketch 1819 # 8101215-1-v]

78. 1824 MANUSCRIPT

The original title of ‘St John’s’ was originally given in honour of Governor John Hunter(!). However, Bishop Broughton remedied this in 1852 at the laying of the foundation stone for the existing church, by naming it the ‘Church of St John the Evangelist’. The clock was installed in the Northern tower in 1821. By 1852 the original building was falling into disrepair, and a decision was made to rebuild it. The original church was demolished, with the exception of the twin towers. The new church designed and built by James Houison, was opened on July 1st, 1855. [Photo Credit: slnsw Standish Lawrence Harris 1824 # a1357065]

79. 1870 VIEW

This old photograph shows the church in 1870. It is very much like it is today, except that the transepts and Eastern porches are missing. By 1882 the congregation had grown considerably and the Church needed enlarging to rectify this problem. The architects Blacket and Son were commissioned to design the two transepts, and the associated Eastern porches. [Photo Credit: St John’s Church 1870 Historic Houses Trust # 37823]

80. TWIN TOWERS 1956

The construction of the twin towers commenced in 1818 under the supervision of Lieutenant John Watts. They were built by convicts with handmade sandstock bricks, with the outside overlaid with render. [Photo Credit: St John’s 1956 nla Jim Fitzpatrick vn4589374-v] This completes our tour.