No. 1410 - New River - All Saints' Anglican Church (1921)
New River is a location south-east of Ringarooma and close to Alberton in Tasmania’s North East. New River is a small river that rises in the northern foothills of Mount Victoria and is a tributary of the Dorset River. In 1921 an Anglican church was built at the junction of Ringarooma and Alberton Roads near the Ringarooma cemetery. The church was built as a memorial to the men of the district who had served and died for their country in World War One.
Very little information is available about this church which was in use for about 20 years. The church was opened and dedicated as All Saints' on Tuesday 25 October 1921. The service was reported in the North East Advertiser and the Daily Telegraph:
“On Tuesday last the Bishop of Tasmania paid a visit to the Ringarooma district and dedicated the new Church of All Saints (which has been erected at the junction, of the Alberton and New River roads) to the memory of the men or the Empire who fell in the Great War, and especially R. A. Sewell and W. H. Krushka, who were sons of landowners in the district; and also as a thanks offering for the safe return from active service of the eight men from the New River district who answered their country's call. In the afternoon His Lordship also administered the rite of confirmation to one candidate in the new church. After the dedication service the Bishop, clergy, and visitors to the ceremony were entertained to afternoon tea by ladies of the district concerned”.
The history of the church is not recorded in any detail. In 1927 the annual report of the Anglican Synod mentions that the church at New River had been lined. In 1934 and 1941 brief reports on the annual harvest festival were published in local newspapers. The Examiner’s report in 1941 records:
“A harvest thanksgiving service was conducted by Rev. A. France at All Saints’ Church, New River, on Sunday afternoon. Mrs. R.W. Robinson was organist. A social evening was held on Monday, when a large number of gifts were disposed of".
No further reports of the church are found after 1941 or any record of the final service. No photograph of the building is available and the date of its demolition or removal is not known.
Photographs of Reginald Arthur Sewell and William Henry Krushka, in whose memory the church was built, accompany this article. The following information about these men is recorded at the Virtual War Memorial Australia:
Gunner Reginald Arthur Sewell served in the 10th Field Artillery Brigade. He was killed in action in Belgium on 22 October 1917, aged 23 years. He is buried at the Ypres Town Cemetery Extension.
Lance Corporal William Henry Krushka served in the 52nd Infantry Battalion. He was killed in action at Messines, Belgium, on 8 June 1917 at the age of 38. He has no known grave.
Sources:
Very little information is available about this church which was in use for about 20 years. The church was opened and dedicated as All Saints' on Tuesday 25 October 1921. The service was reported in the North East Advertiser and the Daily Telegraph:
“On Tuesday last the Bishop of Tasmania paid a visit to the Ringarooma district and dedicated the new Church of All Saints (which has been erected at the junction, of the Alberton and New River roads) to the memory of the men or the Empire who fell in the Great War, and especially R. A. Sewell and W. H. Krushka, who were sons of landowners in the district; and also as a thanks offering for the safe return from active service of the eight men from the New River district who answered their country's call. In the afternoon His Lordship also administered the rite of confirmation to one candidate in the new church. After the dedication service the Bishop, clergy, and visitors to the ceremony were entertained to afternoon tea by ladies of the district concerned”.
The history of the church is not recorded in any detail. In 1927 the annual report of the Anglican Synod mentions that the church at New River had been lined. In 1934 and 1941 brief reports on the annual harvest festival were published in local newspapers. The Examiner’s report in 1941 records:
“A harvest thanksgiving service was conducted by Rev. A. France at All Saints’ Church, New River, on Sunday afternoon. Mrs. R.W. Robinson was organist. A social evening was held on Monday, when a large number of gifts were disposed of".
No further reports of the church are found after 1941 or any record of the final service. No photograph of the building is available and the date of its demolition or removal is not known.
Photographs of Reginald Arthur Sewell and William Henry Krushka, in whose memory the church was built, accompany this article. The following information about these men is recorded at the Virtual War Memorial Australia:
Gunner Reginald Arthur Sewell served in the 10th Field Artillery Brigade. He was killed in action in Belgium on 22 October 1917, aged 23 years. He is buried at the Ypres Town Cemetery Extension.
Lance Corporal William Henry Krushka served in the 52nd Infantry Battalion. He was killed in action at Messines, Belgium, on 8 June 1917 at the age of 38. He has no known grave.
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| Lance Corporal William Henry Krushka (left) and Gunner Reginald Arthur Sewell (right) source: https://vwma.org.au/ |
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| The location of All Saints' church was at the intersection of Ringarooma and New River Roads. |
Sources:
North-Eastern Advertiser, Tuesday 31 May 1921, page 3
North-Eastern Advertiser, Friday 28 October 1921, page 3
Daily Telegraph, Wednesday 2 November 1921, page 7
Advocate, Wednesday 4 May 1927, page 11
North-Eastern Advertiser, Tuesday 1 May 1934, page 3
Examiner, Friday 30 May 1941, page 5
https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/261355
https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/303140
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