No. 1541 - Sassafras - The Skelbrook Chapel (1865-1900)
Sassafras is a rural area in the North-west region and is located about 20 kilometres from Devonport. The district was settled in the late 1850s when it was covered with sassafras trees.
In September 1860 the first recorded Christian service at Sassafras was held in a local house where a Mr. Wilson preached a sermon. In the 1930s, Mrs Mary Shadbolt, one of the early settlers at Sassafras recalled:
“We lived at Sassafras a few years before a religious service of any kind was held. The first was in the kitchen of Mr. George Rockliff’s home (“Springfield”)….The first regular service was conducted in Mr. Henry Rockliff’s kitchen at “Skelbrook,” by a man known locally as “Big Wilson.”
In 1864 a non-denomination protestant church was built on Henry Rockliff’s farm which became known as the “Skelbrook Chapel”. The church was officially opened on Sunday 1 January 1865. A record of the occasion was published in the Launceston Examiner:
“A gratifying event took place during the past week, in the opening of a new chapel at Skelbrook, built on the estate, and at the expense of Mr. Henry Rockliff. It is a neat and commodious wooden edifice, capable of seating 150 persons, and is built in a substantial manner. When the circumstances of this locality are considered, there is abundant cause for rejoicing. Six years ago there was scarcely an inhabitant, and all around was dense scrub; now, many homesteads and productive farms may be seen. The chapel stands on an eminence, plainly visible when the timber becomes more scarce; and by its erection has commenced the germ of that which may ultimately be the means of blessings to thousands”.
“On Sunday, the 1st instant, the chapel was opened by the Rev. Isaac Rooney, of Torquay [East Devonport] and on Wednesday the school children, to the number of about fifty, were entertained at a substantial tea, which was succeeded by a profitable and agreeable meeting, in which Messrs. Rooney, Treblecock, Brown, Denny, and F. Rockliff took part, Mr. Henry Rockliff being in the chair. After a series of interesting speeches, the meeting separated, highly delighted with the accommodation thus afforded for the promotion of the spiritual welfare of this important district”.
In 1868 the church came very close to being destroyed in a fire. A report in the Examiner recounts the incident:
“A most malicious attempt was made to destroy the above named building on the night of Wednesday, 8th, or morning of Thursday, 9th January. The particulars are as follows :--The building, as some of your readers will remember, was erected about three years since, and is what is commonly called a weatherboard building. On Thursday morning a farmer residing in the vicinity, searching for some stray pigs, had occasion to pass by the chapel, when to his astonishment he saw a large hole burned in the end of it, the embers yet smoking. He at once gave the alarm. On closer examination it was plainly to be seen that some person or persons had built a large fire against the east end of the edifice, at the south-east corner; also a smaller fire had been kindled, which was shaded by a piece of board and a paling, probably to prevent the light being seen at a distance too soon for their purpose, but it only charred a weatherboard and burned out. The fire at the end being much stronger, kindled up with fury, seized on the wood work, burned the weatherboards and studs, making a hole in the end about six feet high and fourteen feet long”.
“On the inside against the wall were a quantity of Bibles, Testaments, and other books belonging to the Sabbath School; also a small box containing the tickets for rewards. On the box was a small brass lock, which was melted into a shapeless lump. A portion of the floor and one of the seats were also burned. A fresh wind was blowing at the time, which seized on the books as soon as the covers were destroyed, scattering a quantity of the burning leaves over the place; yet wonderful to think on, the fire died out without any human effort to extinguish it. All who have seen it are astonished that the whole was not consumed, and all unite in saying God saved it. The congregation have a subscription list on foot (which is not closed yet) for the purpose of giving a reward for such evidence as will lead to the conviction and punishment of the perpetrators, and we trust the Government will assist the effort, as it is the common cause to bring all miscreants to justice who would thus burn property or destroy life because we dare to worship God after the manner of our fathers”.
The church was shared by Wesleyan Methodists and Baptists until 1876 when the Methodists built their own church. Thereafter the chapel was exclusively used for Baptist worship. In 1889, following Henry Rockliff's death, the chapel was sold to the Baptists.
In 1900 the old Skelbrook Chapel was replaced by a new Baptist church built on the same site. It is probable that part of the original building, or at least its timber, was used in the construction of the new church.
In September 1860 the first recorded Christian service at Sassafras was held in a local house where a Mr. Wilson preached a sermon. In the 1930s, Mrs Mary Shadbolt, one of the early settlers at Sassafras recalled:
“We lived at Sassafras a few years before a religious service of any kind was held. The first was in the kitchen of Mr. George Rockliff’s home (“Springfield”)….The first regular service was conducted in Mr. Henry Rockliff’s kitchen at “Skelbrook,” by a man known locally as “Big Wilson.”
In 1864 a non-denomination protestant church was built on Henry Rockliff’s farm which became known as the “Skelbrook Chapel”. The church was officially opened on Sunday 1 January 1865. A record of the occasion was published in the Launceston Examiner:
“A gratifying event took place during the past week, in the opening of a new chapel at Skelbrook, built on the estate, and at the expense of Mr. Henry Rockliff. It is a neat and commodious wooden edifice, capable of seating 150 persons, and is built in a substantial manner. When the circumstances of this locality are considered, there is abundant cause for rejoicing. Six years ago there was scarcely an inhabitant, and all around was dense scrub; now, many homesteads and productive farms may be seen. The chapel stands on an eminence, plainly visible when the timber becomes more scarce; and by its erection has commenced the germ of that which may ultimately be the means of blessings to thousands”.
“On Sunday, the 1st instant, the chapel was opened by the Rev. Isaac Rooney, of Torquay [East Devonport] and on Wednesday the school children, to the number of about fifty, were entertained at a substantial tea, which was succeeded by a profitable and agreeable meeting, in which Messrs. Rooney, Treblecock, Brown, Denny, and F. Rockliff took part, Mr. Henry Rockliff being in the chair. After a series of interesting speeches, the meeting separated, highly delighted with the accommodation thus afforded for the promotion of the spiritual welfare of this important district”.
In 1868 the church came very close to being destroyed in a fire. A report in the Examiner recounts the incident:
“A most malicious attempt was made to destroy the above named building on the night of Wednesday, 8th, or morning of Thursday, 9th January. The particulars are as follows :--The building, as some of your readers will remember, was erected about three years since, and is what is commonly called a weatherboard building. On Thursday morning a farmer residing in the vicinity, searching for some stray pigs, had occasion to pass by the chapel, when to his astonishment he saw a large hole burned in the end of it, the embers yet smoking. He at once gave the alarm. On closer examination it was plainly to be seen that some person or persons had built a large fire against the east end of the edifice, at the south-east corner; also a smaller fire had been kindled, which was shaded by a piece of board and a paling, probably to prevent the light being seen at a distance too soon for their purpose, but it only charred a weatherboard and burned out. The fire at the end being much stronger, kindled up with fury, seized on the wood work, burned the weatherboards and studs, making a hole in the end about six feet high and fourteen feet long”.
“On the inside against the wall were a quantity of Bibles, Testaments, and other books belonging to the Sabbath School; also a small box containing the tickets for rewards. On the box was a small brass lock, which was melted into a shapeless lump. A portion of the floor and one of the seats were also burned. A fresh wind was blowing at the time, which seized on the books as soon as the covers were destroyed, scattering a quantity of the burning leaves over the place; yet wonderful to think on, the fire died out without any human effort to extinguish it. All who have seen it are astonished that the whole was not consumed, and all unite in saying God saved it. The congregation have a subscription list on foot (which is not closed yet) for the purpose of giving a reward for such evidence as will lead to the conviction and punishment of the perpetrators, and we trust the Government will assist the effort, as it is the common cause to bring all miscreants to justice who would thus burn property or destroy life because we dare to worship God after the manner of our fathers”.
The church was shared by Wesleyan Methodists and Baptists until 1876 when the Methodists built their own church. Thereafter the chapel was exclusively used for Baptist worship. In 1889, following Henry Rockliff's death, the chapel was sold to the Baptists.
In 1900 the old Skelbrook Chapel was replaced by a new Baptist church built on the same site. It is probable that part of the original building, or at least its timber, was used in the construction of the new church.
* Henry Rockliff (1815-1889)
Rockliff was the eldest son of Mr Henry Rockliff, a farmer at Kirk Smeaton, Yorkshire. In 1840 he was engaged by Henry Reed as overseer of the Wesleydale estate. In December 1840 Rockliff left London in the barque Essex for Launceston, arriving in May 1841. He managed Wesleydale until 1851 when he rented the estate from Reed. In a short time “made a tolerable fortune”. In 1857, in together with his brother George, he bought land at Sassafras and built the homestead Skelbrook. The farm is named after the village 'Skelbrooke' in Yorkshire. In 1864 Rockliff left Wesleydale to reside at Skelbrook, leaving his son Henry at Wesleydale. His marriage to Hannah Spurr on 20 June 1842 was to produce 11 children. Rockcliff is buried in the cemetery at the site of the old Skelbrook chapel.
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| Skelbrook House where religious services were held before a church was built. Photograph - Weekly Courier |
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| Parts of the original Skelbrook Chapel may have been incorporated into the Baptist church built on the site in 1900. The windows and chimney at the rear of the Baptist church are probably part of the original church. (Photograph - Duncan Grant) |
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| Henry and Hannah Rockliff's headstone at Sassafras (photograph: Duncan Grant) |
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| Launceston Examiner, January 1868 |
Sources:
Launceston Examiner, Thursday 12 January 1865, page 5
Launceston Examiner, Tuesday 7 January 1868, page 3
Launceston Examiner, Saturday 18 January 1868, page 3
Launceston Examiner, Tuesday 28 January 1868, page 1
Tasmanian Times, Tuesday 21 January 1868, page 3
Daily Telegraph, Monday 23 December 1889, page 1
The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times, Saturday 8 August 1908, page 7
Weekly Courier, Thursday 2 September 1926, page 26
Advocate, Wednesday 13 November 1935, page 4
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