No. 1543 - Barnes Bay - St Peter's Anglican Church (1896-1967) "Another Anchor Down"
Barnes Bay is a small settlement on the northern end of Bruny Island. Barnes Bay was the site of the ferry terminal between 1954 to 1983 and a quarantine station in the 19th and early 20th century. The settlement and the bay is named after one of the first settlers on the island.
The first Anglican church established at Barnes Bay was dedicated to St John. It was also used as a schoolroom. St John's was built in 1845 and was in use until it was replaced by a new church built in 1896 on another site.
The foundation stone of the new church, which was dedicated to St Peter, was ceremonially laid by Bishop Montgomery on Wednesday 18 December 1895. The Hobart Mercury published a brief account of the occasion:
“Yesterday afternoon the Bishop of Tasmania proceeded in the steamer Huon to Barnes' Bay to lay the foundation-stone of the church about to be built there. Some of the Church of England clergy accompanied the Bishop, and a fair number of passengers embraced the opportunity of taking part in the ceremony….On arrival at Mr. Lindsay's jetty, the visitors were met by the incumbent, the Rev. R. J. de Coetlogon and the Bruny parishioners, who mustered in full force…. A procession was then formed, the gentlemen going first ladies next, and the Bishop and clergy bringing up the rear, the hymn "Onward Christian soldiers" being sung: as a processional until the site was reached, which is about a quarter of an hour's walk from the jetty”.
“….The Bishop proceeded with laying the foundation-stone…. A very cheering address was delivered by the Bishop, who spoke most enthusiastically of the open hearted liberality of the residents In contributing towards the erection of their house of God, almost every one of whom had made it a point to be present that day. One gentleman had given the whole of the timber required, others willingly worked in various ways, while the ladies were very zealous in rendering all the assistance they could; the result being that very little cash will be required, and a church seating about 80 people will soon be an accomplished fact….”.
The church was officially opened and dedicated by Bishop Montgomery on Friday 21 August 1896. The Mercury reported:
“Friday, 21st inst., was a red-letter day in the annals of church history at Bruny, Bishop Montgomery opening the new church there. The Waratah, s.s., left town at 9 a.m., conveying the Bishop and party to Kingston, where they were joined by the Rev. A. M. Hopcraft, and the parish church choir. A further contingent embarked at Oyster Cove, bringing up the number to about 50 people. Barnes' Bay was reached at 12.30, and advantage was taken of the kindly hospitality of the Bruny people, who had thoughtfully provided a substantial luncheon for the visitors. The opening service at the church was fixed for 1.30, and there was an overflowing congregation. The Bishop dedicated the church and consecrated the altar, and after this delivered an impressive and helpful address to the worshippers. He referred to the small cost at which the church had been erected owing to the praiseworthy labours of those who bad assisted in a practical way to build tho edifice, and expressed pleasure and satisfaction that the church was that day free of debt…. The return from Bruny was fixed for 3 o’clock and after leaving visitors at Oyster Cove the Waratah came smartly up to the new jetty at Kingston to land the members of the choir, who went down to render the musical part of the service for their fellow-churchmen. Three cheers were given, as the boat left the jetty, for the Bishop, and for the genial Captain Bruce of the Waratah; and all reached home after a refreshing day, rejoicing in the fact that the Church in Tasmania had now another anchor down”.
St Peter’s was designed by architect George Fagg. The building accommodated 86 people and was built at a cost of £80. The old church (St John's) was used exclusively as a school until 1908. The building was lost in a bushfire in January 1920.
The new church served the Anglican community at Barnes Bay for a little over 70 years when it was destroyed in the 1967 bushfires which raged across southern Tasmania. In 1968 it was replaced by a new church. This building, the third Anglican church built at Barnes Bay, will be the subject of a future article.
The first Anglican church established at Barnes Bay was dedicated to St John. It was also used as a schoolroom. St John's was built in 1845 and was in use until it was replaced by a new church built in 1896 on another site.
The foundation stone of the new church, which was dedicated to St Peter, was ceremonially laid by Bishop Montgomery on Wednesday 18 December 1895. The Hobart Mercury published a brief account of the occasion:
“Yesterday afternoon the Bishop of Tasmania proceeded in the steamer Huon to Barnes' Bay to lay the foundation-stone of the church about to be built there. Some of the Church of England clergy accompanied the Bishop, and a fair number of passengers embraced the opportunity of taking part in the ceremony….On arrival at Mr. Lindsay's jetty, the visitors were met by the incumbent, the Rev. R. J. de Coetlogon and the Bruny parishioners, who mustered in full force…. A procession was then formed, the gentlemen going first ladies next, and the Bishop and clergy bringing up the rear, the hymn "Onward Christian soldiers" being sung: as a processional until the site was reached, which is about a quarter of an hour's walk from the jetty”.
“….The Bishop proceeded with laying the foundation-stone…. A very cheering address was delivered by the Bishop, who spoke most enthusiastically of the open hearted liberality of the residents In contributing towards the erection of their house of God, almost every one of whom had made it a point to be present that day. One gentleman had given the whole of the timber required, others willingly worked in various ways, while the ladies were very zealous in rendering all the assistance they could; the result being that very little cash will be required, and a church seating about 80 people will soon be an accomplished fact….”.
The church was officially opened and dedicated by Bishop Montgomery on Friday 21 August 1896. The Mercury reported:
“Friday, 21st inst., was a red-letter day in the annals of church history at Bruny, Bishop Montgomery opening the new church there. The Waratah, s.s., left town at 9 a.m., conveying the Bishop and party to Kingston, where they were joined by the Rev. A. M. Hopcraft, and the parish church choir. A further contingent embarked at Oyster Cove, bringing up the number to about 50 people. Barnes' Bay was reached at 12.30, and advantage was taken of the kindly hospitality of the Bruny people, who had thoughtfully provided a substantial luncheon for the visitors. The opening service at the church was fixed for 1.30, and there was an overflowing congregation. The Bishop dedicated the church and consecrated the altar, and after this delivered an impressive and helpful address to the worshippers. He referred to the small cost at which the church had been erected owing to the praiseworthy labours of those who bad assisted in a practical way to build tho edifice, and expressed pleasure and satisfaction that the church was that day free of debt…. The return from Bruny was fixed for 3 o’clock and after leaving visitors at Oyster Cove the Waratah came smartly up to the new jetty at Kingston to land the members of the choir, who went down to render the musical part of the service for their fellow-churchmen. Three cheers were given, as the boat left the jetty, for the Bishop, and for the genial Captain Bruce of the Waratah; and all reached home after a refreshing day, rejoicing in the fact that the Church in Tasmania had now another anchor down”.
St Peter’s was designed by architect George Fagg. The building accommodated 86 people and was built at a cost of £80. The old church (St John's) was used exclusively as a school until 1908. The building was lost in a bushfire in January 1920.
The new church served the Anglican community at Barnes Bay for a little over 70 years when it was destroyed in the 1967 bushfires which raged across southern Tasmania. In 1968 it was replaced by a new church. This building, the third Anglican church built at Barnes Bay, will be the subject of a future article.
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| St Peter's at Barnes Bay. (undated) Photograph: Barnes Bay Chapel and Cemetery Association. The photographer and source is not provided. |
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The Mercury |
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| The foundation stone of St Peter's was preserved after the 1967 bushfire destroyed the church. The date on the stone does not accord with the actual date on why it was laid by Bishop Montgomery. Photography courtesy of Barnes Bay Chapel and Cemetery Association. (see sources below for the Associations website) |
Sources:
The Mercury, Tuesday 17 December 1895, page 3
The Mercury, Thursday 19 December 1895, page 3
Mercury, Tuesday 25 August 1896, page 2
Henslowe, Dorothea I and Hurburgh, Isa. Our heritage of Anglican churches in Tasmania / by Dorothea I. Henslowe ; sketches by Isa Hurburgh, 1978.
NOTES ON BRUNY ISLAND CHURCH HISTORY
(First compiled by Norma Campbell and revised by Kathy Duncombe in 2022).
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