St Marys Anglican church
Nave foundation stone 27 Oct 1846 by Miss Fanny Conway of Jiddown Estate, architect Moses Garlick, opened 12 Sep 1847, consecrated 13 Mar 1849, tower by 1872, new bell 1896. First church of stringybark & shingles opened 4 Jul 1841 on land given by John Wickham Daw. Foundation stone Sunday School hall 21 Oct 1865, opened by Mar 1866, replacing earlier stringybark church/school. Church originally known as "St Mary's on the Sturt", later “St Mary's South Road”. Suburb named after the church.
“Church, erected by voluntary subscriptions, on the Onkaparinga road, mid-way between the river Sturt and the Brownhill creek, was opened for public worship, by the Rev. C. B. Howard, Colonial Chaplain. . . The structure of the Church is both simple and neat. It is composed of stringy bark, and is capable of accomodating [sic] almost two hundred and fifty persons. A Sunday School is attached to the Church, and a Day School is about to be established.” [Southern Australian 6 Jul 1841]
“Saint Mary’s Church. The foundation stone of this church was laid on Tuesday last in the village of St. Mary's, on the Sturt, and some few acres south of the old church. . . Saint Mary's Church, In the Village of St. Mary's, on the Sturt, County of Adelaide, South Australia. The foundation stone of this church was laid by Miss Conway, of Jiddown Estate, On Tuesday the 27th October, 1846, being the tenth year of the reign of our most Gracious Sovereign Queen Victoria. Lieut. Governor of South Australia-Major Robe.” [South Australian 30 Oct 1846]
“The foundation-stone of a church near the old wooden building known as St. Mary's Church was laid on Tuesday last, in the presence of the Colonial Chaplain, the Rev. Messrs Woodcock and Newenham, and some of the settlers in the neighbourhood.” [SA Gazette & Colonial Register 31 Oct 1846]
“A meeting was held on Wednesday, at St Mary's, on the Sturt, of the inhabitants of that district, to take measures for erecting a parsonage. The Rev. John Fulford has been licensed by the Lord Bishop of Adelaide for the cure of souls within the district It was resolved, after a lengthened and friendly discussion, to build on the glebe approaching Tapley's Hill — the situation being centrical for Christ Church, O'Halloran Hill, and St Mary's — which churches, for a time at least, will be supplied by the same clergyman.” [South Australian 8 Sep 1848]
“the Lord Bishop of the diocese performed the service of consecration at St. Mary's Church, on the Sturt, and afterwards preached to a large and most respectable congregation. The Very Rev. Archdeacon Hale, and the Rev. T. Fulford, bore part in the services of the day. The church, having accommodation for 130 persons, is exceedingly neat, and a very commodious parsonage house is nearly completed.” [South Australian 20 Mar 1849]
“the opening service at St. Mary's, Sturt River, on Sunday, September 12, 1846, was taken by the incumbent of St. John's (Rev. W. T. Woodcock). St. Mary's at that time being apparently an off-shoot from St. John's.” [Register 11 Feb 1928]
“St. Mary's Church Sunday-School, Sturt. . . The spot selected is situate a little to the north of the present church, being the site of the first church of St. Mary's.” [Register 4 Jul 1865]
“St. Mary’s Sunday-School, Lecture Hall, and Institute. The ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the above building was performed by the Lord Bishop of Adelaide at St. Mary's, Sturt on Saturday afternoon. October 21. . . The site of the proposed building is a short distance north of St. Mary's Church. It was originally selected for the church, but circumstances occurred which caused the latter to be erected where it now stands. The new building is to front the west and its size is to be 22 by 42 feet. . . The style is Gothic. Messrs. Wright and Woods kindly prepared the plan.” [Register 23 Oct 1865]
“A tea and public meeting took place in the St. Mary's Schoolroom and Institute, Sturt, on Thursday evening, March 22.” [Advertiser 24 Mar 1866]
“As the designation of the Church — St. Mary's, Sturt — causes confusion, particularly in the Post-Office, letters so addressed being sent to the Sturt Post-Office, instead of the Edwards Town one. No fault, whatever, being attributable to the Post Office authorities; it was considered advisable to change the title to St. Mary's, South-road, and the Chairman was requested to write to the Secretary of Synod, with a view to all future Synodal communications being so directed.” [Advertiser 7 Apr 1866]
“Concert at St. Mary's, South-road. . . held in St. Mary's Hall, on the South-road, in aid of the funds of St. Mary's School.” [Register 20 Jul 1872]
“St. Mary's. Church, South-road. . . The tower of the church, for which subscriptions were raised a year or two ago, is now finished at a cost, including extras, of £65 5s. 3d. A new bell, weighing more than 1 cwt., recently sent out from England, will soon be hung up inside the tower.” [Advertiser 24 Apr 1873]
“a very successful fancy fair with music, singing, and tableaux, was held in St. Mary's Hall, South-road, with the object of raising funds for the purchase of a new bell for the church, the present one having been cracked in hanging some years ago.” [Advertiser 17 Apr 1896]
“the dedication service in connection with the new bell was held in St. Mary's Church, South-road, by Bishop Harmer, assisted by the Rev. W. S. Moore (incumbent), and the Rev. A. Honner.” [Evening Journal 14 Jul 1896]
“St. Mary's, South-road. . . thanks were also passed to those ladies and gentlemen who had taken put in the entertainments to raise funds for the new bell, and. . . to Messrs. Ragless, of Tonsley Park, for their kindness in not only flooring the bell tower, but also in providing wood for the same, and ladders to reach the bell floor.” [Advertiser 8 May 1897]
“Old St. Mary’s, as the Anglican Church on the South-road is affectionately called by the inhabitants of Edwardstown and district, is shortly to be embellished with stained-glass windows. The Church has been a familiar landmark for upwards of sixty years, and the present edifice, which replaced a wooden temporary structure over half a century ago, is the oldest ecclesiastical building still remaining intact in the province. Persons who hail from the old country are often carried back in imagination to their native villages when passing by its distinctly rural English aspect, with its orthodox square tower and picturesque churchyard.” [Evening Journal 26 Sep 1898]
“within a few days, the removal of one of the oldest landmarks alone the main road. For more than 80 years the original St. Mary’s Anglican Schoolroom has stood just past the angle where the South road is joined by Daw's road. . . Mr. Daw gave the land for the schoolroom, and for St. Mary's Church and rectory a little farther south. . . The schoolroom was used in the first place for church services and other purposes, afterward serving for many years as a school and for social gatherings. It is being taken down at last by the direction of the Succession Act Trustees as past repair.” [Register 11 Feb 1928 with photo p 14]
“More than £800 had been spent on renovations to the 106-year-old St. Marys Church of England, South road, St. Marys, before last night's fire. . . destroyed the south-eastern section of the ceiling and roof and burnt the church's historical records. The fire began in the vestry and quickly spread through the shingle, straw, and galvanised iron roof. . . The last service at the church was on Sunday, but the doors are never locked.” [News 3 Jun 1953]
“The church organ was extensively damaged by water. A woman member of the congregation has offered to bear the cost of restoring it. In addition to the damage to the building, elaborate needlework by the women of the church was destroyed.” [News 4 Jun 1953]
“The fire had destroyed baptismal, wedding and burial registers dating back to the 1840's, together with candlesticks, vestments and altar linen which were stored in the vestry.” [Advertiser 4 Jun 1953]
“The weekend arson attempt on SA's second-oldest church — St. Mary's Church of England on South road — is the thirteenth deliberate attempt to burn down churches in Adelaide in six years. . . But for Saturday night's fire, which destroyed a £200 organ, members of the congregation would this week have completed restoring the £3.000 damage caused by the earlier fire.” [News 5 Oct 1953]
“For the first time in years, the doors of St. Mary's Church of England on South road have been securely bolted following Saturday night's arson attempt.” [News 7 Oct 1953]
“An organ to replace the one destroyed by a fire in St. Mary's Church of England, South road, St. Marys, on October 5, has been given by Mr. H. M. Wood, of Greenhill road, Tusmore. . . Mr. and Mrs. Wood had offered to pay part of the cost of restoring the organ, which was in need of small repairs.” [Advertiser 19 Oct 1953]
St Marys Anglican church
Nave foundation stone 27 Oct 1846 by Miss Fanny Conway of Jiddown Estate, architect Moses Garlick, opened 12 Sep 1847, consecrated 13 Mar 1849, tower by 1872, new bell 1896. First church of stringybark & shingles opened 4 Jul 1841 on land given by John Wickham Daw. Foundation stone Sunday School hall 21 Oct 1865, opened by Mar 1866, replacing earlier stringybark church/school. Church originally known as "St Mary's on the Sturt", later “St Mary's South Road”. Suburb named after the church.
“Church, erected by voluntary subscriptions, on the Onkaparinga road, mid-way between the river Sturt and the Brownhill creek, was opened for public worship, by the Rev. C. B. Howard, Colonial Chaplain. . . The structure of the Church is both simple and neat. It is composed of stringy bark, and is capable of accomodating [sic] almost two hundred and fifty persons. A Sunday School is attached to the Church, and a Day School is about to be established.” [Southern Australian 6 Jul 1841]
“Saint Mary’s Church. The foundation stone of this church was laid on Tuesday last in the village of St. Mary's, on the Sturt, and some few acres south of the old church. . . Saint Mary's Church, In the Village of St. Mary's, on the Sturt, County of Adelaide, South Australia. The foundation stone of this church was laid by Miss Conway, of Jiddown Estate, On Tuesday the 27th October, 1846, being the tenth year of the reign of our most Gracious Sovereign Queen Victoria. Lieut. Governor of South Australia-Major Robe.” [South Australian 30 Oct 1846]
“The foundation-stone of a church near the old wooden building known as St. Mary's Church was laid on Tuesday last, in the presence of the Colonial Chaplain, the Rev. Messrs Woodcock and Newenham, and some of the settlers in the neighbourhood.” [SA Gazette & Colonial Register 31 Oct 1846]
“A meeting was held on Wednesday, at St Mary's, on the Sturt, of the inhabitants of that district, to take measures for erecting a parsonage. The Rev. John Fulford has been licensed by the Lord Bishop of Adelaide for the cure of souls within the district It was resolved, after a lengthened and friendly discussion, to build on the glebe approaching Tapley's Hill — the situation being centrical for Christ Church, O'Halloran Hill, and St Mary's — which churches, for a time at least, will be supplied by the same clergyman.” [South Australian 8 Sep 1848]
“the Lord Bishop of the diocese performed the service of consecration at St. Mary's Church, on the Sturt, and afterwards preached to a large and most respectable congregation. The Very Rev. Archdeacon Hale, and the Rev. T. Fulford, bore part in the services of the day. The church, having accommodation for 130 persons, is exceedingly neat, and a very commodious parsonage house is nearly completed.” [South Australian 20 Mar 1849]
“the opening service at St. Mary's, Sturt River, on Sunday, September 12, 1846, was taken by the incumbent of St. John's (Rev. W. T. Woodcock). St. Mary's at that time being apparently an off-shoot from St. John's.” [Register 11 Feb 1928]
“St. Mary's Church Sunday-School, Sturt. . . The spot selected is situate a little to the north of the present church, being the site of the first church of St. Mary's.” [Register 4 Jul 1865]
“St. Mary’s Sunday-School, Lecture Hall, and Institute. The ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the above building was performed by the Lord Bishop of Adelaide at St. Mary's, Sturt on Saturday afternoon. October 21. . . The site of the proposed building is a short distance north of St. Mary's Church. It was originally selected for the church, but circumstances occurred which caused the latter to be erected where it now stands. The new building is to front the west and its size is to be 22 by 42 feet. . . The style is Gothic. Messrs. Wright and Woods kindly prepared the plan.” [Register 23 Oct 1865]
“A tea and public meeting took place in the St. Mary's Schoolroom and Institute, Sturt, on Thursday evening, March 22.” [Advertiser 24 Mar 1866]
“As the designation of the Church — St. Mary's, Sturt — causes confusion, particularly in the Post-Office, letters so addressed being sent to the Sturt Post-Office, instead of the Edwards Town one. No fault, whatever, being attributable to the Post Office authorities; it was considered advisable to change the title to St. Mary's, South-road, and the Chairman was requested to write to the Secretary of Synod, with a view to all future Synodal communications being so directed.” [Advertiser 7 Apr 1866]
“Concert at St. Mary's, South-road. . . held in St. Mary's Hall, on the South-road, in aid of the funds of St. Mary's School.” [Register 20 Jul 1872]
“St. Mary's. Church, South-road. . . The tower of the church, for which subscriptions were raised a year or two ago, is now finished at a cost, including extras, of £65 5s. 3d. A new bell, weighing more than 1 cwt., recently sent out from England, will soon be hung up inside the tower.” [Advertiser 24 Apr 1873]
“a very successful fancy fair with music, singing, and tableaux, was held in St. Mary's Hall, South-road, with the object of raising funds for the purchase of a new bell for the church, the present one having been cracked in hanging some years ago.” [Advertiser 17 Apr 1896]
“the dedication service in connection with the new bell was held in St. Mary's Church, South-road, by Bishop Harmer, assisted by the Rev. W. S. Moore (incumbent), and the Rev. A. Honner.” [Evening Journal 14 Jul 1896]
“St. Mary's, South-road. . . thanks were also passed to those ladies and gentlemen who had taken put in the entertainments to raise funds for the new bell, and. . . to Messrs. Ragless, of Tonsley Park, for their kindness in not only flooring the bell tower, but also in providing wood for the same, and ladders to reach the bell floor.” [Advertiser 8 May 1897]
“Old St. Mary’s, as the Anglican Church on the South-road is affectionately called by the inhabitants of Edwardstown and district, is shortly to be embellished with stained-glass windows. The Church has been a familiar landmark for upwards of sixty years, and the present edifice, which replaced a wooden temporary structure over half a century ago, is the oldest ecclesiastical building still remaining intact in the province. Persons who hail from the old country are often carried back in imagination to their native villages when passing by its distinctly rural English aspect, with its orthodox square tower and picturesque churchyard.” [Evening Journal 26 Sep 1898]
“within a few days, the removal of one of the oldest landmarks alone the main road. For more than 80 years the original St. Mary’s Anglican Schoolroom has stood just past the angle where the South road is joined by Daw's road. . . Mr. Daw gave the land for the schoolroom, and for St. Mary's Church and rectory a little farther south. . . The schoolroom was used in the first place for church services and other purposes, afterward serving for many years as a school and for social gatherings. It is being taken down at last by the direction of the Succession Act Trustees as past repair.” [Register 11 Feb 1928 with photo p 14]
“More than £800 had been spent on renovations to the 106-year-old St. Marys Church of England, South road, St. Marys, before last night's fire. . . destroyed the south-eastern section of the ceiling and roof and burnt the church's historical records. The fire began in the vestry and quickly spread through the shingle, straw, and galvanised iron roof. . . The last service at the church was on Sunday, but the doors are never locked.” [News 3 Jun 1953]
“The church organ was extensively damaged by water. A woman member of the congregation has offered to bear the cost of restoring it. In addition to the damage to the building, elaborate needlework by the women of the church was destroyed.” [News 4 Jun 1953]
“The fire had destroyed baptismal, wedding and burial registers dating back to the 1840's, together with candlesticks, vestments and altar linen which were stored in the vestry.” [Advertiser 4 Jun 1953]
“The weekend arson attempt on SA's second-oldest church — St. Mary's Church of England on South road — is the thirteenth deliberate attempt to burn down churches in Adelaide in six years. . . But for Saturday night's fire, which destroyed a £200 organ, members of the congregation would this week have completed restoring the £3.000 damage caused by the earlier fire.” [News 5 Oct 1953]
“For the first time in years, the doors of St. Mary's Church of England on South road have been securely bolted following Saturday night's arson attempt.” [News 7 Oct 1953]
“An organ to replace the one destroyed by a fire in St. Mary's Church of England, South road, St. Marys, on October 5, has been given by Mr. H. M. Wood, of Greenhill road, Tusmore. . . Mr. and Mrs. Wood had offered to pay part of the cost of restoring the organ, which was in need of small repairs.” [Advertiser 19 Oct 1953]