Richmond

St. Peter's Church and Old Cemetery

On Thursday 13 August, 2020 we took a picnic to Pugh's Lagoon and had a picnic lunch while observing the many ducks and birds.  There were a number of people out and enjoying the beautiful sunny weather and a cluster of artists at easels painting the scenery.  After our picnic we took a walk up Windsor Street, running alongside Smith Park and discovered St. Peter's Anglican Church.  The Church occupies a high prominent position in Windsor Street, overlooking Pugh's Lagoon and the surrounding lowlands of Richmond and opposite the Church in the same street is the Old Cemetery.

Unfortunately, the Church was not open so we could not explore inside.   I have since found out that our friends Kathleen and Paul are members of this Church and Paul has a key and could show us around at some convenient time.  It would certainly be great to see inside as there is a fine pipe organ and several stained glass windows.  The architectural style of the Church is Colonial Georgian.

However, we did a little exploration of the Old Cemetery where the remains of several first fleeters and pioneers from the early days of Hawkesbury settlement are buried.  We found many old tombstones.  The oldest date, I believe is that of George Rouse, who died on 9 September, 1809.  His father Richard Rouse arrived in the colony in 1801 as a free settler on the convict ship "Nile".  One old stone bears the name of Joseph Hobson "killed by the blacks 1816".

"St. Peter's Church is a heritage listed Anglican church and associated Sunday school, rectory and cemetery at 384 Windsor Street, Richmond, City of Hawkesbury, NSW.  It was designed by Francis Clarke and Edmund Blackett and built from 1836 to 1841 by James Atkinson." Wikipedia

The Church has a tall spire which has had to be replaced a couple of times, due to damage in storms and I believe it will need further repair within the next few years.

The most imposing monument in the cemetery is the Hordern Memorial inscribed with the names of Edward Hordern, senr. died 14/8/1883 aged 45;  Christina, his wife, died 24/4/1904 aged 59 and Cecil, son of Edward Hordern, senr. died 14/9/1931, aged 63.  This monument stands at the rear of the cemetery as a tall monolith with a winged angel on top.



  

This view of the Lagoon and the surrounding lowlands with the Blue Mountains in the distance is visible from the top of the Hill where the Church is situated.  On the other side of the trees is the Richmond Polo Club where we saw some mounted polo players on horses, engaged in a polo match, racing around the field and brandishing long wooden mallets in the air as they swooped down on the ball.  It looked to be a fast and furious game!

After our visit to the Old Cemetery, we walked back to our car and drove home after a very enjoyable day out.