Ebenezer

 Ebenezer Church

On Monday 17 April we drove to Ebenezer to visit the oldest church in Australia.  This Church was built by 15 pioneer families who voyaged on the "Coromandel" to the colony of New South Wales in 1802.  The "Coromandel" sailed from Portsmouth UK and transported free settlers, convicts and provisions, sailing non-stop to New South Wales.  The free settlers selected their 100 acre grants of land in the region of Ebenezer on the Hawkesbury River and began a life of farming in the new colony.

This beautiful stone church is built of local sandstone, cedar wood and hardwood and has been restored over the last five years, thus improving public access and enjoyment of the site.  The local environment has also benefited with the removal of weeds along the adjacent river bank.  Descendants of the 15 pioneer families who built the church in 1809 provided 60 per cent of the needed funds for the restoration work.  There has also been a high level of support from the local community including skills and labour by experienced retired tradesmen and there is a strong feeling of community ownership of the site.

There is a Schoolmaster's House adjacent to the Church where there are photographs and memorabilia to peruse about the church's interesting history.  There are also teas/coffees and light meals available and craft items, souvenirs, jams etc. for purchase from Wednesday to Sunday,  The shop is normally closed on Monday and Tuesday, but we were lucky to see inside and purchase some items from the shop as, even though it was Monday, they were expecting a bus load of tourists to arrive.

In the graveyard adjacent to the Church, the graves in the row in front of the church entrance include those of church pioneers.  I also saw the name Arndell prominent on some of the gravestones and these are memorials to descendants of Thomas Arndell, a surgeon on the First Fleet and an Ebenezer Church pioneer. 

This is a view of the Church from the front fence with part of the circular garden visible.

Owen Cavanough, donated the land on which the Church stands.  Owen Cavanough was a pioneer and the first man from the First Fleet to step ashore at Sydney Cove.

This pretty little Church is built of local sandstone.  

The Porch was added in 1929

The Church was originally non-conformist, then Presbyterian and nowdays is run by the Uniting Church in Australia.  At present the congregation is small and they cannot afford a full-time minister so they share two ministers across five congregations and hopefully they can continue in the years ahead.

Here is part of the little cemetery adjacent to the Church where members of church pioneers are buried.

Inside the Schoolmaster's Cottage which was the former residence of the early colonial teacher.  This cottage is now an interesting museum and souvenir shop.

This is an outside view of the Vestry built in 1965 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone.  In the background you can see the outdoor covered area for refreshments.

We enjoyed our visit to Ebenezer and reading about the history of Australia's oldest Church.

We then left and caught the car ferry at Sackville Ferry Crossing, Ebenezer approach to cross the Hawkesbury River to continue on our way to Wiseman's Ferry.

Acknowledgments  

1.  www.ebenezerchurch.org.au  Ebenezer Church Newsletter No. 30 April, 2023

2.  Pamphlet available at Church for a self-guided tour.