Anglican

St Alban's Church, Kingscote est 1884

The following extracts are from a publication  "A brief history to mark the Centenary of the Church of St. Alban, Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, 1884-1984" compiled by Fay Davidson, published by the St. Alban's Church Council, printed by The Island Press, reproduced here with kind permission. The full account can be read in the attached .pdf file below.

On August 3rd, 1884, St. Alban's Church, Kingscote, was licensed by Bishop Kennion of Adelaide. This is a brief story of the past hundred years of St. Alban's and also records the growth of the Anglican Church on Kangaroo Island. In fact the story goes back beyond 1884 to the beginning of official settlement on the Island when the Anglican presence was recorded on July 29th, 1836. "The Church of England prayers were read in the morning".

... Twenty six years go by before there is any reference to attention given to the spiritual needs of the Island people.

In 1863 the Rev. Charles Marryat, Rector of Port Adelaide, called at lighthouses and places along the coast holding services and baptising children.  Extracts from the Church Chronicle, March 1863, tell of the visit:

It has long been the desire of the Bishop that a clergyman should visit Kangaroo Island, where it is understood that there were many children who were unbaptised, and many families living who had not seen a minister of religion since the foundation of the colony. Arrangements were being made for this purpose when the mail service to Nepean Bay suddenly stopped, and cut off regular communication with the Island.

I gladly accepted the offer of a passage on board the Yatala in which members of the marine board were about to pay a visit of inspection to the lighthouses in and at the entrance of Gulf St. Vincent. Besides the pleasure of seeing a new portion of the colony I should be enabled to visit those who, for their position, are cut off from many spiritual advantages.

St Alban's, 1884

The Yatala left on Wednesday, March 4th, 1863. A week later, after calling at Troubridge lighthouse and landing stores for the Cape Borda light at Harvey's Return, they arrived at Kingscote -

Wednesday, March 11. Landed early to give notice of my arrival and desire to hold Divine Service. Called on Mr. Reeves, who offered to collect the inhabitants. At 11 o'clock went ashore and found a large party of 33 assembled in Mr. Reeve's room. Held Divine Service, with sermon, and afterwards baptised 12 children out of 17 present. I afterwards distributed some Testaments, prayer books, hymn books and tracts ... Mr Reeves spoke of the desirability of obtaining a grant of land from the Government for a cemetery. The piece of ground at present used as a burial ground belongs to the company and cannot be purchased.

The vessel sailed that afternoon and after a night of strong South Easterly winds, dropped anchor off the Buick home at American River. They sailed again at 6 p.m. and arrived at Antechamber Bay in the early hours of Friday morning -

Friday, March 13. Landed, about 9 a.m. near Thomas's cottage and windmill and the small Government store on the beach. Mounted the hill and waked through scrub (sheoak, prickly acacia, mallee, grass tree, etc.) about five miles to the lighthouse on Cape Willoughby ... Kangaroo Island is a barren and desolate a region as can be imagined. It covered almost throughout with a thick scrub, in parts impenetrable, with the exception of here and there small blocks of open land suitable for cultivation and sheep runs ... The sea is the most suitable means of communication. A Missionary trip by land would, at present, hardly be practicable.

The inhabitants number from 150 to 175 and are distributed somewhat in the following way: Cape Borda 8, Western River 10, Smith's Bay 5, Emu Bay 10, Kingscote 34, Three Wells River 10, Newland River 5, American River 10, Hog Bay 20, Antechamber Bay 20, Cape Willoughby 10, Hog Bay River 5, Sheep Station 10, native women 3, total 162.

In 1870 Kangaroo Island was attached to the parish of Yankalilla as a Mission District.

This long neglected part of the colony has thus been brought within the occasional reach of religious ordinances by the Rev. C. Morse.

From then on the Rev. Morse visited the Island several times a year. The trips were undertaken with a missionary zeal and without that enthusiasm the difficulties faces servicing his mission district would have been overwhelming at times.

On a trip to the Island in 1871 the Rev. Morse, who later became Canon, then Archdeacon, arrived at Cape Jervis to find the boat which was to take him across Backstairs Passage had been damaged in a storm -

[... an account of the expedition follows ...with the following families mentioned: Buick, Clark, Chapman, Daw. The establishment of a school and teacher's residence was mooted.]

These visits by the Rev. Morse continued for about fifteen years. They were roughly twice a year. For a time they were suspended altogether when he was in ill health. The school room spoken of in 1871 took another thirteen years to eventuate, although at the time it was resolved to build it "at once". In 1884 on August 3rd, a newly erected Church of England school room at Queenscliffe was licensed by Bishop Kennion for Divine Service and the Administration of the Sacraments.  The licencing of this school room which was designed to be the chancel of the future church at last gave the people a place of worship. ...

On Sunday, August 3rd [1884], at Queenscliffe, an Anglican schoolroom was opened by Dr. Kennion, Bishop of Adelaide, who held a communion service in the morning, baptismal in the afternoon, and preached or gave an exposition of the creed in the evening. On Monday tea and public meetings were held, which were well attended. At the public meeting Dr Kennion presided, and also delivered a very interesting and instructive address on 'Early Christianity in Yorkshire' which was greatly appreciated. Other addresses were delivered by Rev Canon Morse and Mr E. Childs on the history of the new building. A hearty vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. A. D. Bennett and seconded by Mr. Reeves, and presented to Dr Kennion for his visit, which brought a very pleasant gathering to a close. On Sunday, 10th instant, the very Rev Dean Russell conducted two services, and opened a Sunday School in the new building. The growing importance of the island is evidently being recognised in certain quarters if the visits of Anglican ecclesiastical dignitaries be considered.

NOTES ON KANGAROO ISLAND. (1884, August 22). Yorke's Peninsula Advertiser (SA : 1878 - 1922), p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article216319607

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH. Mr Terry, Church of England catechist, recently left here for the city. He has been succeeded by Mr H. Jepson

Hog Bay Notes Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), Saturday 7 March 1908, page 3

See valedictory to R. C Thorpe, on his departure for Gooolwa when Rev. Edmonds was minister

Valedictory. (1910, January 22). The Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), p. 5.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191639633

F. J. Edmonds transferred to Murray Bridge

VALEDICTORY. (1911, November 4). The Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), p. 4.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191629424

The Rev. Llewellyn Lewis, Priest in-charge of the Anglican Church on K.I. (who leaves Kingscote shortly to take over the charge of the Church at Angaston), was tendered a farewell social at the District Hall on Thursday evening by a number of his friends. During the evening Mr J. Turner, Warden of St. Albans, made the presentation of a silver entree dish, and Mrs Lewis was the recipient of a serviette ring from Sunday-school children. Speeches were also made by Messrs A. T. DuRieu, V. H. F. Cook, M. Smith, E. A. Lenthall and H. Curtis, and Mr Lewis suitably responded.

VALEDICTORY. (1922, October 28). The Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), p. 2.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191545262

HUGHES, Henry James Cecil
b. ABT 1906 d. 07 Oct 2000
e. Electoral roll BET 1939 & 1941 Kingscote, Kangaroo Island priest, Church of England
m. SINCLAIR, Jean Lily 21 Sep 1937 Grange, SA d. 02 Jun 1983

Penneshaw Anglican  Church

The Anglican community at Hog Bay, now beginning to use its new name, Penneshaw was anxious to follow suit [of that of Kingscote]. The original church of St Columba's near Christmas Cove at Penneshaw was built during 1884-5. "Dr Pennefather gave the block for this purpose with 100 pounds for endowment. The church was licenced for divine worship By Bishop Kennion on 19 April 1885, the minister at the time being Canon Morse ... It was an imposing stone building which ... served its people well ... and most of the Bishops of Adelaide are said to have preached there." A good deal of the islanders' social life at this time revolved around their churches and they regularly held tea meetings after services. After 1885 annual Church festivals were held. 

- Jean Nunn, This Southern Land, p.171

ARCHDEACON BUSSELL'S VISIT. 

The Ven. Archdeacon Bussell is expected here on Saturday next, and, during his visit, will conduct dedicatory services in connection with the new church porch which has lately been added to St. Columba's. The Archdeacon will also be present at the annual festival which is to be held at Lincoln Green on the 27th inst.  

District of Dudley. (1909, September 25). The Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), p. 5.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191633908

A CONTRADICTION.  TO THE EDITOR.

SIR, — In the obituary notice of the late E. S. Bates, senr., Hog Bay, my attention has been drawn to the following : "The lack of any clergyman on the Island caused Mr Bates to write to an old schoolmate (the late Baroness Burdett-Coutts) with a view to remedying the defect. Her endowment of the church at Hog Bay with an annuity of £40 has led to the spiritual wants of the Islanders being well catered for." As one of the oldest members of St. Columba's Church I may say that the endowment of that church was generously started by Professor Pennyfather, the members and friends of the church also giving most liberally and was in no way helped either by the late Baroness Burdett-Coutts or Mr Bates. I am, Sir, etc., MARY A. WILLSON.

A CONTRADICTION. (1908, July 18). The Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), p. 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191631944

A farewell is being arranged in Hog Bay this evening to Mr Jepson, the Anglican Catechist, who is leaving this sphere of work. Mr Jepson is universally popular and the Hog Bay people in this valedictory social are presenting him with a purse of sovereigns to show, in some small degree, the esteem in which he is held. To say he will be missed is only the truth, and although we are sorry he takes his departure so soon, we are pleased to know it is to the greater ; advantage of his life's avocation and we wish him the greatest success in his calling.

District of Dudley. (1909, April 17). The Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191637417

Farewell Evening at Wisanger.

On Tuesday evening, 20th inst.,[April 1909] all Wisanger assembled at the residence of Mr G. Turner to say farewell to Mr Jepson, Anglican catechist, who is about to relinquish work on the Island.

When the large number of guests had arrived Mr John Turner, on behalf of Wisangerites, spoke a few suitable words of farewell and presented Mr Jepson with a gift in coin to help him in his purchase of books for his future study. Mr Jepson feelingly responded and regretted he had not been enabled to visit the district more often. 

The evening was then devoted to fun. Games of all sorts were indulged in including " Spin the Platter," ''General Post," "Jolly Miller," and a host of others. Songs were rendered by Misses J. and E. Turner and recitations by Messrs Boxer and Schafer. The hostess provided a sumptuous supper, such as is only enjoyed at a first-class farmhouse, and altogether a splendid evening was spent. The guests departed at 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning after singing " God be with you till we meet again." Among those present is addition to the family were — Mr John Turner, Misses L. and B. Turner, Mr and Mrs Jacka, Miss Jacka, Messrs Jacka (4), Mrs Balchin, Mrs Kent Nash, Miss Bignall, Messrs Nash jr., Schafar, Boxer, Sutton, Trevie and Nicholls.


Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), Saturday 24 April 1909, page 5

Rev. S. Turton-Longman, who is leaving as after nearly seven years on the Island. Mr Longman has proved himself to be a willing helper in social affairs and will be greatly missed by his friends here, who wish him every success in his new parish. 

DISTRICT NEWS. (1920, August 28). The Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), p. 2.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191556477

WisangerThe settlers in the Wisanger district perceived a need for a place where matters affecting that community could be discussed. They set out to provide it. The result was the Wisanger Farmers' Assembly Room, better known today as the Old Wisanger School, which was opened in 1884. The Hall was used as a community centre and school for many years. John Turner, a nearby settler, conducted Anglican Church services there for some time. It was restored in 1983. - Jean Nunn, This Southern Land, p.171

Parndana

Celebration of 50th Anniversary of St Richards Anglican Church - Parndana. 

On 7th September 2009, the congregation is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the church. Planning for the church began when the Reverend D Thomas was the island’s priest. His successor, Robert Nicholls, proceeded to have plans for the new church drawn up. The foundation stone was laid by the Dean of Adelaide, Thomas Thornton Reed, in August 1956. The church was dedicated by the Reverends A.E. Weston and M.C.W. Gooden on 7th September 1958.

Kangaroo Island Courier, Saturday 23 November 1929, page 2

OBITUARY.

The news was received at Kingscote on Wednesday of the death of the Rev. S. Turton Longman. The deceased was born in England and served as a chaplain in the British army navy prior to coming to South Australia. He was Priest- in -charge of the Church of England mission on Kangaroo Island from March, 1914, to August, 1920. During that time he had to carry on the Master's work in the outlying districts, over bad roads botb in winter and summer, with the aid of a bicycle. Returning to England, he spent several years there and then returned to this State. He was appointed to the parish of Morialta about two years ago. He leaves a wife and one son.