SYDNEY'S FIRST CHURCH SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2007, 14 March 1914, Page 8

SYDNEY'S FIRST CHURCH SERVICE

,3 AN INTBRESTIN'G RECORD. * In an old njaßflsorjjrt book, bfluiid iii , cardboard cavers, has .lioen. found a diary-of Dr.-Arthur Bwds, who was surgeon of tho Lady fteuryjiii, ono of tho vessels of tho historic First Fleet. < This hook is in tha family of tho • compiler, ivh-o wijl not part wrt-li it, ,; although tlic Mitch-Gil Library in Sidney « would willbiglj' give £1000 for it, it j contains a t-a.re.ftil account of all that happened om tho. ship-after she left Portsjaonth, durhag her stay in Now South Wales, and also during Tier visit to China. ; The interest in tbo diary lies in the fac-t- t-h.at it definitely establishes the date o! the first Sunday service told, on shore in Sydney, Ttoro . has up to the preseat been a difficulty 1 in flsi'ftg tho- date wlic-n this R<}v. Rich- ' ai-d Johnson held his. first servide on . shore. Captain Tench, in bis rrarrii- ■ the, says that, "on the S-flliday after j our landing the R-sv. Jfr.. Jolfflson hold ; a Bwviee on shore." tlvo -qiiest-jqn \vas, s ■nljioli was Hid Sunday.after tho tonrjing. 1 Seeing tlia-t tlie fleet arrited en Saturday evening, January 26, 1788, -soino ; people have held that tlid d-ato referred to'was, the following day., . Dr. Bowd's diary placfis tho matter lioyond doubt. Hts efttcy ,for January 2?— the date accepted «by 'the' Arch-, bishop of Sydney As that of the first Service, reads as follows:— "Janvmry 27, 17SS."-Tliis ntoming, at ■ dayligjit thd loiig btiat, Ml ef canvicts from-the Scarborough, were set on shore to assist in cutting down trees ' and clearing the ground. The t-he-r----montetor stood at 74.. Many of tilt tents were pitched this day on shere.; Upon our ehter.iftg tllo harbonj , mouth •■we saw many natives «a the top of tho high rocks. None of. them ha-Vo appealed since- «•« anchored. . No hoats ■ ore-suffieiced to go oiit of the cove, nor j any sailors to ho put on shoro after sunset," , ■ It will Ire seen that there is Ho record . el a service on sho-fe. ■ Oa the other hand, the diary gives' th© following record for February 3',*— "February 3.—On this da.? tho Rev. Mr. JeluisoH ]&e<ushe& on Amo for the: first time." ;