 St
Peter's Church
Mt Victoria
Report
from the Church News ... 1874
Mount Victoria…on the 18th instant, the ceremony
of laying the foundation stone of St Peter’s Anglican Church took
place at 3 o’clock, by the Lord Bishop of Sydney, assisted by
the Bishop of Bathurst, Revs. R H Mayne, incumbent of Hartley;
John Vaughan, incumbent of Penrith; W Dalrymple of O’Connel Plains;
and…Hart of Wallerawang.
There were several ladies present.
The Proceedings commenced by singing the 488th Hymn, after which
a prayer was offered by the Bishop of Sydney. The treasurer
of the committee, Mr John Perry, then presented Dr Barker with
a trowel and mallet; particulars on an engrossed parchment was
then read, which was as follows:
‘The foundation stone of this church to be
dedicated to St Peter, was laid on land presented by Henry Bell
Esq. of Sydney, by the Right Rev Frederick Barker, DD, Bishop
of Sydney and Metropolitan of Australia, on the 18th September
1874, and in the thirty eighth year of the reign of Her Majesty,
Queen Victoria, Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, KCMG being
Governor of the Colony; the Rev Robert H Mayne, incumbent of
the district; David Macbeath, architect; Alexander, builder;
John Perry, John Lewis Meads, M Arthur Hornidge, committee.’
 The
parchment then being put into a bottle, then was laid in the cavity,
the stone lowered, and declared by the Bishop to be well an d
truly laid.
Another hymn was then sung.
A report read of treasurer’s account
which left committee £85 in debt. A short address was then delivered
and subscriptions invited - £59.10 quickly put down. Mrs Barker
laid upon the table an envelope containing £35 from donors residing
in Sydney.
The building will be a neat rubble stone structure
30’ x 18’ clear inside, with a chancel, to cost £200; the quoins
and windows being dressed. The site is on a rising piece of ground,
commanding a vast extensive view of magnificent mountain scenery.
After
the conclusion of proceedings, Mr John Perry of the Family Hotel
invited all present to partake of a luncheon at the hotel.
Mr Perry
was in the chair, supported on his right by Bishop Barker, on
his left by Bishop Marsden; the vice-chair being filled by Mr
Hornbridge.
The usual loyal toasts were proposed and duly
responded to as well as several others of a local nature. The
table was honoured by the presence of Mrs Barker and several other
ladies.
A special service was held in the same room at
half past seven, at which a number of persons assembled, presided
over by the Bishop of Sydney, Bishop Marsden being also present,
and all the other clergy; hymns were sung and each clergyman gave
a short address.
On Sunday morning the Bishop of Sydney presided
at St John’s Church, Hartley.
At a later date, the need to
enlarge the Church became evident and an extension was added.
This is the back part of the Church and included
the front porch as a welcoming area to the church.
From 1974 until the mid 1960s, there was a shed-like structure in
use as a vestry. The Minister changed here and usually in bad weather,
Sunday School was conducted in the shed. Donations raised enough
for the present Vestry to be built. In 1999, a separate hall was
built to accommodate all the needs of this very active church.
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