St Anne's Anglican Church Strathfield
by Cathy Jones
Moves to establish an
Anglican Church in Strathfield commenced in October 1884 at a meeting in
the home of Mr Edward Deas-Thompson who lived at ‘Riccaroon’ Redmyre
Road, a house which is now part of Meriden School. He was the son of the
former Colonial Secretary and Chairman of the Australian Jockey Club,
Sir Edward Deas-Thomson, and of a daughter of Governor Burke. Plans
advanced quickly and on 3 May 1885, a small weatherboard Church was
built on the corner of Vernon and Brunswick Streets. The district was
formed into a parish and the Rev. Herbert Rose was inducted as Rector in
December 1885. By 1889, the first Rectory was built and the Church in
Vernon St enlarged and beautified.
However, as the population grew, larger premises were required. The
present Church site, on the corner of Beresford and Homebush Roads, was
acquired in 1892 with funds used from the sale of the Church premises in
Vernon St. The new Church was designed by the architectural firm of
Sulman & Power and built by John Robson. John Sulman [1849-1934], who
was once a resident of Strathfield, also designed the Strathfield
Council Chambers in 1887. Sulman entered into partnership with Joseph
Porter Power from 1889 to 1908, with other work including The Armidale
School [1889], Women’s College University of Sydney [1890-94] and the
Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital at Concord. Sulman & Power also
designed St Columba’s, corner of Hornsey Rd and Exeter St, Homebush
West.
St Anne’s is an
English style Church. The Church features dichromatic brickwork and a
steeped pitched slate roof. Characteristics of the Church’s design
include pointed arch windows, circular windows, clock tower and stone
tracery. A lynchgate at the corner of Beresford and Homebush Road is
another feature, which is rare in Strathfield, but typical in many
English Churches.
The foundation Stone of St Anne’s Church was laid by the Governor of New
South Wales, the Earl of Jersey on 25th August 1892 with the first
portion of the Church completed and dedicated in 1893. Funding for the
construction of the church was through fundraising efforts of St Anne’s
parishioners and by 1902, the nave was completed and organ installed.
Under the direction of Sulman and Power, the Chancel was added in 1914
and dedicated by the Most. Rev. John Charles Wright, Archbishop of
Sydney on 21st December 1914. The Parish Hall [which was enlarged and
extended in 1952] was also and Church school were added in this period.
In 1922, plans for
the current bungalow styled rectory on Homebush Road costing £2500 were
approved by Strathfield Council. The builder was Ernest Dawes of
Homebush. To pay for the new rectory, the former Rectory in Vernon St
was sold.
St Anne’s is one of the most beautiful Churches in Strathfield and its
interiors feature furnishings and items, dedicated by the Church’s
parishioners over the last century. Examples include the Altar and five
stained glass windows, including the west window in which the
Annunciation and the Presentation in the Temple are depicted. These were
donated by Mr Alfred Houston c. 1892-3. Other attributes include Altar
hangings, vestry furniture, lectern, prayer desk and War memorials.
This article appeared in Strathfield Scene December 2005