Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Saturday 4 October 1919, page 7


THE CHURCHES.

CENTENARY OF ST. JAMES'.

Commencing to-day and continuing until

October 14 celebrations will be held in con-nection with the hundredth anniversary of the laying of the foundation-stone of St, James' Church. That event

occurred on October 7, 1819, and was per- formed by Governor Macquarie, who, however,

at the time intended the building to take the form of a law court. The design was changed on tho recommendation of Commis-sioner Bigge, who had been sent out by the Home Government, and who urged the erec-tion of a second church, as the existing Church of St. Philip's was not large enough to supply the needs of the convicts and other worshippers. Within its walls have stood and preached one and all of the early leaders of the Australian Church, and it is interest-ing that the floor of the existing pulpit formed part of the old three-decker pulpit which all through the years of the last century was used by the preachers at St. James'. The special preachers for the anniversary are to be the Bishops of Armidale and Bathurst. On Tuesday a commemoration service is to be held at 10.30 a.m., in the course of

which a procession with cross and banners will take place round the block on which the church stands, concluding with a hymn and commemorative prayer at the central porch of the church. The service will be followed by a luncheon, at which his Excellency, the Go-vernor and Lady Davidson will be the chief guests; and on Wednesday evening a lecture with lantern illustrations on Old Sydney will be given In St. James" Hall by Mr. C. H. Bertie, Librarian of the Municipal Library, in view of the place which the old church fills in the affection and regard of many both within and without Sydney, it is expected that large numbers will attend the commemorative services and festivities, and that the occa-

sion will be a memorable one for all who are

able to be present.