Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Monday 18 June 1934, page 15


HISTORIC CHURCH.

Services at St. John's, Ashfield.

Festival services at the historic Anglican

Church of St Johns, Ashfield, the founda-tion-stone of which was laid on September 9, 1840, were commenced yesterday, when the rector (the Rev. H. S. Cocks) unveiled and

dedicated two memorial windows in the sanctuary.

One window bears the inscription "I am the Resurrection and the Life. In memory of Jim Tatarroa, Melanesian, for many years worshipper in this church, died August, 1933." Tatarroa was one of a colony of Melanesians, formerly workers in the Queensland caneflelds, some of whom still attend the church.

The other window is inscribed, "Thy will be done. To the glory of God, in loving memory of Augustus A. Lawson, died Septem-ber, 1931, and Sarah Ann Lawson, died Feb-urary, 1933. Erected by their family, 1934." The Lawson family have been prominent for a long period as auctioneers in the city.

The preacher at the service following the dedication was the Rev. A. J. A. Fraser, of Haberfield.

St John's provides many links with the earliest days of settlement in Australia. Among the tombstones in the adjoining cemetery is one bearing the words, "In memory of John Limebourner, who arrived in this colony by the First Fleet. Died September, 1847, aged

104 years."

The list of rectors of St. John's is headed by the name of the Rev. J. K. Walpole, who had charge during the years 1840-1842. Among other notable names are those of Canon J. C. Corlette, D.D., who was rector from 1867 to 1900, and Canon W. G. Hilliard, M.A., now Bishop-elect of Nelson (New Zealand), whose term was from 1916 to 1926

The festival services will be continued next Sunday in commemoration of the Feast of the Patron Saint, John the Baptist