Rev John Cross MA aka Parson Cross

Government Chaplain and Vicar at Windsor and Port Macquarie in the Colony of NSW.

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/cross-john-1937 http://www.nla.gov.au/pub/nlanews/2010/dec10/reverend-john-cross-an...

Parson Cross and his family's arrival is announced in "The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser " of Saturday 26 June 1819:

"Ship News... This day arrived from England, having called at Hobart Town, the ship Baring, Captain Lamb, with 290 male prisoners. She left England the 27th of January last with 300 prisoners on board, five of whom died on the passage, and five were landed at Hobart Town in a state of extreme-debility, one of whom died the following day.-Surgeon Superintendent, D. Reid. Esq. R. N. -The military guard consists of a detachment of the 48th, commanded by Captain Coates, of the 89th. Regiment, who is accompanied by his lady and family. Passengers ; Peter Roberts, Esq. Deputy Assistant Commissary General; Ensign Grove White, of the 48th Regiment ; the Rev. Mr. Cross and family; the Rev. Mr. Butler; Mr. James Kempe, and Mr. Francis Hall, Missionaries, with their families ; Mrs. Turnbull and family ; and Tooi and Telerree, New Zealanders, who went to England in the Kangaroo."

Death announced in "The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser" of Tuesday 17 August 1858:

"PORT MACQUARIE. I have to record the death of our lamented minister, the Rev. John Cross, on Saturday morning last. He was, I believe, the only-remaining Colonial Chaplain. He arrived in the colony in June, 1819, and was first appointed to Parramatta for about six months in the place of the Rev Samuel Marsden, who was on a missionary tour at New Zealand. On his return he was ap- pointed to Windsor, where he remained about 7 years, and arrived in Port Macquarie 19th February, l828. He was in his 77th year. Port Macquarie, August 9."

Also, his second marriage is published in "The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser" of Saturday 15 July 1837:

"MARRIED, By Special License, on Thursday last, at St. Phillip's Church, by the Rev. W. Cowper, the Rev. John Cross, Chaplain at Port Macquarie, to Miss Smith, of Sydney."

A history of St Thomas' Port Macquarie published in "The Sydney Morning Herald" of Saturday 25 February 1928 includes a wonderful description of the life and man, Parson Cross:

"FAMOUS OLD CHURCH - St. Thomas', Port Macquarie. CENTENARY OF FIRST SERVICE. (BY ARCHDEACON OAKES.)

"One hundred yeara ago, on February 28, the first service was conducted In this his- toric church, whose foundation-stone was laid by the Acting Commandant, Lieutenant Carmac, on December 8, 1824, more than three years previously. The site was chosen by Governor Macquarie, so that St. Thomas' may be listed as one of the "Macquarie churches," The Rev. Thomas Hassall, M.A., a son-in-law of the Rev. Samuel Marsden, was temporarily in charge of the parish, and conducted services in the open air.

"Let us try to picture the scene. It is Sunday morning, at the hour of 11, when, from a massive building, of gloomy appear- ance, comes a procession of men. There are officers in uniform, and soldiers of the rank and file, all of the 48th Regiment, but the majority are prisoners of the Crown, in motley garb, of dejected mien, and many of them heavily manacled. They proceed to Church Hill, where they are joined by the civil population, and here, under the blue sky, the Gospel is proclaimed alike to bond and free. Australia, at that time, was in the Diocose of Calcutta, under Bishop Heber, the famous hymn writer, who was represented In this distant outpost by an archdeacon, tho Venerable Thomas Hobbes Scott.

"PARSON CROSS."

"Early in 1828 Governor Macquarie appointed the Rev. John Cross as first permanent chap- lain at Port Macquarie, and it is the cen- tenary of the first service, conducted by him, that is now about to be celebrated. Mr, Cross was ordained by Dr. Howley, Bishop of London, and arrived in Sydney in 1819, the voyage occupying exactly six months. As the Rev. Samuel Marsden was about to pay one ot his periodical visits to New Zealand, the young clergyman, by command ot the Go- vernor, was sent to take charge of St. John's Church, Parramatta, for four months, and was then appointed to St. Matthew's, Windsor, where he remained for eight years. He ar- rived, with his family, at the mouth of the Hastings River, on February l8, 1828, but, owing to the shallowness of the water on the bar, the passengers were taken ashore in a small boat. A handwritten copy of the first sermon is still in existence

"As the clergyman advanced in years he became very feeble. There are those still living who remember seeing him being helped to the church by one of his churchwardens. His first curate was the Rev. Charles Wood- ward, who was once stationed at Kelso and Bathurst. He was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas O'Reilly, afterwards well known at St. Phillip's. Sydney. Mr. Cross died on August 7, 1858, and was buried in tho old cemetery. He was 77 years of age, and had been in the ministry for 40 years, 30 of which he spent at Port Macquarie. There hangs in the vestry ot St. Thomas' Church the only photograph in existence of this venerable man. His grandchildren remember that it took two hours to get the picture, for photo- graphy had not then reached that state of perfection which produces a portrait while you wait. The picture reveals the features of a man of somewhat sturdy and burly physique, but tradition says that he was of gentle and kindly disposition.

"Port Macquarie in that day was the most isolated settlement in the newly-formcd colony. Tho only communication with Sydney was by the Government boat, a very infrequent and uncertain service. A road was being constructed, by convict labour, to the New England tableland, a distance of 140 miles, but this journey, either on foot or on horse- back, was a hazardous and dangerous under- taking, owing to tribes of hostile blacks. The peculiar difficulties of the chaplain's situation were very real. He had to minister to three distinct classes, the military, the con- victs, and the free settlers. It is recorded that on one occasion, when travelling on a dark night along a lonely road, he was ac- costed by a footpad, who, recognising him, said: "I know you, Parson Cross, and a good fellow, too; you can go." The officers in charge of the prisoners were a law unto them- selves, and did pretty well as they pleased. Then there were about a hundred free settlers, who may be regarded as among the real Aus- tralian pioneers. From dawn to dark they wrestled with the virgin soil, laying the foundation of what subsequently developed in- to the wealth-producing districts of North Coast.

"DEVOTIONS MADE HARD.

"St. Thomas's is typical of the period in which it was erected. It is built of brick, and has a square tower at the west end. It is very like the old church at Kelso, but is much larger, being built to accommodate seven hundred people. Old pictures show a curious feature, which has now disappeared. Built out, at right angles with the doorway, was a brick screen; this was evidently in- tended to hide from the public gaze the "quality," as they descended from their car- riages. To alight from a carriage with a crinoline was a serious and awkward under- taking, the possibilities of which do not bear thinking of, hence the screen. The seating accommodation of the church consists of square, boxed-in pews, with a door leading into each, and when the congregation kneels the church appears to be empty. In the early days there were only three or four pews, for the commandant and his staff, the rest of the congregation being required to stand. Attendance was compulsory, and the legs of the majority of the worshippers were manacled with irons. What effect this would have upon their devotions is more easily imagined than described. A file of soldiers, with loaded rifles, kept guard, and armed sen- tries were posted at each entrance. When evening service was held, each person was required to bring his own candle, and sockets can still be seen in some of the pews. As there were no matches in those days, the exasperation caused by the use of tinder and flint would not, be conducive to devotion.

"MEMORIAL TABLETS.

"There aro many mural tablets in the church. One reads: "Sacred to the memory of Major Archibald Clunes Innes, of H.M. 3rd Regiment of Buffs, died 1857; also Margaret, his wife, daughter ot Alexander Macleay, Esquire, F.R.S., late Colonial Secretary of New South Wales, died 1858." Another tablet is in memory of George Innes, a brother of the major. He owned Warangee Station, Caper- tee, and was once well known in the Bathurst district; his daughter, Mrs. Boswell, published some interesting memoirs of the early days. Major Innes became a wealthy land owner, and built a palatial residence, known as Lake Innes Homestead, where the Governor, Sir Charles Fitzroy, and other distinguished visi- tors, were entertained. The Rev. Thomas O'Reilly, afterwards Canon O'Reilly, married Miss Innes, a lady who is still affectionately remembered by those who had the privilege of her acquaintance.

"A few years ago, St Thomas's was in such a state of dilapidation that it was seriously suggested to replace it with a new building, but Mr. A. E. Pountney, the vicar's warden, volunteered to be personally responsible for the amount required to restore the building. With optimism and unbounded energy he set to work to collect the money, and after much hard work and untiring effort succeeded in getting £1500. Mr. Pountney said at a pub- lic meeting at which it was decided to go on with the restoration that he had not under- taken the task with any idea of laudation; he had worshipped in the old church for 50 years, and his parents before him, and its preservation wns to him purely a labour of love. St. Thomns's, as it is pictured on another page, was reopened with much thankfulness and rejoicing in 1923. In the far away days of a century ago the best influence in the lives of the early set- tlors was the house of worship that arose in their midst.

"IN FOUR DIOCESES.

"During the first century of its history there have been sixteen permanent vicars at Port Macquarie. Besides those already mentioned, there were the Reverends F. R. Kemp, G. A, C. Innes, W. A. Saunders, H. Dunlop, R. H. D. Kelly, R. W. Wilson, W. Kemmis, W. A. J. Wells, C. M. Thomas, H. G. Barnes, Canon Morrish, H P. Lomas, H. B. Madden, and L. E. J. Gray, the present incumbent. When the Rev. John Cross arrived in the colony in 1819 there were only four Anglican clergy in the whole State, the Rev. Samuel Marsden (Parramatta), Rev. William Cowper (St Phillip's, Sydney). Rev. Robert Cartwright (Hawkesbury), and the Rev. Henry Fulton, who took up work at Norfolk Island. They were endeavouring to minister to eighteen thousand souls, of which number seven thousand were convicts. When Bishop Tyrrell was consecrated in 1847, the See of Newcastle embraced the whole of Queensland to the South Australian border, an area of more than 125,000 square miles, with a staff of twelve clergy. It is only necessary to compare this with the present-day conditions to realise the phenomenal growth of the Church during the past hundred years. It may be noted that, whilst Port Macquarie is now within the youngest diocese of the province, it has been during the course of its history within no less than four dioceses of New South Wales, besides that of Calcutta."

Proclamation in "The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser" of Thursday 18 December 1823:

"Proclamation, By His Excellency Sir THOMAS BRISBANE Knight Commander of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath, Captain General, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over His Majesty's Territory of New South Wales and its Dependencies, &c. &c. &c. WHEREAS it would greatly tend to promote the public Attendance at Divine Service in the Church of England, and the decent and orderly Performance of the same, if a Committee were appointed to manage the Temporalities of each Church in the Territory, with Power to raise a Fund for that Purpose, by letting the Pews and Seats thereof :— BE IT, AND IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AND DIRECTED BY THE AUTHORITY AFORESAID, That the Reverend Samuel Marsden, Principal Chaplain, and Donald McLeod and Morris Barlow, Esquires, be appointed such Committee for the Church of St. John, Parramatta ; the Reverend William Cowper, and Barron Field and Edward Riley, Esquires, for the Church of St. Philip, Sydney ; the Reverend Robert Cartwright, and Thomas Moore and Henry Colden Antill, Enquires, for the Church of St. Luke, Liverpool ; the Reverend Henry Fulton and Archibald Bell and John McHenry, Esquires, for the temporary Churches of Castlereagh and Richmond ; the Reverend Richard Hill, and John Oxley and James Bowman, Esquires, for the Church of St. James, Sydney ; the Reverend John Cross, and William Cox and John Brabyn, Esquires, for the Church of St. Andrew, Windsor ; the Reverend George Augustus Middleton, and Edward Charles Close and Henry Gilman, Esquires, for Christ Church, King Town, Hunter's River ; and the Rev. Thomas Reddall, and William Howe and William Browne, Esquires, for the Church of St. Peter, Campbell Town ;

—And that the said respective Committees, or any two Members of the same, whereof the Chaplain to be one, do, from and after the First Day of January next ensuing, meet from Time to Time in the Vestry of their respective Churches, and have then and there the Power to contract with any of His Majesty's Subjects for the Hire of Pews or Seats in the said Church, for themselves and their Families, at reasonable Rents by the Year, according to the Nature of the Accommodation ; Provided always, that there be left in each of the said Churches sufficient Pew Accommodation, Rent- free, for His Majesty's Commissioned Officers of the Colony, both Civil and Military; and suf- ficient Bench Accommodation, Rent-free, for as many of His Majesty's Troops, and for as many transported Convicts in the Service of Govern- ment, or assigned to that of private individuals, as usually attend the said Church, and sufficient Room for Strangers, and the Poor, and those who do not think proper to hire Pews or Seats.

AND BE IT, AND IT IS HEREBY FUR- THER ORDERED AND DIRECTED BY THE AUTHORITY AFORESAID, That the said respective Committees, or any two Members of the same (of whom the Chaplain to be one), shall have the further Power of contracting with any of His Majesty's Subjects, for Permission to build Vaults, or dig Graves, in the several Churchyards or Cemeteries belonging to the said respective Churches, and also to erect Monuments or place Tomb or Grave Stones in the said Cemeteries, upon the Payment of reasonable Sums of Money, according to the Space occupied in the said Grounds:

—Provided always, that nothing be payable for the Burial-ground of any of His Majesty's, Commissioned Officers of the Colony, whether Civil or Military, or of His Majesty's Troops, or transported Convicts in the Service of Government, or assigned to that of private Individuals.

AND BE IT, AND IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED AND DIRECTED, That the said respective Committees shall, as they shall from Time to Time collect the said Rents, pay the same immediately into the Hands of the Trea- surer of the Colonial Fund for the Time-being, deducting only such reasonable Percentage as they may have paid for collecting the same ; and shall have the Power to draw upon the said Treasurer for the same, from Time to Time, by the Signatures of any two of them, whereof the Chaplain to be one, for the Payment of the current Expenses of conducting Public Worship in their respective Churches (that is to say), of the Making and Repairing of the Pews and Benches, of the Lighting and Adorning of the Church, of the Service of the Altar, or the Wages of Singers, Musicians and Servants, of the Repairs of the Church, and of the Enclosure of the Burial Ground.

— The said Colonial Treasurer implicitly to answer the aforesaid Draughts of the respective Committees, as far as he shall have Funds belonging to their Church; and the said several Committees to account annually with the Secretary to His Majesty's Colonial Government, for the Time-being, for all Receipts and Payments, upon Oath, if required.

PROVIDED ALWAYS, AND BE IT, AND IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AND DIRECTED, That Minutes of the Proceedings of the said Committees shall be (if required), from Time to Time, transmitted to His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR of this Territory, for His Approbabation ;

—And that if any Person shall feel him or herself aggrieved by any Act of either of the aforesaid Committees, he or she shall have the Power of complaining forthwith to the said GOVERNOR for Redress.

PROVIDED ALSO, AND BE IT, AND IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED AND DIRECTED, That nothing in this Proclamation shall interfere with any Fees, due by the Orders of this Government, to any of the Chaplains of this Territory, or to their respective Clerks, Sextons, Bell-ringers, or Grave-diggers.

GIVEN under my Hand and Seal, at Government House, Sydney, this Seventeenth Day of December, in the Year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty-three,

" THOMAS BRISBANE." (L. S.) GOD SAVE THE KING!"