Sarah Gorman

In other centres the followers of John Wesley were growing. At Castlereagh, where the first chapel had been built by John Lees in 1817, a new one opened on 16.2.1848. Mrs Gorman, a daughter of the Lees collected 40 Pounds to help meet the cost of 250 Pounds for the new chapel, which measured 40 x 20'.

(Macquarie Country. A History of the Hawkesbury. D.G. Bowd)

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Undaunted by an obstacles, the early preachers zealously pursued their objective of the salvation of souls, over-zealously perhpas as they railed on about 'evil influences' and spoke of 'the proverbially drunken and ungodly town of Windsor. The narrow outlook of the preachers of the 1840's is shown by the action of John Lees Jnr, who 'was so jealous for the sanctity of the Sabbath that he took one of his own servants to court for milking the cows on the Sabbath, during his baence and against his orders.

(Macquarie Country. A History of the Hawkesbury. D.G. Bowd)

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A popular method of raising funds for churchs for many years on either side of the turn of the century was the holding of gatherings known as 'tea meetings'. People would arrive at the meeting by horse-drawn vehicle, boat, or steamer, or on foot. Luncheon and an evening meal were served in a large tent. During the afternoon the young folk played cricket, rounders, two and threes and Jolly Miller. More than one marriage resulted from meetins on these social occassions.

(Macquarie Country. A History of the Hawkesbury. D.G. Bowd)

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