The Cathedral of the Hawkesbury: 200 years of St Matthews Anglican Church

2017 - 2021

By foundation stone, St Matthews is the oldest Anglican church in Australia. It is also acknowledged as one of Australia’s most beautiful buildings. In fact, it looks so perfectly situated today that it is hard to believe that it was not always so. The original church was half built and then demolished after Macquarie sent Greenway to find out why work was proceeding so slowly. He took one look and declared the work to be of inferior quality, with both mortar and bricks below standard. Going by what is known of Greenway, this harsh assessment could have come about because he was not involved in the original construction. Whatever the reason, the building was demolished, and the builder sacked.

This exhibition celebrates the 2017 bicentenary of St Matthews Church - by drawing attention to the importance of this nationally significant, heritage-listed church within the history of both the Hawkesbury and Australia. Through one of the most stunning examples of Georgian architecture, discover the church’s links to key historical figures, including Governor Macquarie, Reverend Samuel Marsden, and colonial architect Francis Greenway. On display are rarely seen objects, including a beautiful 1839 wedding dress and items from the church vault, including the original communion cup. These significant objects reflect stories of the church, its ministers, and its community.

Click on the PDF link below for more information on the exhibition.

The Cathedral of the Hawkesbury (571 KB)

Page ID: 104953