Location of the churches of Fairy Meadow: The part of Fairy Meadow relevant to this story comprises part of the suburbs now known as Tarrawanna, Fernhill and Reidtown. The original building was in what was known as Payne’s Lane and is now Caldwell Avenue. The new church of St Paul’s still sits on the south-eastern corner of the Princes Highway and Towradgi Road.
Church services had been held at Fairy Meadow prior to 1859, often with a number of denominations present. There was considerable fluidity amongst protestants at the time when it came to worship and other spiritual needs. Clergymen were not always available when urgent matters such as baptisms and burials arose and were often performed by ministers of another denomination.
During 1859 a number of letters to the editor were published in the Illawarra Mercury debating past, present and future church services at Fairy Meadow. Writing anonymously a correspondent named ‘Sincerity’ had a lot to say on the matter.1 In his letter published on 4 August 1859 he states that the title deed is made to himself [the Incumbent Rev. Ewing] personally and not in trust for certain uses.2 James Brooker responded with a letter penned on 5 August and published on 11 August in which he defended Rev. Ewing and named his brother Edward Harrigan as the person who had promised and conveyed land for the new church. 3 4
Edward Harrigan did give a portion of land to erect a church. The conveyance dated 16 June 1859 between Edward Harrigan and the Right Reverend Frederic Barker Bishop of Sydney is for a portion of land:
…for the purpose of there being erect thereon a Church Chapel or place of worship for the use of the members of the United Church of England and Ireland resident at Fairy Meadow aforesaid and in the neighbourhood thereof and for ever hereafter to be used for the said purpose.
The document further states that should the land not be used for the purpose described it will revert to Edward Harrigan. The land described was situated at the south east corner of Harrigan’s sixty acre grant 5 bounded on the east by a line bearing north 49 feet six inches dividing it from Denny’s Farm, 6 on the north by a line bearing west 33 feet, on the west by a line bearing south 49 feet six inches and on the south by the reserved road for 33 feet to the commencement point. 7
The original Fairy Meadow church was opened by the Bishop of Sydney, Reverend Frederic Barker, on Sunday 18 December 1859. A commonly circulated story is that Edward Harrigan’s mother Mary Wade was the first person to have a funeral conducted at the church which is unlikely to be true. Mary Wade would have witnessed the building of the original church but it is unlikely that her funeral service was conducted at the actual church as has sometimes been suggested. Mary was found dead on the morning of Saturday 17 December 1859 and an inquest was held that day. As was the custom at that time the deceased would usually be kept at their home until the day of their funeral, when the body would be conveyed to the graveside where the service would be held. The funeral notice for Mary supports this, requesting for friends to attend her funeral which will leave from her son’s residence. 8 Similarly, the funeral for Mary’s son Edward (in 1891) and grandson William (1948) both moved from their homes to their burial place. 9
With an increasing population the building was enlarged by fifty percent in 1901, a porch was added, and the building re-roofed. The worked was completed by volunteers John Steel Reid and William Harrigan. In 1914 the church was further renovated with celebrations to commemorate the occasion held on 23 October 1914. The incumbent minister, who was soon to depart the church, conducted a thanksgiving service and distributed postcard photographs of the old and renovated church. The photograph reproduced here is likely to have been one of those postcards from 1914. 10
The interior of the original weatherboard Church on Edward Harrigan’s land
Just two years later it was decided to build a completely new church. Land was purchased just a couple of hundred metres from the existing church for sixty pounds. 11 William Harrigan, as president, led the church fund committee over the next eleven years which eventually raised enough funds to begin building in 1927.
St Paul’s was opened on Saturday 10 March 1927 by the Archbishop of Sydney, John Charles Wright, with numerous dignitaries in attendance. The crowd was so numerous that they could not fit within the new building. The opening ceremony and a description of the new building were covered in detail by the Illawarra Mercury. 12
The new St Paul’s Anglican Church, Fairy Meadow13
1. ↑ ‘Sincerity’s’ first letter on the church: “THE “LAY ELEMENT” IN THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.” Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong, NSW : 1856 – 1950) 21 July 1859: 2. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132223269>.
2. ↑ “(To the Editor of the “Illawarra Mercury.”)” Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong, NSW : 1856 – 1950) 4 August 1859: 2. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132224777>.
3. ↑ “(To the Editor of the “Illawarra Mercury.”)” Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong, NSW : 1856 – 1950) 11 August 1859: 3. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132222238>.
4. ↑ The letter by ‘Sincerity’ claimed that the title to land was conveyed to Rev. Ewing. The response by James Brooker contains what is probably a typo – it reads “‘Sincerity’” may believe that Mr Ewing had no personal interest in the land” but given the content of Brooker’s letter would be expected to read “Sincerity’” may believe that Mr Ewing had a personal interest in the land”
5. ↑ Portion 99 County of Camden granted to Edward Harrigan 16 May 1839.
6. ↑ Denny’s farm was the farm occupied by James Dennis on portion 98 County of Camden. Portions 98 and 95 (immediately to the east of 98) were purchased by James Dennis and Henry Angel in March 1834.
7. ↑ NSW Land Registry Services Book 61 Number 699
8. ↑ Advertising (1859, December 19). Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong, NSW : 1856 – 1950), p. 3. Retrieved November 14, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132224878
9. ↑ THE LATE MR. EDWARD HARRIGAN. (1891, July 14). Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong, NSW : 1856 – 1950), p. 2. Retrieved November 14, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132639682; OBITUARY (1948, September 16). South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus (NSW : 1900 – 1954), p. 13. Retrieved November 14, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article142232921
10. ↑ District News (1914, October 30). Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong, NSW : 1856 – 1950), p. 2. Retrieved November 13, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132102164
11. ↑ NEW CHURCH OF ENGLAND (1927, November 11). South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus (NSW : 1900 – 1954), p. 23. Retrieved November 14, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article142847492
12. ↑ NEW CHURCH OF ENGLAND AT FAIRY MEADOW. (1928, March 16). South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus (NSW : 1900 – 1954), p. 11. Retrieved November 14, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article142325011
13. ↑ University of Wollongong Archives (15th Apr 2019). Saint Paul’s Anglican Church, Fairy Meadow. In Website University of Wollongong Archives. Retrieved 14th Nov 2020 15:13, from https://archivesonline.uow.edu.au/nodes/view/936.
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