William
Canon Stack was born in Ireland, eldest son of Rev. Edward Stack, a clergyman
in the United Church of England and Ireland, and his wife Tempe Bagot. William
was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and was ordained in Ireland.
Reverend Canon William Stack and his
wife emigrated to Australia, arriving on the 31st October 1837 on the
‘Andromache”, taking up an appointment on January 1st at West
Maitland Anglican Church. He was then transferred to St Peter’s Campbelltown in
about 1847, where he remained until June 1855, when he was transferred to
Balmain. The Stack’s had 13 children.
William was
described as having a manly character, earnest in the cause of religion, frank
and genial manners, and universally beloved and respected. To all classes he
was peculiarly courteous and gentle, yet remarkably firm and fearless where
conscientious scruples had to be maintained. He was the first clergyman
advanced to the dignity of the title Canon ‘by the suffrages of his brethren’.
For 32
years he fulfilled the duties of his profession in New South Wales. He was
constantly moving among his congregation, and visiting the poor and the
afflicted. On Sunday June 11th, he preached on the words “I have
glorified thee on Earth, I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do.”.
The following day, June 12th, he and Mrs Stack embarked on a trip to
visit their son in Walgett, who had met with an accident that threatened to
prove fatal. Early on the morning of Tuesday 13th, an accident
occurred when the wheels of the coach in which they were travelling went into a
rut, and the coachman was thrown from the coach. The horses took fright and
bolted, and Mr Stack, in an endeavour to seize the reins, was also thrown off.
The coach passed over him and crushed him beyond any surgical aid. At the
Coroner’s Inquest held on 14th June, 1871 at Murrurrundi, a verdict
was given of ‘died of injuries accidentally received’. His body was brought to
Balmain for a funeral service, and then taken for burial at Campbelltown.
Tragedy
came to the Stack family when their two infant daughters died. The church
burial register recorded: Tempe Stack, 2 years 8 months died 1 June 1852 and
Olivia Bagot Stack 4 years 4 months died 17 August 1852. A tablet in memory of
the children was placed in the church on 20 December 1852, on petition of the
churchwardens. The story passed down by parishioners is that the little girls
drowned in the well beside the old parsonage, but, by the two different dates on
the register, it was either two separate accidents or one of the babies must
have lingered for several weeks. The parsonage, built slightly to the south of
the present rectory, was built around 1840 and demolished around 1887.
During his time
at Campbelltown, another daughter died and was interred at St Peter’s with
Tempe and Olivia, and a son died whilst he was at Balmain and was returned to
St Peter’s for burial. With his last words, Reverend William Stack requested to
be buried at St Peter’s. His wife Mary lived to the age of 83 and was also
buried at St Peter’s.
Reverend Stack's monument in St Peter's Anglican Cemetery
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