A 'Stormy' Relationship

 

"The Green" Campbelltown where Father Therry first said Mass in 1822

September 1st, 1822, was a day of great excitement for the Roman Catholics of the Airds District, for Father Therry was to celebrate the first Roman Catholic Mass in Campbelltown. It was to be celebrated on "The Green", an area now known as Mawson Park. Unfortunately for Father Therry and his congregation, a sudden rainstorm forced a change of plans. The deluge meant that a quick alternative had to be found. The wet and uncomfortable gathering of mud-spattered settlers begged Father Therry not to abandon his Mass and convinced him that holding it in the shell of the newly built Anglican church was the best solution. At this time the Anglican church was roofed, but the interior unfinished.

The Reverend Thomas Reddall was appointed Clergyman of the area in May of 1821 and was the first incumbent at St Peters. The church was the first, and for many years the only, building within the township. It was completed in 1823 and still stands today.

Reverend Reddall was infuriated over Father Therry's actions. Reddall complained to the Governor who in turn reprimanded Father Therry. The unrepentant Irishman replied that his actions only bestowed honour on the new St Peter's church.

It seems relations between the two were not strained for too long. Not long after Christian charity prevailed and there was a donation by Reddall towards the building of a Catholic Church in the town. Perhaps Reverend Reddall had thought more about the situation and realized that they were simply taking shelter from a deluge and that he might've been forced to take the same actions.

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

St John the Evangelist Parish Campbelltown- 150 years, 1984

LAWRENCE, Richard 1985
Why Campbelltown?

LISTON, Carol 1988
The Bicentennial History of Campbelltown

TIPPING, Reverend A.C. 1963
The Parish Church of St Peter, Campbelltown

The First Man Hanged in Campbelltown

On the 7th of August, 1829 at Campbell Town Supreme Court, John Holmes was sentenced to death for maliciously setting fire to a barn of James Bean with intent to injure and defraud. The execution of Holmes on August 21 was the first public hanging in the Campbelltown area. In the early days of the township executions were mostly carried out in the area where Mawson Park is located and opposite the court house. However, in this case the hanging occurred at the scene of the burning. This was at the farm belonging to James Bean at Menangle, where gallows were specially erected.

According to the Sydney Gazette, Reverend John Therry communicated Holmes's confessions to the "numerous assemblage of persons who were collected to witness the execution." He told the crowd that the unfortunate culprit acknowledged his guilt, as well as the justice of his sentence; that he had committed many crimes, but sincerely hoped that God had forgiven him, as he freely forgave all those by whom he had ever been injured. Holmes than spoke and warned the crowd about them taking the same path of crime as himself. He then joined in prayer with great devotion, and in a few minutes the drop fell.

After the hanging, perhaps because it was the first in Campbelltown, the dead man's family were allowed to take the body away for private burial.

Written by Andrew Allen