Frances was driven here from Swindon by a friend, and collected by Jacqueline for lunch at Elizabeth’s where they will spend the weekend. Over coffee and cake Jackie and I enjoyed a morning of reminiscences and revelations with our sister-in-law and my sister.
This afternoon, stopping off at Otter Nursery for yet more bulbs, we took a forest drive.
We got no further than the Parish Church of St John the Baptist at Boldre which took us on a virtual journey to Sydney, Australia.
At Church Lane we stopped for me to photograph reflected trees bowing over the still stream.
Around the corner we were attracted by a banner stretched on the church fence celebrating the tercentenary of the birth of Rev William Gilpin.
Unusually the doors – a memorial to John Bousquet Field, his wife, Cecilia, and their 16 year old grandson, Thomas Mostyn Field, midshipman on HMS Mary sunk at the Battle of Jutland in 1916 – were unlocked.
As shown by the list of incumbents on the wall, Gilpin was the vicar from 1777 – 1804.
This text from Lt Col Peter Chitty can be enlarged in the gallery, as can the following extract from Chitty’s pamphlet below.
It is Rev Richard Johnson who
takes us with the First Fleet to Botany Bay, arriving in 1788. The story, featuring in the caption beneath Brian J Down’s drawing of St Philip’s Anglican Church, can be enlarged in the gallery. When I visited Sydney in 2008 many shops carried lists of the names of those first passengers in their windows. I imagine they are still there. Please note Garrulous Gwendoline’s comments below for her important observations on both the First and Second Fleets.
Jackie produced these images of the exquisitely carved lectern
and the flower arrangements in situ.
Field horses are at home in the pastures below the church.
This evening we dined on Tesco’s Kentucky Fried Chicken; onion rings, chips, baked beans, cauliflower and its chopped leaves with which I drank more of the Haut-Médoc.
Interesting history and forest drive, Derrick.
Thank you very much, Pat
What an unusual combination of food as well as church decorations.
Thank you very much, Suzanne
Every church has a story to be told.
Thank you very much, Andrew
What interesting history!
What wonderful photos, Jackie and Derrick! (I am always fascinated by door and window photos! These you included here are fabulous!)
What a lovely forest drive!
Hope The Gals have a great and fun fun fun time! 🙂
(((HUGS))) ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much from each of us, Carolyn XX
I liked the lectern and the bowed tree in an interesting post.
Thank you very much, Tootlepedal
First Fleet to Botany Bay – One of the first events every Australian child learns about in a history class.
I am not surprised, Chrissy. Thank you very much
Lovely photos – as usual – Derrick. We visited Sydney last year and I confess I didn’t go into a single church, which is unlike me. Did you mean Queen Mary at the Battle of Jutland?
Yes – that is what is carved on the door (right hand of viewer) Confirmed in Google. Thanks very much, Mike
Later, Jackie has pointed out that I had been WPd – Now corrected
Boldre ; now there’s a name. I believe, but I have been known to be wrong now and then, that this town gave its name to Rolf Boldrewood the pen name of Thomas Browne who wrote “Robbery Under Arms”. Browne was an ancestor of the mother of my first wife.
That does seem most credible John. Thank you very much
Churches are filled with stories
Thank you so much, Gary
An insightful interesting article about the beginnings of Australia’s colonization …
Thanks very much, Ivor
I love the eagle!
Thank you very much, JoAnna
The history is both fascinating and thought provoking. It’s amazing how people travelled all those distances and defined new places which in turn defined them.
Thank you so much, Uma
What interesting history Derrick. I have been craving fried chicken, that was my kind of meal!
Thank you very much, Diane
A catch up with family and a very interesting visit to a church. What a lovely day.
Thank you very much, Sue
What a fascinating deviation from your usual forest drives!
Thank you very much, Anne. I aim for variety and sometimes I get lucky
It sounds like you had a very good day–family, forest, and history. It’s interesting to me that you’ve seen both start and end of the journey. Lovely photos by you and Jackie.
Thank you very much from each of us, Merril. It was wonderful to be able to tie it all together
That final picture is remarkable!
You can really see the detailing on the lectern.
GP, I don’t know where you are in Florida, but there’s a hurricane headed for the west side and will hit around Sarasota. Family members that live there are evacuating. Hope you are in a safe area.
Me too
We will not have to evacuate, as we are about 7 miles from the intracoastal waterway.
It seems you had an interesting and productive day, Derrick. Beautiful photos shared you and Jackie.
Thank you very much, Eugi
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Nice to find that door unlocked!
It was. Thank you very much, Laurie
I’ve always been fascinated by old churches. When my dad was a parish priest, he refused to lock the church doors so that the house of God would be open to all whenever they needed it.
Good for him, Liz. Thank you very much
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Good for your Dad. Here, now, it is all about security. Thanks very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick. He was a man who stood by his beliefs.
I’m sure. He fathered you
😊
I enjoyed your virtual tour of the Parish Church of St John the Baptist at Boldre, Derrick and Jackie. Thank you!
Thank you very much from each of us, Lavinia
Exactly, although nearly 800 were convicts
I’ve passed this church hundreds of times as it stands at the foot of the southern entrance to the Sydney Rocks area, which you allude to as a tourist.
Reverend Johnson was a pretty good guy on the whole (unlike Samuel Marsden – the “Flogging Parson”). When the Second Fleet arrived in June 1790, he risked his life by boarding the vessels, and later wrote of the experience, in part:
“Spoke to them as I passed along, but the smell was so offensive that I could scarcely bear it…. The landing of these people was truly affecting and shocking; great numbers were not able to walk, nor to move hand or foot; such were slung over the ship side in the same manner as they would a cask, a box, or anything of that nature.”
The First Fleet (11 ships) was a government/naval enterprise under Arthur Phillip’s leadership with a mortality rate of around 5%. The Second Fleet (6 ships) was sub-contracted to slave traders (basically), who were paid by head for convict loaded. No incentive to land them. In fact, it was better if they didn’t, so the captains could sell off their unused stores on arrival in Sydney. The mortality was around 40% with many more dying within a short time of being landed.
Technically, the Lady Juliana, carrying only female convicts – one of which was an ancestor of Bill’s – was not part of the Second Fleet; but it took so long getting here it arrived in the same batch and is usually recorded with the rest of the ships. They had a different experience. Luckily for Bill. Although, many of the women arrived in Sydney with something they had not had when boarding in England if you get my drift …
Thank you very much for this important additional information, Gwen. I am amending my text to alert readers to your comments
Oh thank you! I hope others may yet get to read it 🙂
Me, too. Especially the horrors of the Second Fleet
Maybe I should write something about that … time permitting.
I’m sure that would be very welcome.
The history and connection with Australia is fascinating.
Thank you very much, Dolly. It certainly was
My pleasure, Derrick.
Thank you for the note to read Gwendoline’s added information.
Thank you very much, Crystal
An interesting day!
Thank you very much, Riba