St John the Baptist

A letter written by Chaplain William H. Breton of Richmond in December 1836 stated that there was no clergy in the district and Divine Service had not been performed by a clergyman for seven years. A formal request was again made in 1842.

The population of Buckland (Prosser's Plains) grew rapidly when the Probation Station was established in the 1840s. The first recorded service was performed by Rev F.H. Cox in March 1846 in the local Police Office, recorded as a licensed Chapel situated on the corner of East and Narin Streets.

By October 1846 a small stone Sunday School (see below) situated to the north east of the current church had been built and was then used for services.

On the 12th August 1846 was a day remembered by the early congregation for the Archdeacon of Hobart endured a most unpleasant overland trip from Hobart Town to lay the foundation stone. Unfortunately, the builders had placed the lettering inwards (as was custom in those days). It is believed that the stone is situated behind the east wall of the present porch, this was a later addition. The inscription reads:

That God may in his place be glorified, and the prayers and praises of the faithful continually offered until Christ shall come again: this stone is laid by Fitzherbert Adams Marriott, Archdeacon of Hobart Town, on XIIth day of August in the year of grace MDCCCXLVI, to be the foundation (if God will) of a Church which shall bear the name and commemorate the ministry of St John the Baptist and preacher of repentance, upon the eve of whose festival the quarry whence it was hewn was opened.

The church is a replica of St John the Baptist Church at Cookham Dean, Berkshire, England the home of Rev. Cox. Half the cost of £900 was raised by local subscriptions. Built of sandstone in the Gothic style with convict labour, the church sits on a hill on the southern end of Buckland. The door was designed and made by a local blacksmith.

On the 15th of January, 1850, a significant assembly of individuals congregated to witness the consecration of the church by the Bishop of Tasmania. This event marked a momentous occasion, reflecting the importance of religious and communal life in the region during this period.

Over the years a mystery surrounds an east window. It was believed the central panel came from Battle Abbey (Church of Mary the Virgin) near Hastings, but we now know that only a tiny piece of red glass in the window came from Battle Abbey.

Over the years many restoration projects have been undertaken.

Sadly, this church came under the Anglican rationalisation list in 2018.

In December 2022 the Friends of the Buckland Church secured the building after fund raising for over a year.

Friends of the Buckland Church: https://www.fobc-tas.org.au/

See also 149 2