Key dates in Canon Walsh's incumbency

1838

December 5. William Horatio Walsh and Edmund Ashton Dicken arrive in Colony on the Fairlie.

December 26. Dicken takes charge of Parish (as “Incumbent”).

1839

April. Dicken resigns and his licence is revoked when the Bishop finds he has been seen intoxicated about the town.

William Horatio Walsh takes charge of Parish (eventually to be first Rector).

September 22. Walsh ordained priest by Broughton at St James’ King Street.

Money made available for first rectory (built on site of current parish hall).

1840

January 1. Foundation stone of Christ Church laid. Henry Robertson was architect.

1841

May. Construction ceases owing to lack of funds. Edmund Blacket eventually completes the church.

1842

June 21. St Lawrence Parochial Association formed.

1845

May. New building for parish school completed (on site of Daking House). Organ by George Holditch arrives in colony (installed in gallery above west door).

September 10. Consecration of Christ Church (first episcopal consecration in Sydney) and first reported public performance of CCSL choir (in conjunction with Sydney Choral Society).

1848

January 21. Robert Knox Sconce, occasional assistant and confidant of Walsh, "goes over" to the Church of Rome.

1850

Walsh leaves original rectory and lives at Cleveland House, Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills until 1855.

1852

August 11. Walsh made one of the first Canons of St Andrew's Cathedral.

1853

January 6. Arrival of six bells (cast by  John Taylor & Sons, Loughborough, Leicestershire in 1852) on board the Hamlet from London.

1855

Second rectory (parsonage) built to design of Blacket (over Pitt Street opposite existing Rectory).

Completion of spire commences, followed by installation of six bells.

1860

Philanthropist and early parishioner, Thomas Sutcliffe Mort, provides money for additional school building (opened 17 October, which was remembered for many years as “Mort Day”)

1865

Walsh departs for England.

1867

Walsh resigns as Rector of Christ Church and eventually becomes Prebendary of Lichfield Cathedral and Foreign Mission secretary to the Bishop of Lichfield, George Augustus Selwyn (formerly of New Zealand).