Christianity in Australia The Establishment of Christianity in Australia

1788 - 1839

European settlement introduced Christianity to Australia. 1788 - 1839 European settlement introduced Christianity to Australia. A small number of Jews and other non-Christians were present. Early immigration increased Christianity’s influence and was accompanied by denominational divisions.

1788 - 1839 The first Chaplain, Richard Johnson saw his main mission as converting European and native inhabitants of the colony to a personal Christianity. He belonged to the Evangelical Anglicism and this was in conflict with the duties bestowed on him by the government. It was a chaplaincy to a convict settlement. Chaplains were: under military authority civil magistrates regarded as members of the administrative staff of the colony. All convicts were expected to attend compulsory Anglican worship.

Evangelical Anglicans 1788 - 1839 Two parties of Anglicans represented the Church of England in the Australian Colony: Evangelical Anglicans Stressed: personal conversion salvation by individual faith Emphasised supreme authority of the Bible importance of preaching High Church more in common with the Catholic tradition.

Religion was linked to public order among convicts and marines. 1788 - 1839 Religion was linked to public order among convicts and marines. Rev. Samuel Marsden became chaplain after Johnson. He took on the role of moral policeman.

1788 - 1839 Archbishop John Bede Polding, the first Australian Catholic Bishop, had a very deep understanding of the Aboriginal culture. He tried very hard to establish missions. These were, however, doomed to fail because: most Catholics did not appreciate the complexities of Aboriginal culture and spirituality, and neglected to take into account the Aborigines’ nomadic lifestyle. most Catholics agreed with other white Australians in seeing Aborigines as a primitive inferior race that should be allowed to die.

1788 - 1839 Christianity was largely rejected by convicts and other working class Australians, except among the Irish minority. The Church of England and the State were linked together to impose moral order. The major State financial support for Christianity was in the form of Education (Church of England) which caused hostility from other denominations especially Catholics and Presbyterians. Church attendance was low, however there was an overall belief in God as a supreme being (White community) Aborigines held on strongly to their spirituality.

Most Catholics were Irish convicts together with a few marines. 1788 - 1839 Most Catholics were Irish convicts together with a few marines. One tenth of all convicts transported to Australia were Catholics and half were born in Ireland. The early Catholic Church was seen as an Irish Australian Church.

1840 - 1914

1840 - 1914 State supported Anglican dominance came under increasing pressure. The major challenge occurred in the Education field - Catholics established their own school system, most Protestants had supported a secular state system with little religious instruction. Catholics needed Protestant support in Politics which limited the degree of influence of sectarian politics in Victoria and NSW. Aborigines had strongly resisted Protestant cultural imperialism.

1840 - 1914 Protestants regarded Catholics as uncivilised and disloyal to the government while its priests were seen as bigoted perverters of the gospel of Christ. Catholics considered Protestants to have left the true religion.

1840 - 1914 The Public Instruction Act of 1880 produced different reactions from the various denominations and was the origin of the state aid issue. e.g. Ministry in the Outback (Flynn) Bush Brothers The Act was introduced by Henry Parkes and transferred the management of Education from the Church (i.e. Church of England) to the state which allowed public education to be free of sectarianism or class distinction. This became the turning point for Catholic Education as it brought about the establishment of Catholic schools. The religious orders carried the schools through this time with little or no money to operate, such as: The Good Samaritan Sisters (founded by Polding in 1857), Sisters of St Joseph (founded by Fr Julian Tenison Woods and Mary MacKillop) Christian Brothers.

1840 - 1914 Protestants demonstrated their conservative influence on Australian life - identified with non-Labor political parties. Main Protestant emphasis was on moral, especially temperance, reform. Catholics identified with the Labor Party - where they had an anti-socialist influence. There was a drive to maintain a Christian nation in which the allegedly declining Aboriginal race had no future place.

Many church leaders were keen to form a ‘Christian’ nation. 1840 - 1914 Federation, 1st January 1901, brought together the separate Colonies into one nation. Many church leaders were keen to form a ‘Christian’ nation. Religious Community profiles Religion in Australia -40 The Australian Church Story, page 103 -26

World War II 1939-1945 1914 - 1945 World War I 1914-1918

1914 - 1945 With the first World War, Protestants had a drop in church attendance, although widespread public acknowledgement of Christianity still occurred. Churches demonstrated their continued conservative influence in Australia. Increase in Catholic influence in the Labor Party contributed to the declining influence of anti-capitalist socialism. Missions continued their paternalistic approaches to Aborigines. There was a general church neglect of the economic exploitation of Aborigines.

1914 - 1945 Initially the churches encouraged thousands of its members to enlist in the armed services. It was widely believed that the Australian War effort was divinely sanctioned.

1914 - 1945 The issue over conscription during World War I became another source of Sectarian hostility between Protestants and Catholics.

The various Christian denominations responded to the wider community. 1914 - 1945 The various Christian denominations responded to the wider community. e.g. divorce and Sabbath debates. The Churches were active during wars, e.g. role of the Catholic Church in the Labor movement - Mannix.

It wasn’t until the 1930’s that Catholics were 1914 - 1945 It wasn’t until the 1930’s that Catholics were granted civil liberties such as being allowed to hold Public Office.