Brief History

THE FIRST CHURCH IN THE CAMDEN HAVEN DISTRICT WAS A WOODEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTED IN 1880 ON LAND DONATED BY MR DAN WILLIAMS THE LOCAL HOTEL KEEPER AND DEDICATED TO ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST. THE SITE WAS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE RIVER SOME 400 METRES UP THE HILLSIDE OPPOSITE THE SETTLEMENT OF CAMDEN HAVEN (NOW ROSS GLEN) AND APPROXIMATELY 4 KM SOUTH OF PRESENT DAY KEW. IT IS SAID RESIDENTS HAD TO SWIM OR ROW ACROSS THE RIVER TO ATTEND MASS. EVENTUALLY IT BECAME TOO SMALL FOR THE CONGREGATION, ESPECIALLY WITH THE GROWTH OF THE RAILHEAD NEARBY. AS KENDALL WAS DEEMED A MORE SUITABLE LOCATION FOR THE NEW CHURCH, THE OLD CHURCH WAS CLOSED AND SOLD. IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY MOVED TO KENDALL WHERE IT WAS CONVERTED INTO A PRIVATE RESIDENCE. THE OLD CHURCH STILL EXISTS TODAY ALTHOUGH VARIOUS ALTERATIONS AND RENOVATIONS HAVE MADE IT HARD TO RECOGNISE, WITH ONLY THE HIGH PEAK OF THE NAVE ABOVE THE VERANDAH INDICATING ITS PRESENCE

THE CURRENT CHURCH OF ST JOHN AT KENDALL WAS BUILT OF BRICK IN 1917-18 ATOP A SLIGHT RISE OVERLOOKING THE TOWN. IT CONSISTED OF A NAVE AND CHANCEL WITH SIMPLE POINTED WINDOWS AND MOCK BUTTRESSES.

IN 1946 A SACRISTY AND PORCH WERE ADDED. IN 2001 A SMALL REFLECTION GARDEN AND MILLENNIUM CROSS WERE ADDED TO THE CHURCH GROUNDS

OTHER CHURCHES IN THE DIOCESE

St James - St Peter the Fisherman - Our Lady of Mount Carmel