Newtown Mission

Foundation Stone laid in 30/8/1859. The text on the foundation stone is not known. Information/photographs are invited.

'The firm [Allens] ... holds a mallet used by founder George Allen to lay the foundation stone for a new Wesleyan chapel in Newtown, Sydney in 1859. George Allen was known for his charitable pursuits and was an active in the Wesleyan Missionary Society, holding the position of treasurer for fifty years.

From around 1840, church services were held in small cottages in Newtown but on 30 August 1859 the first stone was laid for the construction of a new chapel on nearby King Street to accommodate the growing congregation. George Allen was given the honour of laying the first stone.

A bottle was deposited underneath the stone bearing a copy of the Sydney Morning Herald and Empire newspapers from the day, along with a copy of the Wesley Record and a document outlining the proceedings of the day, a list of attendees and details of the parish...

It was noted in the Sydney Morning Herald the following day that George Allen 'laid the stone with the customary forms in a workman like manner' and said: 'I lay this stone as the foundation stone of a temple for the worship of the Triune God'. It was winter and perhaps George Allen felt the formalities had gone on long enough because he concluded his comments by saying 'After the long and comprehensive prayer offered by Mr Kent [Reverend S C Kent], it is unnecessary for me to make any additional remarks to that prayer, therefore, I shall simply say amen.' [Sourced from: https://www.allens.com.au/about/towards-200/hidden-treasures/].