St John's Union Church - Former

The former St John's Union Church, Running Stream is no longer functioning, with the property now believed to be managed by Australian Museums & Galleries. The church building was opened on 6/9/1906 by the Ven Archdeacon Dunstan, of Mudgee. The present church building was erected on land donated by Mr D R Howard for use for religious purposes by all Protestant denominations. It replaced an earlier wooden structure built by David Leighton and used by Presbyterians, but which was beyond repair. It was located near the new church building. The church celebrated its centenary on 10/9/2006. A small cemetery is located near the church. No other details are known. More historical information/photographs of the former church/congregation are invited. Photographs uploaded 30/5/2021.

The following has been provided by Sherryl Leighton  - 2024: "David Leighton, his wife Mary and their three children sailed from Greenock Scotland as indentured settlers sponsored by Rev. Dr John Dunmore Lang on the Minerva arriving at Sydney Cove in 1838. Sometime between 1839-1845 David acquired portion 27 (and others) at Running Stream where he built and operated the Rest And Be Thankful Inn. Around that time he also built a timber church (Presbyterian) on his land, located adjacent to the current St. John's Church which replaced it in the early 1900's when the timber structure decayed. David died in 1886 and is buried in the rear cemetery (also on his land) along with family, friends and others.

David's eldest son, William was one of the party to open the stone church."

 

Note: Photograph attribution/source - https://oldimagesrylstone.blogspot.com/2012/01/st-johns-union-church-running-stream.html