Letters (2) from Rev. Robert Ross, Congregational Minister, Sydney, to Rev. A. Wells, London, 1845-1846

MLMSS 9961

fonds

26 February 1845, 2 March 1846

Textual Records, Ephemera

1008414

0.01 metres of textual material (1 folder)

Robert Ross (1792-1862) played an influential role in the early history of the Congregational Church in New South Wales. He arrived in Sydney in February 1840 to take up the office of minister of the Pitt Street Congregational Church, and is credited with firmly establishing Congregationalism in the colony. Ross was an active agent of the Colonial and London Missionary Societies, and gave significant support to the German Mission to Aborigines as well as to organisations such as the Benevolent Asylum, the Infirmary, the Australian School Society and the Australian Subscription Library. He died in Sydney in 1862.

The Pitt Street Congregational Church was the result of the 1828 activity of a committee whose object was the formation of a congregation and the establishment of an Independent Church in Sydney. The first Pitt Street Independent Chapel opened for worship in 1833, with a congregation of twelve members. By 1841 the Chapel was inadequate for the growing congregation and a foundation stone was laid for a new church building (on the site of the present Pitt Street Church). The new church was opened for worship in 1846 as the Congregational Church, Pitt Street. The congregation supported new congregations in the Colony. The Pitt Street Church administered a Sunday school and a weekday school as well as employing a missionary who distributed religious tracts and undertook home visits in Sydney. Ross played a key, guiding role in these activities.

Algernon Wells (1793-1850) was Pastor at Coggeshall, 1818-1837, then at Clapton Chapel, 1839-1850 and was joint secretary of the Congregational Union and the Colonial Missionary Society, 1837-1850. He corresponded with Darwin and was among those British parson-naturalists who spread his message that there is no essential incompatibility between evolution and religious faith. Wells was author of 'The Normal School' (London, J. Snow, 1849).

References:
Library correspondence file
G. L. Lockley, 'Ross, Robert (1792–1862)', Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

These two letters are addressed to a fellow Congregational Minister in London (Rev. A. Wells, Congregational Library, Blomfield Street, Finsbury, London) and discuss, in some detail, matters relating to the affairs of the Sydney Congregational Church. These matters include the construction and opening of a new Chapel in January 1846 (Pitt Street Congregational Church); activities of Barzillai Quaife, Congregational and Presbyterian Minister (at Parramatta); and activities of Lancelot Edward Threlkeld, a Missionary and Congregational Minister (and linguist). Both letters are neatly written manuscripts in ink and comprise a single sheet folded to form four sides.

The earlier letter is enclosed within an outer sheet, on the inside of which is 'Address to the Rev. Robert Ross, M.D., on presentation of a handsome gold watch, as a New Year gift, from the young men attending his Bible class (Sydney : Congregational Church, Pitt Street, 1st January 1845), printed in blue ink set within a decorative orange border, with remnants of a red wax seal.

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