In September 1870, the Rev Josiah Spencer, who lived in a cottage at present-day 18N Pakington Street, chaired a meeting to consider the purchase of land suitable for the erection of a vicarage.
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The meeting chose a 20-acre lot owned by the Pelke family “that had a substantial fence, was on the road to Bendemeer and was within five minutes walk of the church”.
The land provided a sufficient area for a large horse paddock, stables and buggy shed. Over £50 was subscribed at the meeting towards the £100 cost.
The original proposal was for the vicarage to be built from stone similar to that used for the church erected in 1862 but brickwork was specified in tender documents issued in 1874.
A collection was made after the laying of the stone and several handsome donations were given...
The Armidale Express of March 3, 1877, reads in part: “An interesting ceremony took place at Walcha on Thursday last, February 22. It was the laying of the foundation stone for the residence under construction for the Church of England.
“The ceremony was gracefully performed by Mrs Edward Norton of Tiara in the presence of a goodly number of members of the church and of others who took an interest in proceedings. The Rev. C.G. Robinson offered up a prayer for the blessing of the undertaking.
“Mr C.D. Fenwick thanked Mrs Norton, to which Mr Norton responded.”
The report went on to say: “I have been favoured by Mr Mitchell, the contractor, with an inspection of Mr Horbury Hunt’s plans for the building, which will be a handsome and commodious dwelling and a decided ornament to the western end of Walcha.”
The Uralla and Walcha Times also reported on the event saying: “A collection was made after the laying of the stone and several handsome donations were given by members and others kindly disposed towards the church.”
More funds towards the £800 cost of the project were raised by a concert in May 1877 and bazaars were held in 1878 and 1883.
Rev John Spooner, who arrived here in 1878, was the first to move into the vicarage but was there only briefly before leaving Walcha in mid-1880.
Read more Walcha history: