Uniting Church, Glenmore
(click to see full size)
The locality known as Glenmore lies in a rural valley four kilometres from The Oaks and 10 kilometres from Camden NSW. It forms part of a 2000 acre Crown Grant made to Robert Johnston in 1833 and a 2800 acre Crown Grant promised to Charles Macarthur in 1821 and confirmed to Hannibal Hawkins Macarthur in 1834. (1)
Johnston's grant was purchased by Edward Moore in 1851 as the "Glendiver Estate".(2). He subsequently divided the property into three portions which were sold to three of his sons, James, Robert and Joseph, in 1856.(3) James Moore continued to call his portion "Glendiver" while Robert and Joseph came to refer to their properties, and the locality, as "Glenmore".
Macarthur's Grant, purchased by Reverend Thomas Hassall and known as "Hardwick"(4) was subdivided and portions sold by public auction in 1854.(5) James, Robert and Joseph Moore purchased 1400 acres of the Estate, 1000 acres of which they sold to their father, Edward, in 1862. The brothers had earlier disposed of some 400 acres to E Whybrow and Joseph Rhuan.(6). Edward Moore continued with the name "Hardwick" for his property. His daughters, Ellen Foreman and Elizabeth Inglis, inherited portions of this property on Edward's death which later became part of John Edward Moore's "Ellensville" estate.(7)
Increased occupation of the Hardwick Estate and settlement of the surrounding district brought about the requirement for the basic needs of any community. Robert Moore established a store in part of his house servicing settlers as far away as Burragorang while Phillip Clarke, a shoemaker by trade, established a wine shop just a few hundred metres away. A school opened in 1864 and a Post Office in 1894.(8)
CHURCH
From 1856 until early 1860, Church services at Glenmore were held in the home of Robert Moore.(9) On 8 June 1859 a meeting was held:
...to take into consideration the best plan of erecting a chapel on part of the Glendiver estate given by Mr Edward Moore to the Wesleyan Methodist cause.(10)
The land the Church is built on was part of that sold by Edward Moore to his son Joseph and was conveyed by Joseph to Edward Moore, James Moore, James Edward Moore, The Rev. William Clarke, Jacob Ward, James Rogers, Stephen Gardiner and Robert Ditton as Trustees. The property was transferred to the trustees following an agreement between them and Joseph Moore that they would:
...within a reasonable time thereafter to erect and build upon the said land...a chapel or place of religious worship to be used as such by a congregation of protestants of the Society or people denominated Wesleyan Methodists...(11)
James Rogers of Picton was given the contract to build the Church for 200 pounds, the work being carried out by a local builder, Mr Stokes. The Foundation Stone was laid by Edward Moore's wife, Elizabeth and the Church opened for public worship on 19 March 1860.(12) The Church is of a rectangular shape built from locally quarried sandstone. The porch was added some 40 years after the Church was built.(13)
In 1978 the Glenmore Methodist Church became the Glenmore Uniting Church.(14).
GRAVEYARD
The earliest recorded burial in the graveyard is that of two year old Elizabeth Whittaker who died on 25 September 1859.
The graveyard is dominated by memorials to the Moore family, the first recorded Moore burial being that of Elizabeth, wife of Edward, who died in 1862. You will also find memorials to other well known pioneer families in the names of Brooks, Butchers, Dunk, Dunn, Eagles, Furner, Inglis, Lavercombe, Loomes and Roberts. These families were not only associated with Glenmore but also the surrounding areas of Camden, Mount Hunter, The Oaks and Picton.
In 1975 a Columbarium Wall was erected in the graveyard with provision for 100 niches. At a meeting of the Church Property Committee in May 1990, it was resolved to restrict the graveyard area to the presently marked plots.(15)
Endnotes:
LTO of NSW, Crown Grant dated 28 September 1833 to Robert Johnston and NSWAO ref K260728, LTONSW, Primary application Packet No. 15169, Memorial No. 104 by Commissioners of Claims to Grants of Land, 1 July 1834.
LTO of NSW, Conveyance J Brown & W Scott to Edward Moore dated 1 April 1851 Reg. No. 675 Bk 20.
Ibid. Conveyances dated 1 January 1856, Edward Moore to James, Robert and Joseph Moore, Reg. Nos. 770, 771 and 772 Bk. 45.
NSWAO PA 15169 op.cit. Conveyance Macarthur to Rev T Hassall dated 3 August 1840.
Sydney Morning Herald 20 May 1854, Notice of Auction of portion of Hardwick Estate.
NSWAO. PA 15169 op.cit. Conveyance Hassall to James, Joseph and Robert Moore dated 24 July 1854 and Conveyance James, Joseph and Robert Moore to Edward Moore dated 10 April 10 October 19991862 Reg. No. 362 Bk 78.
Elizabeth and Ellen both inherited property under their father's Will. Supreme Court of NSW, Probate Division. Probate No. 792B. Will of Edward Moore. LTO of NSW Conveyance Mary Ellen Foreman to John Edward Moore dated 15 February 1892 Reg. No. 357 Bk 484 and LTO of NSW Conveyance Elizabeth Inglis and ors. to John Edward Moore Reg. No. 280 Bk 517.
den Hertog. Sonja. The History of The Oaks from The Records, The Oaks, 1987, pp. 19, 25 and 26.
Camden News 27 October 1910, Report on Glenmore Methodist Church Jubilee.
Moore. R.X. Speech given at Centenary Celebrations of Glenmore Methodist Church 19 March 1960 and quoted as original Minute taken at the meeting. Typescript of speech in possession of Mr Harold Moore of Glenmore.
LTO of NSW Conveyance Joseph Moore to Edward Moore, James Moore, James Edward Moore, Robert Moore, Rev. William Clarke, Jacob Ward, Stephen Gardiner, Robert Ditton as Trustees dated 19 November 1860 Reg No. 244 Bk 71.
Ibid. and Camden News 27 October 1910, loc.cit.
Moore. R.X. loc.cit.
Minutes Book of Glenmore Methodist Church Property Trust, 14 March 1978, in possession of Mr George Moore of Glenmore.
Ibid. 8 March 1975 and 29 May 1990.
