Honouring Australia’s Christian heritage

For broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 2 Feb 2014.

Christians will today celebrate Christian Heritage Sunday, a public event launched last year and endorsed by the NSW Council of Churches.

The first Christian Service took place on Sunday 3 February 1788, just after the First Fleet arrived at Port Jackson.  The fleet’s Chaplain, the Reverend Richard Johnson, conducted the first Christian service of worship on Australian soil.

Christians will pause today to remember that first service, and first sermon, and the nation-building heritage to which it gave birth. Tomorrow, at midday, a public celebration will be held at the Richard Johnson Memorial, corner of Bligh and Hunter Streets in the centre of Sydney.

The Governor of NSW, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, will be our special guest, along with Pastor Phil Pringle, Pastor Peter Walker, and Dr Graham McClelland, and you are invited to share the experience at midday tomorrow at the corner of Bligh and Hunter Street, Sydney.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.