Blue Mountains History Journal Issue 2

Blue Mountains History Journal 2; 2011
One description of the cave is:
“...near the top of the valley is a cave church – a tiny mountain sanctuary, adapted for Divine worship
by the walling in of the front of a small cave.” (Oreinos 1898, p.28, col.1).
Previously in November 1894 it had been reported:
“The cave at the rear of Mr. Hargrave’s residence, where Church of England services are held every
Sunday afternoon by the Rev. H.M. Trickett (of Blackheath), has recently been improved, thus
making it much more comfortable.” (Anonymous 1894b).
Then in 1895 a fireplace was added and later
“... among the congregation were Mr. John See, and three other members of Parliament. We believe
sufficient money had been collected by residents to purchase an organ so that the services may be
somewhat brighter by the infusion of music.” (Anonymous 1895).
A year later it was stated:
“This is a charming spot overlooking the beautiful Kanimbla Valley (actually the Megalong Valley
- Editor), and forms a unique cave house, a front wall being built up, and doors and windows put in
and these with other improvements such as a fireplace making it as comfortable a place as could be
desired. Nearly all the natural beauty is retained, and the cave forms a splendid arbor for Mr.
Hargraves to entertain any friends. Services are conducted every Sunday afternoon in the cave by
Rev. P.W. Dowe, of St. Aidan’s Blackheath and on Easter Sunday the cave was beautifully decorated.
This was the occasion of a visit from our representative by special invitation, and he was delighted
with what he saw.” (Anonymous 1896).
As many as 70 have been known to attend services (J.A.X.M. 1895) which, for the longest span of
time, were conducted by the Rev Philip William Dowe, Curate-in-Charge of St. Aidan’s Church of
England in the Parish of Blackheath from 1895 until 1901 (Finney 2005, p.592). Usually they were
held at 4.00 p.m. except when it was wet (as on 30 May 1897 - Hodgkinson post 1984), due to the fact
that the minister had to travel by horse and buggy. The last set of ‘Church Notices’ to mention the cave
church was in The Mountaineer 18 June 1897 (Anonymous 1897) for none of the surviving later issues
of that newspaper had such a section. Special functions have been recorded too:
“More than one pretty marriage was also solemnised in that cave.” (Has-been 1915).
The earliest known image of the Cave Church dates from 1898 and it is also the only one known to
have been published (Figure 4); it shows the
exterior complete with the chimney that was
installed about three years earlier but which no
longer exists (Figure 5).
Figure 4. “6. Church Caves (sic), with
Seating Accommodation for 80.” -
Anonymous (1898).
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