Hartley Court House - 1837 to 1937

HARTLEY AND ITS COURT-HOUSE.
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The Roman Catholic Church at Hartley.
and official business. Before churches were built in Hartley
religious services were held in the Court-House. The first
to preach in it was the Rev. Cohn Stewart, the Presbyterian
minister, who did so in February, 1839, having received
permission to preach there until a suitable building should be
erected in the district. The Bev. Thomas Hassall of the Church
of England preached there on March 24, 1839. As Blair had
not had time to send for official sanction for Hassall’s sermon
in the Court-House he began to wonder what course to pursue
if the visiting Roman Catholic or any other clergyman should
also wish to use the Court-House as a place of worship.
Accordingly he asked for instructions and was informed that
Governor Gipps desired that it should be so used, irrespective
o f sect, prior claim being given to the largest congregation.