On the wall of Wilberforce’s St John’s Anglican Church is a vertical sundial with the initials J.W. and the date 1859. Who was J.W. and why that year?
A sundial tells the time of day from the position of the sun, and the one at Wilberforce was carved by John Wenban, the local schoolmaster, to commemorate the consecration of St John’s Church by the Bishop of Sydney, Frederic Barker.
Wheelwright John Wenban was from Hawkhurst, Kent, and accompanied by wife Mary and remaining six children migrated to Australia in 1838 (baby Walter died before they left).
The family travelled on-board the immigrant ship the “Maitland” which recorded more than 30 deaths throughout the voyage, mainly from typhus and scarlet fever. Heavily pregnant throughout the journey, Mary delivered her eighth child, Emily, five weeks after landing. Two more daughters were born in Wilberforce.
On arrival John was employed by Mr McDonald at Pitt Town and then later moved his family to Wilberforce. In 1842, he was appointed schoolmaster of the Parochial School at Wilberforce, replacing William Gow, the first schoolmaster and parish clerk.
Classes were conducted at Wilberforce schoolhouse, built in 1819 at the request of Governor Lachlan Macquarie. It was a school during the week and a church on Sundays. As well as occupying the position of schoolmaster, John was appointed parish clerk. He was also a musician, providing music to accompany hymns for church services. (The organ was not purchased until the 1870s.)
In 1846 a committee was established to plan a new church in Wilberforce. The public were asked to make donations towards the cost of the building. John Wenban donated £3/3/- to the building fund. Money was raised and plans were drawn up by architect Edmund Blacket, who also designed University of Sydney, however it was 1856 before the foundation stone was laid. The exact date the church was completed is not known but it was consecrated in 1859.
One evening in late November 1859, the Wenban family was returning home in a spring-cart. While turning a corner close to home, one of the wheels hit a pothole and John was thrown out. The horse bolted and the cart overturned, with two of the children severely injured. John died 20 minutes later of a fractured skull.
Dr Day acted as coroner and held an inquiry. John Wenban, aged 56, was buried in the local cemetery, a sad loss for his large family and the community.
Wife Mary then became postmistress at Wilberforce, a position she held for five years. She died on August 30, 1883 in her 77th year at her daughter’s home in Richmond. She was buried alongside her husband at Wilberforce. The sundial on St John's reminds us of John Wenban’s contribution.