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THE ANGLICAN PARISH OF BOMBALA.
From "The History of the Diocese of Goulburn" 1937, Ransome T Wyatt, pp227, Transcribed by Pattrick Mould 2003

The first ministrations of the Church in the area now comprised in the present parish of Bombala were rendered by the Rev. E. G. Pryce, appointed in 1843 to "The District of Maneroo "beyond the limits of location." His registers show an intimate acquaintance with the older settlements (mainly stations) in the Bombala parish. The Boucher family are shown as contributing to the "Australian Diocesan Committee," the forerunner of the Church Society, from 1840 onwards. Pryce's impossible task was relieved in 1854 by the appointment of the Rev. Edward Forde to the southern portion of his huge district.

The only Church building in the district was a chapel on the Campbell's property at "Deligat." The old Church at Cooma often claims to be the first Church on the Monaro. That is not so. A letter of Bishop Broughton's of 5/1/1847 makes it clear that the distinction belongs to Delegate. He says:
"The only fabric for religious use which has yet been carried forward in this District is at Deligat, one of the stations of the late Robert Campbell, Esq., by whom and by his family encouragement has been afforded to the erection of a small wooden chapel." (Australian Diocesan Committee, 1847.)

The wording of this report would suggest that this was not altogether a private chapel although erected on private property. This is referred to as the "Deligat Chapel" in Pryce's registers for 1854-5 (he took a marriage there on 25/9/I855) and "The Church at Deligat" in an entry of his successor, Walter Riky, on 31/10/1855. If the Rev. Edward Forde was working Delegate from Bombala then there was some overlapping, probably accounted for by the itinerating nature of all these early ministries. Bishop Broughton, although he visited the Maneroo district, did not penetrate so far as Bombala. Bishop Barker did, though. In 1856 he drove from "Panbula" to Bombala and "Deligat."

The "Deligat Chapel," referred to above, was a slab building thatched with grass, which stood on the banks of the Church Creek, two miles on the Bombala side of Delegate. The present General Cemetery at Delegate encloses the original site. The creek derives its name from the fact that a Church formerly stood there.

There was central payment of stipends in those days and in 1856, under the heading of Bombala, was acknowledged:
"From the most remote Southern District in the Diocese, in the Maneroo District, £170/3/7 was received towards the guaranteed stipend of a clergyman." (Sydney Church Society Report, 1856.)

Dean Cowper describes Bishop Barker's visit in some detail:
"The next day was spent in visiting another portion of this district, not far from the Deligate "gold diggings." The clergyman who had been recently appointed was in the habit of holding a service at Deligate in a small Church upon Miss Campbell's property. . . . Sunday, the 26th October, was spent at Bombala. There was no Church , but the congregation met in a new unoccupied store. The adjoining rooms and verandah were filled with about two hundred and fifty persons, of whom many came from long distances, and some had ridden into the town the day before. A collection, which amounted to £2o, was made for the Church Society; the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered; and in the afternoon a second service was held, the room being again filled. In the evening a third service was held at a place called Maharatta. On the Monday a meeting was held in Bombala to decide upon the site for the proposed Church, about which there was a difficulty.. The township was divided by a river, and the Government reserve for a Church was on the side opposite to the farm given by Mr. Boucher, a squatter, as a glebe and residence for the clergyman. After consultation it was decided to accept an offer made by a churchman in the district of a site on the same side of the river, a decision with which all parties were content. The sum of £250 was subscribed, and it was resolved to build the Church of stone, and to apply to the Church Society for assistance." (Cowper "Bp Barker", pp 83/4)

In 1857 Bombala is shown in the Church Society report as repaying a loan of £300 and sending in addition a collection of £18/16/3. The Church is noted as "finished." There is some little mystery here because in the report for 1859 it is stated:
"On the 27th of the same month (i.e., November, 1859) the new Church of S. Matthias, Bombala, was opened by license. The Society contributed £120, towards the cost of erection." (Sydney Church Society Report, 1859, P. 17.)

Locally it is held that the Church was first used on 4/12/1857. In the same report there is a note, "Bombala repays the clergyman's stipend." Later on in the same report there is a table of new Churches, where the following particulars are given of Bombala:

Name of Church: Bombala. Material: Stone. Cost: £935. Accommodation: 150. (Sydney Church Society Report, 1859, P. 18.) The Bombala stipend that year was £300. In this same 1859 report (but not published until 186o) there is a page devoted to the Bombala Auxiliary of the Church Society. The Rev. John Steele is president, and John Boucher, esq., treasurer. Some of the oldest stations and families are represented in the list of subscribers: - Boucher, Bradley, Campbell, Garnock, Nicholson, Rankin, "Mount Cooper," "Twofold Bay Pastoral Association," etc., etc. (Sydney Church Society Report, 1859, P. 71.) In 1860 Bombala refunded to the parent society £260 on account of stipend, but was experiencing some trouble locally.
The report says:
"The Church at Bombala, having been imperfectly built, required a considerable sum to secure its safety and to make some necessary additions. The committee guaranteed the payment of interest upon a loan for five years." (Sydney Church Society Report, 1859, P. 17.)

Bombala received a grant of £40 towards its stipend this year and in addition the Society paid the Rev. John Steele's expenses, £20 on taking up the cure.

The Twofold Bay and Maneroo Observer records in November, 1860 "The Rev. Mr. Steele deposited with Mrs. Rixon (at her hotel at Eden) for safe keeping, 220 ounces of Delegate gold, which he stated was the product of five days' work. The diggings at Delegate, he stated, were chiefly occupied by Chinamen."

In 1861 Bombala kept up its payments for stipend and sent £237/14/- for that purpose and a collection of £15/17/4

It owed, however, for 4 1/2 years' interest on its loan, which was met by the society as an additional grant. In this year the Church Society was called upon to refund to the Bishop's commissaries in England £25 "outfit for Mr. Steele" and £95 "passage of Mr. and Mrs. Steele and family," which expenses were incurred on 13/4/1858, In 1861 and 1863 the Sunday School received grants of books. Bombala's contributions declined to £203/12/- in 1862, and £26/2/- was met by the Church Society for interest in 1862, and £38/12 /7 in 1863. In 1863 the Diocese of Goulburn was founded and Bombala was transferred to the new diocese. Bishop Thomas paid his first visit to the parish in February, 1865. The Rev. Samuel Percival followed Mr. Steele in 1866. Previously he had been a missionary in India. To the Goulburn Church Society Bombala submitted in 1866 "The First Annual Report of the Bombala Auxiliary of the Church Society." It is a closely printed document of 3 pages. Debts at the beginning of 1866 were £630/10/- but were reduced to £150 before the end of the year the chief gifts being J. Campbell (Sydney) £150, and John Boucher (Bukalong) £150. £100 was contributed towards the Rev. John Steele's removal expenses. The Rev. S. Percival reports holding services at 8 centres. Divine service was held in the parish Church once every Sunday and on the great festivals. Holy Communion was celebrated once a month. One of the earliest references to a parish church choir is made. The choir was said to be "improving." There were two Day Schools and two Sunday Schools in the district. A parsonage was being rented at £35 p.a. In 1868 the diocese made a grant of £100 towards a new parsonage at Bombala. To the annual meeting of the Church Society in 1870 the Bishop reported that the parsonage had been finished (presumably in 1869).

There must have been a debt on this for ten years afterwards; in 1879 the diocese made a grant of £25 for the Bombala parsonage. Mr. Percival was the incumbent from 1866 to 1876. In his last year he visited India and during the ten months' interregnum the Rev. W. Scott was in charge for 3 months and the Rev. R. T. Earl for 7 months. The Rev. J. C. (afterwards Canon) Betts followed and was rector for 16 years (1876-1892). The Delegate and Craigie Churches were built in his time, as also was the private chapel on the Bukalong Estate. The Rev. G. P. Metcalfe's incumbency lasted for 8 years from 1892-1900 In Mr. Metcalfe's time the country services are entered in the register. He visited Delegate, Craigie, Bibbenluke, Killarney, Saucy Creek and Bukalong regularly, other centres occasionally. Floods and fires and snow storms are noted.

Mr. Metcalfe was followed by the Rev. F . Richmond from 1900 to 1905 The Rev. W. R. (afterwards Bishop) Mounsey, was a regular visitor during Mr. Richmond's incumbency, as were the Rev. Sydney Marston and the Rev. W. 1. Carr Smith, of S. James', Sydney.

The Rev. E. L. Timewell was appointed in July, 1905, but died in December of the same year. He is buried in the Church of England portion of the old general cemetery, right in the main path, where a monument in the form of a cross, erected by parishioners and friends, marks the grave.

The Rev. C. C. Gillett was in charge for two years from 1906 to 1908, the Rev. H. J. Gedney for fourteen months only, 1908-09 The Rev. Robert Elliott, a priest of considerable ability, with an engaging sense of humour, was rector from 1909 to 1917. The Rev. D. D. Carruthers (1917-21) obtained permission to sell the old rectory and to purchase the present house. During his incumbency some refurnishing of the parish Church was effected.

The Rev. David (afterwards Canon) Sherris was, rector from 1921-5. The Rev. Samuel Broadfoot was appointed in 1925 Considerable improvements in the furnishings of the Churches throughout the parish were made during his incumbency. In 1936 Mr. Broadfoot was succeeded by the Rev. E. M. Cutcliffe.