Questions and Answers
What percentage of the First Fleet's travellers identified as Church of England?
Catholic mass was initially allowed in the new colony after the arrival of the First Fleet.
False
Who was sent to Australia as an evangelist on the First Fleet?
Reverend Richard Johnson
The Church of England was the official __________ religion of the new colony.
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What was a common view held by Irish convicts regarding mandatory attendance at Church of England Mass?
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Match the following groups with their perspectives regarding attendance at Church of England Mass:
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In what year did traditional religion as defined by Europeans arrive in Australia?
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The First Fleet consisted of more settlers than convicts.
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Which denomination of Christianity did the majority of convicts on the First Fleet identify with?
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The Church of Scotland had a significant presence among the convicts on the First Fleet.
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What was the primary emphasis of the Church of England ministers during the early years in Australia?
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Reverend John Dunmore Lang sponsored many Scottish _________ to emigrate to Australia.
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What type of audience did the Church of England ministers primarily aim to influence?
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The Church of Scotland was well-supported by the Australian Government.
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Match the following key figures with their respective churches:
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The _________ Church warned against immoral behavior by preaching eternal damnation.
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Study Notes
Introduction
- Traditional European religion arrived in Australia with the First Fleet in 1788.
- Pre-1945, life and religious practices were complex; Christianity lacked unity until the 20th century.
- Strong denominational splits affected various aspects of life in early Australia.
The Arrival and Establishment of Christianity
- The First Fleet contained 11 ships, transporting mainly convicts and settlers from England to New South Wales.
- Approximately 80% of those onboard were convicts, leading to perceptions of the colony as a 'dumping ground' for societal outcasts.
- Two-thirds of the passengers identified as Church of England, stemming from primarily non-religious backgrounds.
- One-third identified as Roman Catholic, predominantly Irish convicts who maintained their faith amidst English oppression.
Reverend Richard Johnson
- Appointed as the first religious leader in Australia, following advocacy for a formal presence by an evangelist in Britain.
- Governor Phillip instructed Johnson to enforce laws against various vices including blasphemy and immorality.
- For the first 30 years, Church of England ministers wielded significant power over societal and political matters within the colony.
State Religion
- Church of England was declared the official state religion in the new colony.
- For several years, Catholic mass was prohibited; mandatory attendance at Church of England services was enforced for all convicts.
- English convicts often viewed compulsory attendance as punitive, while Irish convicts regarded it as offensive and imposing.
Denominations of Christianity in Australia Pre-1945
- Initial religions in Australia were Christian denominations, represented by convicts from different regions of the UK.
Church of England (Anglicanism)
- Majority of First Fleet convicts identified as Church of England more for cultural reasons than religious devotion.
- Initially characterized by 'low church Anglicanism,' emphasizing evangelism and Biblical authority over ritualistic practices.
- Emphasis was placed on personal conviction and morality to encourage better behavior among convicts.
- Church received robust support from both the Australian and British governments, which provided funding and personnel.
- Key figures included Reverends Richard Johnson and Samuel Marsden, who were given societal privileges to enforce laws.
Church of Scotland (Presbyterianism)
- Few Presbyterian convicts arrived on the First Fleet; later immigration became a means to escape poverty in Scotland.
- Reverend John Dunmore Lang sponsored Scottish Presbyterians to migrate to Australia, assisting with their relocation.
- The Presbyterian Church emphasized the concept of eternal damnation as a deterrent against immoral behavior.
- Lacked the privileges of other denominations, often representing a poorer segment of society in 19th-century Australia.
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Description
Explore the arrival and establishment of Christianity and two other religious traditions in Australia. This quiz covers the historical context from the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 to the evolution of religion in the 20th century, including the impact of denominational splits.
