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Britain began the European settlement of Australia (1788). One consequence was the introduction of Christianity. This meant the Anglican Church. The pattern of immigration has basically determined religious mosaic of Australia. Braitain used convicts to populate the colony. This meant that Britain introduced large numbers of people who were culturally Christian, but with a heathy scepticism for organized religion. While the Anglican Church was the established Church, there wre many other demominations in England. The Scotts brought the Presbyterian church. And the English brought the many other Protestant sects like Methodists. And the Irish brought Roman Catholocism with them. Emigration from other countries, for many years limited to Europe, introduced other religions over time. The Anglican Church remained the largest until being overtaken by the Catholics (1980s). At the end of the 20th century about two-thirds of Australians identified themselves as Christians: Roman Catholic (25 percent), Anglican (20 percent), Protestant (20 percent). The principal Protestant denominations are the Uniting Church, Methodist, and Presbyterians. There are also Orthodox Christians centered in the Greek community.
Austalia was discovered (16th century), but Britain did not begin to settle the vast island continent until much lster (18th cetury). The American Revolution was a major impetus. Britain had transported convicts to America. After the Revolution this was no longer possible and a new destination had to be found. This vecamne Australia. The settlement iof Australia began with convicts, but free settlers followed. Until the 20th century, most of the settlers came from the Btitish Isles. And thus the British Christian denominations became the potincipal Australian denominatioins. At the end of the 20th century about two-thirds of Australians identified themselves as Christians: Roman Catholic (25 percent), Anglican (20 percent). We have seen different estimates from various sources.
Britain began the European settlement of Australia (1788). One consequence was the introduction of Christianity. This meant the Anglican Church. The Australian Anglican Church received extensive aid from the wealthy Church of England. It thus established itself as the dominant church in the 19th century. The Anglican Church remained the largest until being overtaken by the Catholics (1980s). While the Anglican Church was the established Church, there wre many other demominations in England.
Protestant churches in the mother country provided extensive aid and promoted missionary efforts. As a result, a proliferation of Protestant sects vecame established in Australia during the 19th century. The principal Protestant denominations are the Uniting Church, Methodist, and Presbyterians. The Scotts brought the Presbyterian church. And the English brought the many other Protestant sects like Methodists.
The Irish brought Roman Catholocism with them to Australia. The first Catholics were the Irush among the Catholics and a small number of priests ministering to them. The first Catholics arrived with the convict transports (1788). Unoffending Catholic peasants were added to the transports. "Satanides" Carhampton and the Ulster magistrates arrested Catholic peasants from the North and West of Ireland uring the Orange reign of terror (1795-96). Some were deported. This was done without any legal authority. One authority reports it was done "without trial, without even the colour of legality". [Lecky, III, p. 419.] The insurrection of 1798 in Ireland led to more Cathoics being transported. "... a stream of Irish political prisoners was poured into the penal settlement of Botany Bay, and they played some part in the early history of the Australian colonies, and especially of Australian Catholicism". [Lecky, VIII, p. 250.]
These transportations were eventually followed by free Irish settlers. Fr James Dixon was one of the first priests (1800). Fr John Therry and Fr Philip Connolly arrived (1820). This is generally the date given foundation of the Catholic church in Australia. The most prominant early Catholic leader was John Bede Polding who was appointed as Australia's first bishop (1832). William Bernard Ullathorne (1806-89) helped convince Pope Gregory XVI to establish a Catholic hierarchy in Australia. Ullathorne worked in Australia (1833-36 as vicar-general to Bishop William Morris (1794-1872). His jurisdiction included the Australian missions. The Potato Famine (1840s) that drove the Irish to America also resulted in emigration to Australia. For many years Australian Catholics were almost exclusively Irish. Unlike America, Italians did not begin arriving in numbers for some time (late-19th century). As late as World War II (1939-45), the Church was still lagely Irish in character. After the War the composition of the Church began to change as a result of changes in Australian immigration laws. Immigrants began arriving from other countries with strong Catholic traditions (Eastern and Southern Europe).
Italians and Hungarians began arriving (1950s). Filipinos, Vietnamese, Lebanese and Poles began reaching Australia (1980s). Chinese, Korean and Latin American Catholic communities began to grow (1990s). Irish-Australians were a primarily working-class population. This resulted in a religious attachment to the Csatholic Church and a political association with Australian Labor (Socialist) Party. The Catholic-dominated 'Movement' led by B.A. Santamaria was a major factor in the fight against Communist domination of the labor movement. (A very similar development occurred in America.) Overtime Catholics grew in number and by the late-20th century replaced Anglicans as the most important Christian denomintion in Australia.
We notice the Liberal Catholic Church (LLC) in Australia. Despit the name, they are not associated with the Catholic Church. A reader tells us, "The photo here was taken in th 1910s in an Australian Liberal Catholic Church.
These churches have no relation with modern Roman Catholic Church but some with the historic Catholic Church. There are connections with Theosophy and Freemasonry." The LLC seems to us calls itself Catholic because it has retained Catholic ritual, but permitted a wide range of theological views. This is why the term Liberal was added to the name of the Church. The term liveral use to mean tolerant of the views of other. Liberat today bmans ethnic diversity but a more doctraire ideological view. The LCC members are allowed to make their own theological judgements and we see both Catholic and Protestant ideas. As a result, it is not possible to classify the church as eithr Catholkic or Protestant. A LCC posting tell us, "The Liberal Catholic Church exists inside the wider Catholic tradition of sacraments and ceremony while encouraging complete freedom in the interpretation, understanding and inner truth of the Gospel writings and liturgical wording. The Liberal Catholic Church supports all spiritual pilgrims who seek the truth, the inner knowing, the gnosis of a universal awareness of human interconnectedness." The mother Liberal Cathoic Church is located in France.
There are also Orthodox Christians centered in the Greek community.
The pattern of immigration has basically determined religious mosaic of Australia. Britain used convicts to populate the colony. This meant that Britain introduced large numbers of people who were culturally Christian, but with a heathy scepticism for organized religion. An additional factor was the development odf scientific rationalism, especially after the publication of Chatles Darwin's Origin of the Species (1848). Australian clerics became concerned with the growth of a "philosophy of doubt". The Anglican Dean of Melbourne feared that the teaching of philosophy would introduce an "unknown quality" which would be antagonistic to the tenets of the Church. Other clerics shared this belief.
Christian theologians polarized over doctrinal issues. Australian Christians engaged in vocal debates over Christian faith. One historian called this "the doubting spirit of the nineteenth century". [Mcleod, p. 138.] Many Christians responded to scientific rationalism by insisting on doctrinal orthodoxy.
Religion in Australia has been strongest in rural areas. It is has been weaker in the urban culture. Urban workers were strongly influed by socialist thought which is often abti-religious. At the end of the 20th century about two-thirds of Australians identified themselves as Christians, that was probably more of aultural identigication than a theological one.
Britain at the time the colonization of Australia began did not have aublic education system. One had begun to form in Protestant Scotland, but there was subastantial resistance to public education in England. There was as a result only lilmited steps toward public education in the early- and mid-19th century. The dominant educational force in Australia throughout the 19th century were the Anglican and other churches. Most of Austrlaia's best known private schools were founded during this period.
Weddings in Australia at first simmoly followed British traditions, but down under. Many Christian wedding traditions around the world are heavily influenced by British Victorian traditions. Chritian readitions Weddings are both family and individual occassions and traditions are affected by cultural change and over time Australians began to develop their own wedding traditions. A factor here was the gradual diversity which developed in Australia. More informal weddings began to become popularm esoecually after World war II. The Irish brought Catholcism into the growing range of wedding traditions. Many trditions such as the wedding cake and the white wedding persist.
The white wedding as a symbolm of purity continues, although moral standards have shifted considerably. The wedding portrait and family Bible given to the new couple are also popular features. Weddings were the occassions for large family gatterings. This has changed with smaller, more mobil families. This is of course reflected in the photographic record. And with the 1960s came immigration reform which forthe first time callowed non-Europeans to enter the country.
And with them came many more new wedding traditions.
Lecky. Ireland in the Eighteenth Century.
Mcleod, A.L. The Pattern of Australian Culture.
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