Biography
Reverend Richard Johnson
First Chaplain to New South Wales
"I was sent here to declare the truth to the unfortunate, to show them the way of salvation and to lead them to the source of all comfort."
Richard Johnson was the first Christian chaplain to the colony of New South Wales. Born in Welton, Yorkshire, he was educated at Cambridge and ordained in the Church of England. In 1786, he was appointed chaplain to the First Fleet, arriving in Sydney Cove in January 1788.
Johnson faced immense challenges in the early years of the colony, including lack of support from authorities and the absence of a dedicated place of worship. Despite this, he remained committed to his ministry, often holding services under trees or in temporary structures.
In 1793, at his own expense and using his own labour alongside convicts he paid, he built the first church in Sydney—a wattle and daub structure with a thatched roof. He was also a pioneering agriculturalist, bringing seeds from England and establishing some of the colony’s first successful crops, earning him the nickname “The Best Farmer in the Colony”.
Artifact Spotlight
"The first church of Sydney, built in 1793, stands as a testament to Johnson's unwavering faith and personal sacrifice."