The Hull Packet

25 October 1803

Sydney, Sunday April 17

........On Sunday last St. John's Church, at Parramatta was opened, and Divine Service performed by the Rev. Mr. Marsden; who delivered an excellent sermon on the following text, "But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven, and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built?" II. Chron. c. vi. v. 13; In consequence of which he made some animated allusions to the structure of Solomon's Temple, and afterwards gradually traced the progress of religion in succeeding ages, adverting to the many solid advantages that must be necessarily derived to this Colony, from a proper observance of the duties of Christianity, and a Religious Worship.

The concourse of persons that attended from all parts of the Colony, and the becoming silence that prevailed, added much to the solemnity of the service. Many Ladies of the first respectability were present, some of whom went purposely from Sydney ;and the military detachment on duty at Parramatta were also partakers at the sacred festival.