(By REVD. NORMAN JENKYN)
As Rector of the historic Church of St. Matthews, Windsor, from 1906 to 1936, I was greatly interested in the remarks made by His Grace the Archbishop of Sydney on his return from abroad on the 24th instant, to the effect that while staying at Croft Castle, on the Welsh border, he saw the ghost of Owen Glendower, the last king of Wales. I lived for many years in the old and historic Rectory of St. Matthews. It stood in the shades of an old and widespreading Japanese elm and huge kurrajong trees, and seemed almost to rest in the shadow of the big historic Church, with its ancient God's Acre, almost 110 years old. The Rectory is hoary with age and reeks with tradition, and to the passer-by truly suggests "ghosts".
When I took charge of the parish a few of the old residents informed me that the Rectory was haunted, and that at the mystic hour spirits walked abroad. They told me that I would soon verify their remarks by personal experience. I was not perturbed by their statements, for, thought I, the Bible itself was full of ghost stories, so I took up residence in the old house. I had not long to wait for the thrill of the ghostly visit.
One night at about 12.30, while lying in my bed upstairs, I heard distinctly the drawer of the sideboard in the dining room below open, and then what seemed to me like the turning over of forks and spoons as if someone was searching for a particular one. I was alone in the house. I hastily dressed, and in the dark crept stealthily down the long circular stairway leading to the dining room. I quickly turned the torch on, but found no one. I retired somewhat relieved, yet disappointed, for I was certain that I was about to solve the great ghost problem. Some four weeks later my old housekeeper awoke at about one a.m. and heard similar sounds, and, thinking that I was searching for a knife, called out "You will find the cake knife in the right-hand drawer, Sir." Now I was spending the evening out, and did not return for some hours after, but my housekeeper mentioned the incident to me the next morning. I was afraid to tell her that I was not at home when she heard the sounds, for had I informed her she would have packed up and left without a day's notice. My sister came to stay with me, but after one night's experience she decided to return to Sydney by the first train which left at 5.30 a.m. She has not since been within a radius of 5 miles of the old building.
Being a bachelor I employed a Japanese groom and cook. In the winter evenings after church I allowed him to sit in the dining room on the mat before the fire. Here he would ruminate and often became reminiscent. One evening at about 11.30, he turned excitedly and said "What's that, Boss?". I drew my breath and listened and quite distinctly we heard the strange sound of someone walking along the stone-flagged passageway at the back of the hall and placing bricks in position. This went on for 20 minutes, after which we decided to investigate. We walked quickly into the dark passage, but again no one was to be seen. Needless to say, my Jap. gave me notice the following morning, saying "I no likee that noise, Boss; I go back to Sydney today." After he left I still heard the strange sounds, but comforted myself with the admission, "They are only ghosts."
On another occasion a strange incident occurred. I had retired and awoke between 1 and 2 o'clock, and was alarmed at the sound of footsteps on the stairway leading from the hall below to my room upstairs. Knowing that there was no one else in the house, I determined to wait until the intruder had reached the top step. Slowly, very slowly, but surely, he made the ascent, and stood at last on the landing. I rushed out, timid, but determined to see it through, but, alas, saw nothing."Ghosts, I suppose", I remarked, and went to bed again. One more incident will help to show how true were the remarks of the old parishioners that the Rectory was haunted. On one occasion I went to spend the evening with friends in the parish. I locked the old house securely, but found on my return at midnight that the front doors were standing widely open. No other door had been tampered with, and nothing else was disturbed. This happened time after time.
So I became accustomed to ghosts after 30 years contact, and today I regard them as great company. Of course I am not unminded of the fact that spirits and ghosts are closely allied - especially if the former are taken within. I am convinced that ghosts or an unseen cloud of witnesses play an important part in the life of man. The visible creation is not the only creation that serves mankind. "The things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
(Windsor and Richmond Gazette - 3rd March, 1939 ).
Note: The Rev. Norman Jenkyn died in January, 1942, aged 69. He was Rector of St. Matthews, Windsor, from 1906 until forced to retire because of failing health in 1936. He held the position of alderman on Windsor Council for 16 years until his retirement in 1941. He held the position of Mayor between 1930-32, becoming the first clergyman in N.S.W. to hold such an office. During his time in Windsor, he was always held in high regard.
(Windsor and Richmond Gazette -30th January, 1942.)
The foundation stone for St. Matthews Church was laid by Governor Macquarie on 11th October, 1817. the rim of a Spanish Dollar was placed under the stone but was stolen that evening. The corner-stone was re-laid by His Excellency and another Dollar deposited underneath it by Rev. Robert Cartwright on 13th October, 1817. This second Dollar was also stolen a few nights later. Building progressed slowly. As the result of a dispute between Henry Kitchen, "Architect and Builder" and Francis Greenway, a convict who was also acting Colonial Architect, the unfinished walls were pulled down in 1818. The bricks were subsequently used for the wall alongside the Macquarie Arms Hotel in Thompson Square. Building of the Church began again, this time in accordance with the plans of Francis Greenway. The result is one of the most significant Georgian buildings in this nation. The Church was consecrated on 18th December, 1822, by the Reverend Samuel Marsden.
The Rectory, whose architect is uncertain, was built by William Cox, who had constructed the road over the Blue Mountains. The tender was let in 1822 and Cox received final payment in 1825. The Rev. Samuel Marsden died at the Rectory on 12th May, 1838, of Erysipelas. He had been affected by the cold while touring the nearby lowlands and had been taken to the Rectory , then the home of his friend, Rev. Henry Stiles, but the infection spread, finally claiming his life.
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