Sunday 5 February 2023 is National Christian Heritage Sunday. On this day Christians commemorate the first time the Gospel was preached on Australian soil. Find out more in this article.
National Christian Heritage Sunday (NCHS) celebrates the Gospel of Jesus Christ arriving on Australia’s shores. Australia’s first minister, Rev. Richard Johnson, arrived with the first fleet on the 20th January 1788. Then, on 3rd February 1788, Rev. Johnson held the first Christian service in Australia.
National Christian Heritage Sunday is celebrated on the first Sunday in February each year. The date for 2023 will be Sunday 5th February, the Tenth Anniversary of NCHS.
On Sunday 3rd February 1788 the Rev. Richard Johnson preached the first Gospel message on the shores of Sydney Harbour, “under a great tree”, with all members of the First Fleet present. The Scripture that he preached on was Psalm 116:12 “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me?”
Richard was expressing gratitude to God on behalf of the passengers, the military, the crew, and the 700 convicts, for the safe voyage of the “First Fleet” from England to Australia. That fleet of eleven ships, carrying around 1,400 people had survived a gruelling eight months at sea. Historians have recorded that the group lost only 32 lives.
In the next few weeks Richard conducted the first Holy Communion service and conducted 14 marriages.
National Christian Heritage Sunday is a time for Christians to celebrate and to give thanks for the introduction of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Australia.
This video link gives some more information about Richard Johnson’s chaplaincy at Sydney.
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