First Holy Communion in the colony, island named after Lord Howe.

The first Holy Communion in Australia was conducted on 17 February 1788 by Reverend Richard Johnson, the first chaplain of the colony of New South Wales. This historic event took place in Lieutenant Ralph Clark’s tent in Sydney, just a few weeks after the arrival of the First Fleet on 26 January 1788. Reverend Johnson, a devout Anglican minister, had been appointed as chaplain to the colony on the recommendation of prominent evangelical figures, including William Wilberforce. His primary mission was to provide religious guidance to both convicts and settlers. The service itself followed the traditional Anglican liturgy, marking an important spiritual moment for the fledgling colony. Given the rudimentary conditions of the settlement at the time, the setting was humble—a simple tent serving as a makeshift chapel. Despite these modest surroundings, the event symbolized the establishment of Christianity in Australia and the beginning of organized religious worship in the new colony. This first Holy Communion also reflected the British government’s intention to instill religious and moral order among the settlers and convicts. Reverend Johnson would later continue his mission by building Sydney’s first church in 1793, despite facing opposition and a general lack of support from the colony’s leadership. The event of 17 February 1788 remains a significant moment in Australian religious history, marking the formal introduction of Christian worship in the country. Naming of Lord Howe Island: On the same date, 17 February 1788, Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball sighted an uninhabited island during his voyage from Botany Bay to Norfolk Island. He named it Lord Howe Island in honor of Admiral Richard Howe, the First Lord of the Admiralty at that time. #FirstCommunionAustralia #AustralianHistory #ChristianityInAustralia #MomentsOfLife #MoofLife_Moment #MoofLife