Richard Johnson (chaplain)

Richard Johnson (1756-1827) was the first an English Christian cleric in Australia.

In 1786, aged 30, he was appointed prison chaplain of the prison Colony at new South Wales, Australia. John Newton and William Wilberforce, 2 notable men,wre keen for a committed evangelical Christian to take the role of chaplain in the colony.
He arrived in Australia, with his wife Mary in 1788. Governor, Arthur Phillip,was more concerned with dealing with the convicts than having a church built. For 4 years Richard held services in the open air. June 1793 he began to build a church himself. At a cost of £67 he completed a building by September capable of holding 500 people. The Revd.Samuel Marsden arrived in 1794 as assistant chaplain.The church was burnt down in 1798.

Richard took leave of absence in 1800 and did not return. He continued to show
interest in Australia - in 1815 he recommended John Youl tobe chaplain at Port Dalrymple. he died on 13th March 1827.

Source
Wikipedia