The relationship between church and society in Australia has always been ambiguous.
In the earliest years of European settlement following the establishment of Sydney in 1788, a fundamental divide existed between the free settlers and colonial officials on the one hand, who tended to be Anglican, and the large numbers of convicts, often Irish Catholics, who were predictably anti-authority and resentful.
Church and society
In time, religion came to be seen by many in the emerging nation’s post-convict period as synonymous with the establishment, in a society that prided itself on being anti-establishment. When the first universities were established in the second half of the 19th century, Theology was generally banished from the curriculum, leaving individual churches to train their own clergy. Nevertheless churches grew, with various mission agencies involved and outreach efforts pursued. The churches staked a claim to their place in society, but their broad acceptance was often tenuous. Any church scandal was likely to receive a ready hearing from many Australians.
