This week I’m thinking about and planning for a visit to St Matthias’ Church for their annual harvest festival on 22 February. You can find out more about the festival at the St Matthias’ facebook page https://www.facebook.com/stmatthiaswindermere/

The beautiful little church on the banks of the Tamar, with its white white walls and its red red roof and its heavenly steeple, has a special place in my heart. I mean just look at this image of the church, taken by Karen of Rawpix Photography, how could you not fall in love with the place?!?

My ancestor James Goodson came to this place on this river in 1831, where he worked as a convict for Dr Matthias Gaunt. Dr Gaunt owned this land and dedicated this spot for the erection of this church. For James, arriving here under the vast blue sky and settling on the green green grass, and being nurtured by the Gaunts was something of a re-birth after life in the bleak conditions of his homeland.

The new life that Dr Gaunt gave to James was not wasted. What he received he gave back with abundance. With his convict hands, James nurtured this place. With his convict hands and then with his free hands James tended this church as a life long passion. He washed the windows, he dug the graves, he took care of the land, he rang the bell.

More Goodson family members joined him here in the years that followed and this church became the centre of their world – a location for many of their births, marriages and deaths.

Goodson descendants can still be found in the local area and across Tasmania.

I can’t wait to visit, where my book about James and his family will be on display and on sale. If you’re in the area, come on down and see me on Saturday 22 February at St Matthias’ Church, I’d love to chat! If you’re a Goodson, even better!!!

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