 The Church of England in Sydney had been founded in 1788 by the first Anglican priest in the colony, Richard Johnson.This foundation came at a time of austerity within the Church of England, predating the Oxford Movement.The first churches in Australia, such as St James', King Street, were essentially "preaching boxes" in which the pulpit was placed centrally against one of the long walls and surrounded by tiered seating of box pews, each designated for a family.