The sandstone block neo-Gothic church is just off Castlereagh Highway. It has a corrugated iron steep roof with a lightning conductor at the roadside end. There is a sandstone columnar pillar at the northeast corner for the Bell Tower. There was no visible Foundation Stone, so it may be inside - just like the privately owned former St Paul's Anglican Church on Safala Road.
An interesting aside to confirm the COUNTRY nature of this Old Church is that 'local' sizeable Ilford Cemetery is one mile out of town on a dirt road, and gazetted during the gold rush some 150 years ago. And there is still only ~150 headstones there!
From Google searching the locality population in the 2016 census was less than 200. Which is easily believed on traveling past it.
Unfortunately the 'Monuments Australia' website for the Ilford Methodist Church does not have a photo of the commemorative plaque from 1927. The text of the article is:
"The memorial plaque is dedicated to the founders of Ilford Methodist Church.
"William Harris donated land for a church and parsonage. His brother George was the contractor and carpenter and donated his labour. James Burgess and W. Pascoe were the stonemasons assisted by William Harris, Mr Rowe being the architect. The contract price was 240 pounds. The foundation stone was laid in 1866 and the wives raised the money to pay for the building, which was opened on 4 November, 1867."
The web article then has the following excerpt from "The Methodist" (Sydney, NSW) from 26th November, 1927:
"After being away for thirty years, to be asked back to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the Ilford Church in the Rylstone circuit, on Sunday, November 13, was the privilege and joy of the Rev. G. W. Turner. Two services were held, one at 11, and the other at 3 o'clock. At the latter, the Rev. G. Trevor Hughes conducted the first part of the service and then cordially welcomed back the Rev. G. W. Turner, who suitably responded, and preached an impressive sermon appropriate to the occasion. A beautiful marble tablet to the memory of the pioneers, was unveiled by Mr. William Harris, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Harris, who were amongst the founders of the church. The congregations were large, many coming long distances to join in honouring the memory of those who established the Methodist cause at Ilford."
It does have the text from commemorative tablet, as follows:
Erected in memory of
The Founders of this Church
REUBEN LEADER, MARTHA LEADER,
WILLIAM HARRIS, ELIZABETH HARRIS,
GEORGE HARRIS, MARTHA HARRIS
4th Nov. 1867-1927
From the Churches Australia website, the church was later sold in 2010. [ex-Ilford Uniting Church, Former - NSW, Australia]
Address: 14 Ilford Hall Road, Ilford Uniting Church, Ilford, NSW, 2849, Australia
Visited: 0832, Sunday, 13 November, 2022