This week in Church history
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The first stakes in England and Australia were organized Sunday, March 27, 1960, according to the April 2, 1960, edition of the Church News.
The Manchester Stake (now the Manchester England Stake) was organized by Elder Harold B. Lee, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve.
The Sydney Stake (now the Sydney Australia Stake) was organized by Elder Delbert E. Stapley and Elder Marion G. Romney of the Quorum of the Twelve.
The Manchester Stake had nine wards and three branches, all taken from the British Mission. Its membership was approximately 2,400 with 2,026 attending the organizational meeting.
The stake's wards were: Bradford, Dewsbury, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale. Branches were Ashton-Hyde, Radcliffe and Wigan.
At the same organizational meeting, the North British Mission was organized.
The Sydney Stake was formed from the Australian Mission. Its wards were: Bankstown, Hurstville, Newcastle, Sutherland and Sydney. Branches were Blacktown, Parramatta and Wollongong.
Elder Stapley said during the organizational meeting, "Australia is on the threshold of great advancement as far as God's Kingdom is concerned."
According to the 2010 Deseret News Church Almanac, Australia has 33 stakes. England has 36 stakes with a total of 45 in the United Kingdom.
