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with his brother, George, he commenced training under the Reverend Robert Allwood, first at St James' Parsonage, Sydney and then at Lyndhurst College, Glebe, a college for divinity studies which had been founded by Bishop Broughton. In 1848 he was ordained and his mother wrote of the excitement the family felt about that and how they intended to attend his ordination. She also touched on the difficulties he would fave and gave him some advice, reflecing her position as the daughter and wife of such eminent clergymen as Samuel Marsden and Thomas Hassall.
"I feel sure more than ever the great importance of the steps you are about to take as you appear as if you are to have --- to contend with that you Grandpapa and Papa never thought of or had ever to think of when they were entering the Church ... Your Mother's imperfect prayers should not be wasted that you may be --- worthy to escape all those things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man --- in his --- path to righteousness. With love Believe me your affectionate Mother."

With. the ordination he became the first native born Church of England priest in Australia. His first appointment was as locem tenens at St Peter's, Cook's River, to replace his former tutor Reverend Thomas Makinson who resigned from the Church of England on 22 February 1948 and had joinged the Catholic Church. St Peter's was a widespread parish embracing Newtown, Botany, Cook's and George's Rivers, Petersham, George's Hall and Canterbury. As well he was chaplain of the Benevolent Asylum which was situated near the present Redfern Railway Station. It was a very widespread parish and part of it was "as wile and godless a place as I have ever known", although he had the satisfaction of baptising many children and starting several schools. He lived in the parsonage at Petersham and made mnay good friends among his parishioners. To help with household expenses he took in William Throsby, son of the explorer Charles Throsby, as a lodger, who unfortunately contracted scarlet fecer and dide. Hassall himself contracted the disease shortly afterwards but recovreed under the careful nursing of his mother and sisters and his parishioners. During his period at Cook's River he spent many hours in the saddle because the parsonage was a long way from both the church and the Benevolent Asylum. He also commenced schools at Canterbury and Botany.

In 1849 an incumbency was offered to him at O'Connell Plains, near Bathurst where his father still owned property, but he chose instead to go to Bungonia where there was a large stone-built parsonage and his salary was In 1849 an incumbency was offered to him at O'Connell Plains, near Bathurst where his father still owned property, but he chose instead to go to Bungonia where there was a large stone-built parsonage and his salary was £300 per year. Bishop Broughton gave him £35 for removal expenses.

The move to Bungonia was not without its difficulties. The bullock team carrying his furniture was delayed for six weeks by flood and James Hassall was forced to live with his servant in a virtually empty parsonage. As a bachelor for his first year there, he started to engage in the business of the parish which mostly entailed long rides on horseback to visit station