The Rt Rev'd Dr Brian Farran

    Twelfth Lord Bishop of Newcastle

     

     

    As  a parish within the Diocese of Newcastle, we remember with thanksgiving the pioneering ministry of William Tyrrell, who in 1847 was consecrated bishop in Westminister Abbey, London and was appointed to be the first bishop of our diocese.

     

     

    St John's Cooranbong, built around 1868-1870, was the first church built for the Anglican people in this area.  In the 1950's the building was sold and transported to Alton Road Cooranbong, where it is now part of a private residence.  The Cooranbong Anglican Cemetery is located next to where St John's originally stood.  Jenny McCarthy has transcribed the Memorial Inscriptions for this cemetery.                           

     

     

     

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    St Paul's Dora Creek (1885) is our longest standing church building and for many years was the parish church.  Unlike some of our other buildings, St Paul's has weathered the storms and is still standing.

    St Laurence's Morisset was originally built 1902. It was then owned by the Adventist Church.  The building was obtained by the Church of England, possibly 1912, when Morisset separated from Toronto parish. During a very fierce storm in 1913 the building was blown over. This happened just before a wedding was to be held there. The couple were married in the Methodist Church up the road, however St Laurence's was rebuilt in time for the baptism of their first child in 1914.

     

    The church was blown over again in 1974. Plans for a new church building were then made. This building was dedicated 1976 and still stands at the corner of Bridge and Newcastle Streets Morisset. In 2001, a parish vision was put forward for the redevelopment of the Morisset site. The plans allowed for the building of a new church and for the re-assignment of existing buildings.

     

    The rectory was converted and is now the ministry centre housing the offices, opportunity shop, new kitchen facilities and several rooms catering for small and large groups. The clergy house was enlarged and improved and is now the rectory. St Laurence's has become the parish hall now that the new church building, dedicated to 'All Saints',   is completed.

     

     

    The old parish hall was an ex-army hut from Greta. Transported here during the 1950's it remained until early 2004 when it was disassembled and transported to the Kurri area. At Kurri it will eventually become part of a private residence.

     

     

     

     

     

     

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    The original St Garbiel's Wangi was built 1955. The building was also an ex-army hut from the Greta army camp. It was erected on land in Wangi Point Road and in 1959 was moved to the current site. During a freak storm in 1961 it too was blown over. Plans were then made to build a church hall, which was dedicated 1 December 1962. The building still stands today. In 2002, the church and land were sold to a developer. Services for the Wangi congregation are now held in the Uniting Church building French Road.

     

     

     

    Now to the church that had the shortest life within the parish - St Andrew's Mannering Park, dedicated 6 May 1961. The building was part of an ex-army hut. The other part was given to the CWA for their hall and is still being used today. St Andrew's closed 6 June 1991 - thirty years and one month after opening. The building was sold and is now a private residence.

     

     

    Parish Priests

    Parish Assistants

    1855-1863 Alfred Glennie

    1991-         Merv Ralston, Honorary Deacon

    1865-1870 John Shaw

    1992-1994 Arthur Copeman, Assistant Priest

    1911-1918 James Macarthur

    1992-1996 Rosemary Gillham, Pastoral Assistant

    1918-1929 Frank Woodger

    1995-1996 Gary Atherton, Associate Priest

    1929-1936 John Oldham

    2001-2004 Robyn Pullin, Honorary Deacon

    1936-1958 Wilberforce Brook

    2009-         Loy Thompson, PLM**

    1958-1964 Charles Onslow

    2010-         Alison Wooden, PLM**

    1964-1970 Donald Allan

    2010-         Elaine Young, DLM*

    1970-1975 Gary Parker

    2011-         Garry Kerr, PLM**

    1977-1982 Neville Schofield

     

    1982-1989 Walter Hancock

    Locum Tenens

    1989-1996 Phillip Saunders

    1975-1976 Kenneth Jones

    1997-2000 Sharon-Lee Vierow

    1987-1977 Charles Harris

    2001-2004 Stephen Pullin

    1982          Robert Tait

    2004-         Glen Pope

    1996-1997 Peter Davies

     

    2000-2001 Rod Turner

     

    ** PLM - Priest in Local Mission

      *DLM - Deacon in Local Mission

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