St Johns - Willawarrin, NSW, Australia
S 30° 55.855 E 152° 37.685
56J E 464468 N 6577994
Willawarrin was a common stopping point for travellers going from the coast to the New England highlands over a hundred years ago; and St Johns Catholic Church was built in 1896 for what was a flourishing community.
Waymark Code: WMQPQC
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Date Posted: 03/14/2016
Views: 1
From: (
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Father Buggy officiated at the opening in January, 1896, and announced that the Church had been built debt free. The land was donated by Mr Carey, the publican of the Willawarrin Hotel.
"The first wedding to be held there was Augustus Clark to
Clarice Cavanagh and later the same year, Augustus’ brother
Felix Clarke married Clarice’s sister, Mary."
"St. John’s Willawarrin is believed to be the oldest church on
the Macleay, still in regular use today. Water was connected to
the church in May 1974."
"In January 1986 about 170 people celebrated the 90th
Anniversary of St. John’s with a special Mass, a tree planting
and a huge morning tea in the Willawarrin Hall. A special cake
was made in the shape of the church."
Kempsey Parish History"
With the closure of antimony mines, and 'non-stop' private transport the town has lost a lot of the amenities it used to have.
Now the local church only has mass once a month, and that is of a Thursday evening, at 6 pm on the fourth Thursday of the month.
This Church is the first stop on a walk around the historic aspects of Willawarrin. From: (
visit link)
#1 " Start the walk here. The church was built in 1896 and was opened by Father Buggy. The splendid timber building has been in constant use until recently.
Notice the ecclesiastical styled windows.
St. Johns makes an attractive entrance to the town. The first
baptismal font was a large shell brought out from Ireland by Margaret Mainey."