1919
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MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE
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PARISH OF ST BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX DENMAN |
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FOUNDED 1919 |
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DIOCESE MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE |
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PARISH CHURCH OF ST BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX |
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| PARISH | HISTORY | CHURCH |
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| PARISH |
| DENMAN IS A LONG ESTABLISHED SETTLEMENT IN THE UPPER HUNTER WHOSE HISTORY REACHES BACK TO THE MID-1800's. A SERVICE CENTRE FOR THE SURROUNDING PASTORAL LEASES IT HAS EXPERIENCED CONSIDERABLE GROWTH OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES AS THE WINE INDUSTRY HAS SPREAD FROM THE POKOLBIN REGION UP TO MERRIWA. TODAY EVIDENCE OF THIS GROWTH CAN BE SEEN IN THE ABUNDANT NEW HOMES IN THE TOWN. THE PARISH OF DENMAN WAS FOUNDED IN 1919 BUT IT HAD BEEN A STATION FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE THAT. AS FORMED IT COVERS THE UPPER HUNTER BETWEEN SINGLETON AND MERRIWA AND INCLUDES THE STATIONS OF GUNGAL AND WYBONG. NEXT |
| FIRST CHURCH OF ST BERNARD, DENMAN |  |
| THE FIRST CHURCH IN DENMAN WAS A LARGE WEATHERBOARD BUILDING FACING THE MAIN ROAD NEXT TO WHICH A JOSEPHITE CONVENT AND SCHOOL WERE LOCATED. BUILT FOR FUNCTIONALITY IT CONSISTED OF A NAVE WITH A LARGE WEST WINDOW, A WIDE PORCH AND A SACRISTY. IT CONTINUED IN USE UNTIL THE NEW CHURCH WAS BUILT TO THE REAR OF THE OLD DURING THE LATER 1900's. TODAY IT IS USED AS A PARISH AND SCHOOL HALL. NEXT |
| SECOND CHURCH OF ST BERNARD, DENMAN |
| WITH THE CHANGES IN LITURGICAL PRACTICE AND THE GROWTH OF THE TOWN DURING THE LAST TWO DECADES OF THE 20th CENTURY A NEW CHURCH WAS CONSTRUCTED TO ACCOMODATE THEM. BUILT OF SIMPLE BRICK WITH A WIDE NAVE AND AN EASTERN EXTENSION, THE CHURCH IS SET AMID SOME INTRIGUING LOCAL TREES. A SIMPLE WALL CROSS PROCLAIMS THE CHURCH'S MISSION. THE ENTRANCE IS LOCATED ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING WHICH FORMS A KIND OF VERANDAH. THE NAVE IS ORIENTED FROM SOUTH TO NORTH WITH THE ROOF RISING TO AN OFF-CENTRE PEAK AND THEN DECLINING AT A LOWER ANGLE TO THE NORTH. ALTOGETHER AN ATTRACTIVE LITTLE COUNTRY CHURCH REFLECTING THE NEW LIFE FLOWING THROUGH THE TOWN. TOP STATION CHURCHES |
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| STATION CHURCHES | |
| GUNGAL | WYBONG |
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| CHURCH OF ST ANTHONY OF PADUA, GUNGAL | |
 | THE LOCALITY OF GUNGAL LIES ON THE GOLDEN HIGHWAY BETWEEN DENMAN AND MERRIWA. ONCE THE HOME OF A THRIVING CATHOLIC COMMUNITY IT IS TODAY LITTLE MORE THAN A POSTAL ADDRESS FOR THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES. THE ATTRACTIVE BRICK CHURCH OF ST ANTHONY TESTIFIES TO THE FAITH OF THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF GUNGAL. BUILT IN THE MID 20th CENTURY IN SIMPLIFIED GOTHIC AND COMPRISING A NAVE, CHANCEL AND SACRISTY IT DOMINATES THE VILLAGE FROM ITS POSITION ON A SLIGHT RISE ON THE MAIN ROAD. WITH THE DECLINE IN CATHOLIC NUMBERS THE CHURCH FELL INTO DISUSE BUT IS STILL OPENED OCCASIONALLY FOR WEDDINGS AND BAPTISMS. TOP STATION CHURCHES NEXT |
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| CHURCH OF ST THOMAS AQUINAS, WYBONG | |
 | THE VILLAGE OF WYBONG LIES ABOUT 8KM OFF THE GOLDEN HIGHWAY IN THE CENTRE OF A NEWLY DEVELOPED AREA OF VINEYARDS AND WINERIES. ORIGINALLY A SERVICE CENTRE FOR THE PASTORAL INDUSTRY IT HAS SEEN NEW GROWTH WITH THE COMING OF THE WINDE INDUSTRY. THE LITTLE WEATHERBOARD CHURCH AT WYBONG WAS BUILT IN THE EARLY 1900's AND SERVED AN ACTIVE CATHOLIC COMMUNNITY FOR MANY YEARS. WITH THE DECLINE OF THE CONGREGATION THE CHURCH WAS CLOSED AND TODAY LOOKS SADLY DELAPIDATED AND UNUSED BESIDE THE ROAD. NEXT |
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| THE CHURCH IS OF AN UNUSUAL DESIGN FOR A RURAL CHURCH. THE NAVE AND WESTERN PORCH ARE QUITE USUAL, THOUGH THE POSITION OF THE CHURCH PARALLEL TO THE ROAD IS NOT. OF MOST INTEREST IS THE APSIDAL EAST END WITH ITS TINY PORTHOLE STYLE SKYLIGHT AND ASSYMETRICAL SANCTUARY WINDOWS. TOP STATION CHURCHES HISTORIC CHURCHES | ||
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| HISTORIC CHURCHES | |
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