1955
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MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE
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PARISH OF ST JOSEPH GLOUCESTER |
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FOUNDED 1955 |
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DIOCESE MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE |
| PARISH CHURCH | STATION CHURCHES | HISTORIC CHURCHES |
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PARISH CHURCH OF ST JOSEPH |
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| PARISH | CHURCH |
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| PARISH |
| THE RURAL TOWN OF GLOUCESTER LIES AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE GLOUCESTER, BARRINGTON AND AVON RIVERS UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE BUCKETTS TO THE WEST AND THE MOGRANI RANGE TO THE EAST. A SERVICE CENTRE FOR THE SURROUNDING DAIRY FARMS, IT WAS SLOW TO START BEING NO MORE THAN A FEW HUTS AND A HOTEL ON LAND OWNED BY THE AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THE 20th CENTURY WHEN THE AAC SOLD OFF ITS HOLDINGS THAT THE TOWN REALLY BEGAN TO GROW. TODAY IT IS AN ATTRACTIVE TOWN OF 2,500 INHABITANTS AND A POPULAR GATEWAY TO THE BARRINGTON TOPS. THE PARISH WAS ONLY FORMED IN 1955, ALTHOUGH THE HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE AREA STRETCHES BACK TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF STROUD IN THE 1840's. TODAY IT IS CLOSELY LINKED WITH THE PARISH OF KRAMBACH WITH THE PARISH PRIEST OF GLOUCESTER SERVING THAT PARISH ALSO. NEXT |
 | CHURCH |
| THE SIMPLE LITTLE CHURCH OF ST JOSEPH WAS BUILT IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20th CENTURY AS A CHURCH HALL AND IT RETAINS MANY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THAT BEGINNING. THE CHURCH IS FUNCTIONAL WITH SQUARE WINDOWS AND A LARGE SIDE PORCH SURMOUNTED BY A PLAIN CEMENT CROSS. AN ADDITIONAL SIDE DOOR WAS ADDED LATER. THE GROUNDS ARE WELL-MAINTAINED AND THE VIEW OF THE BUCKETTS IN THE BACKGROUND CREATES A SUPERB SETTING FOR THE CHURCH. TOP STATION CHURCHES |
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| STATION CHURCHES |
| STROUD |
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| CHURCH OF ST COLUMBANUS, STROUD | |
 | THE HISTORIC TOWNSHIP OF STROUD WAS BUILT BY THE AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY AS ITS HEADQUARTERS IN THE 1840's WHEN IT BEGAN DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR LAND GRANT LYING ALONG THE PRESENT BUCKETTS WAY. IT WAS HERE THAT THE INITIAL CATHOLIC PRESENCE WAS ESTABLISHED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF ST COLUMBA'S IN 1859. WITH THE GROWTH OF GLOUCESTER THE PARISH WAS ESTABLISHED THERE AND STROUD THEN BECAME A STATION. THE CHURCH IS CONSTRUCTED OF BRICK AND HAS BEEN CEMENT RENDERED. IT CONSISTS OF A SIMPLE NAVE AND PORCH WITH TRADITIONAL POINTED ARCH WINDOWS AND ATTRACTIVE BARGEBOARDS ALONG THE GABLE EDGE. PLAIN CROSSES PROCLAIM THE BUILDINGS MISSION. TOP STATION CHURCHES HISTORIC CHURCHES |
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| HISTORIC CHURCHES | |
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