PARISH OF OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA

NAMBUCCA VALLEY

FOUNDED

1998

DIOCESE

LISMORE

PARISH CHURCHES	STATION CHURCHES	HISTORIC CHURCHES
OTHER BUILDINGS	RELIGIOUS ORDERS	PARISH DIRECTORY

PARISH OF THE NAMBUCCA VALLEY

THE PAROCHIAL HISTORY OF THE NAMBUCCA AND BELLINGER VALLEYS IS A COMPLEX ONE AND WORTH CONSIDERING IN SOME DETAIL. SETTLERS FIRST BEGAN APPEARING IN THE VALLEYS DURING THE 1860's MOVING UP FROM THE MACLEAY RIVER IN SEARCH OF NEW TIMBER STANDS. THE PRIEST INEVITABLY FOLLOWED THEM AND UNTIL 1880 THE TWO VALLEYS FORMED PART OF THE PARISH OF WEST KEMPSEY FOUNDED IN 1864. THE FIRST CHURCH TO BE BUILT IN THE AREA WAS AT BOWRAVILLE IN 1873. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A CHURCH IN BOAT HARBOUR (LATER BELLINGEN) IN 1881 BUILT BY THE NEWLY APPOINTED PRIEST OF THAT TOWN, FR WILLIAM READE. FR READE RESIDED IN BOAT HARBOUR AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR BOTH VALLEYS DIVIDING HIS TIME ROUGHLY 50-50 BETWEEN THE TWO. IN 1894 THE PARISH CENTRE WAS MOVED TO BOWRAVILLE WHICH HAD BECOME THE MAJOR TOWNSHIP OF THE AREA. IN THE EARLY 1900's THE TWO VALLEYS WERE DE FACTO DIVIDED INTO TWO PARISHES UNDER A SINGLE PARISH PRIEST BUT IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1908 THAT THE NAMBUCCA VALLEY WAS FORMALLY SEPARATED FROM BELLINGEN. THE NEW PARISH CONSISTED OF THE PARISH CENTRE AT BOWRAVILLE TOGETHER WITH STATION CHURCHES AT MACKSVILLE, NAMBUCCA HEADS AND TAYLOR'S ARM. A CHURCH WAS ALSO BUILT AT MISSABOTTI IN 1937. IN 1943 MACKSVILLE (WITH NAMBUCCA HEADS AND TAYLOR'S ARM) BECAME A SEPARATE PARISH TO WHICH BELLWOOD WAS ADDED IN 1953. IN 1977 NAMBUCCA HEADS WAS DETACHED AS A SEPARATE PARISH. IN THE 1980's A COMBINATION OF DECLINING CONGREGATIONS AND FEWER PRIESTS SAW THE PAROCHIAL STRUCTURE OF THE VALLEY REORGANISED. BELLWOOD AND MISSABOTTI HAD ALREADY BEEN CLOSED AND BOWRAVILLE WAS WITHOUT A PRIEST SO THE PARISH PRIEST OF NAMBUCCA HEADS TOOK OVER THE PARISH AND THE TWO AMALGAMATED IN 1986. A FURTHER REORGANISATION FOLLOWED IN 1998 WHEN THE REMAINING PARISHES AMALGAMATED TO FORM NAMBUCCA VALLEY.

PARISH CHURCHES

PARISH CHURCHES
BOWRAVILLE	MACKSVILLE	NAMBUCCA HEADS

PARISH CHURCH OF CORPUS CHRISTI, BOWRAVILLE

PARISH	HISTORY	CHURCH

PARISH

THE TOWNSHIP OF BOWRAVILLE LIES ON THE NAMBUCCA UPRIVER FROM MACKSVILLE. ORIGINALLY A TIMBER TOWN, AND AT ONE TIME THE PRINCIPAL TOWN OF THE VALLEY, IT LOST ITS EARLY POSITION WHEN THE RAILROAD AND LATER THE HIGHWAY WERE BUILT THROUGH MACKSVILLE AND THE TIMBER INDUSTRY DECLINED. TODAY, ITS MAIN STREET RESTORED, IT HAS DEVELOPED A NEW LEASE OF LIFE AS A TOURIST TOWN AND AN ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE CENTRE POPULAR WITH URBAN SEA-CHANGERS.

BOWRAVILLE WAS THE ORIGINAL CHURCH IN THE NAMBUCCA VALLEY. IT BECAME A STATION OF BOAT HARBOUR IN 1880 AND A PARISH IN 1894. BOWRAVILLE LOST ITS PRIEST IN 1986 AND WAS TAKEN OVER BY THE PRIEST AT NAMBUCCA HEADS. THE TWO WERE OFFICIALLY AMALGAMATED IN NOVEMBER 1986.

FIRST CHURCH

FIRST CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS

THE FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH IN BOWRAVILLE AND INDEED IN THE NAMBUCCA-BELLINGER VALLEYS WAS BUILT IN 1873 IN GEORGE ST BOWRA (LATER BOWRAVILLE). IT WAS ERECTED BY JOHN HOWLE AND EWIN CRISPIN FROM PIT-SAWN TIMBER AT A COST OF £250 AND WAS PARTLY PAID FOR BY A LEVY OF CORN ON LOCAL CATHOLICS. SOME DOUBT SURROUNDS THE DEDICATION OF THE CHURCH (SEEN RIGHT). THE 1886 CATHOLIC DIRECTORY LISTS A CHURCH AT BOWRA BUT THERE IS NO REFERENCE TO AN ALL SAINTS. IT DOES APPEAR HOWEVER THAT THERE WAS A CHURCH DEDICATED TO ST MARY AND THIS MAY BE A REFERENCE TO THE OLD CHURCH AND MAY ALSO EXPLAIN WHY THE SCHOOL WHICH WAS LATER HELD IN THE SAME BUILDING CAME TO BE CALLED ST MARY'S. WHATEVER THE CASE BY THE MID 1890's IT WAS CERTAINLY KNOWN AS ALL SAINTS.

THE CHURCH WAS MOVED BY BULLOCK DRAY IN 1912 TO CARBIN ST WHERE IT LATER BECAME THE INFANTS SCHOOL WHEN THE NEW CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1913. IT WAS LATER DEMOLISHED IN 1963.

SECOND CHURCH

SECOND CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS

IT WAS SOON CLEAR THAT THE OLD CHURCH WAS FAST BECOMING OVERCROWDED FROM USE AS A SCHOOL AND A CHURCH SO A NEW CHURCH (LEFT) WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1913 NEAR THE OLD WHICH CONTINUED TO BE USED AS A SCHOOL. THIS WAS A LARGE HANDSOME WOODEN STRUCTURE, ALSO DEDICATED TO ALL SAINTS, NOTABLE FOR BEING LIT BY CARBIDE GAS LAMPS. IT WAS COMPRISED OF A NAVE, A PORCH, A SACRISTY AND FOR THE SISTERS OF THE SACRED HEART WHO PROVIDED THE STAFF FOR THE SCHOOL A NUN'S CHANCEL.

THE GROWTH OF THE SCHOOL MEANT THAT THE NEW CHURCH WAS ALSO QUICKLY PRESSED INTO SERVICE AS A SCHOOL BUILDING AND SO IT WAS THAT JUST 15 YEARS AFTER ITS CONSTRUCTION THE SECOND CHURCH WAS REPLACED BY A THIRD WHEREUPON THE SECOND ALSO REVERTED TO SOLEY SCHOOL USE. TODAY IT IS STILL USED AS THE LIBRARY AND SCHOOL RESOURCE CENTRE.

CHURCH OF CORPUS CHRISTI

CHURCH OF CORPUS CHRISTI

THE DECISION TO BUILD A NEW PARISH CHURCH IN BOWRAVILLE WAS CLOSELY LINKED TO THE TOWN'S STATUS AS THE CENTRE FOR THE WHOLE NAMBUCCA VALLEY AND THE FACT THAT THE OLD CHURCH/SCHOOL WAS NO LONGER SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND CONGREGATION. THUS IT WAS THAT IN 1928 THE MAGNIFICENT CHURCH OF CORPUS CHRISTI DOMINATING THE TOWN FROM ITS LOW HILL WAS BUILT AT A COST OF £8,000. CONSTRUCTED IN A SIMPLIFIED GOTHIC STYLE USING DARK BRICK IT COMPRISES A LARGE AISLELESS NAVE WHICH NARROWS INTO A CHANCEL OF THE SAME HEIGHT WITH ATTACHED BAPTISTRY, CONFESSIONAL AND SACRISTIES. A PORCH FRONTS THE WEST END, HIGHLIGHTED BY A BEAUTIFUL TRACERIED WEST WINDOW. THE OTHER WINDOWS ARE SIMPLE ROUND-HEADED LANCETS MANY OF WHICH ARE SADLY BOARDED OVER DUE TO VANDALISM. THE EAST END IN CONSTRAST IS A CLIFF-LIKE BLANK WALL. A SIMPLE POLE FORMS THE BELL-TOWER.

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THE ONCE IMPOSING INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH SUFFERED EXTENSIVELY AS A RESULT OF CHANGES CARRIED OUT IN THE MID-70's IN CONFORMITY WITH THE NEW LITURGY. THE BEAUTIFUL OLD ROSEWOOD FURNISHINGS WERE TAKEN OUT AND REPLACED BY THE PRESENT SPARSELY DECORATED SANCTUARY COMPRISING A SIMPLE TABLE ALTAR, AN AMBO, A LARGE TABERNACLE ON A POLISHED WOOD COLUMN AND TWO FLOWER STANDS. FORTUNATELY FOR POSTERITY THE LOVELY ROOD CROSS ON THE EAST WALL WAS RETAINED.

THE SIDE ALTARS AND STATUES WERE ALSO REMOVED LEAVING PLAIN BARE WALLS AND A SENSE OF EMPTY SPACE SADLY UNFILLED BY THE FONT WHICH WAS MOVED TO THE FRONT. YET DESPITE THE ASCETIC LOOK OF THE RENOVATED CHURCH THERE IS STILL A SENSE OF MAJESTY IN THE STRONG PROPORTIONS OF A BUILDING WHICH WOULD HAVE BROUGHT HONOUR EVEN TO A CITY HAD IT BEEN BUILT THERE.

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(LEFT) A VIEW OF THE SEVERELY PLAIN MODERN SANCTUARY. (RIGHT ABOVE) THE CHANCEL IS LIT BY A PAIR OF LEAD-LIGHT WINDOWS HIGH ON EACH SIDE. (RIGHT BELOW) THE SIMPLE ROSEWOOD TABLE ALTER OF TODAY'S SANCTUARY BACKED BY THE TABERNACLE. NEXT


( LEFT ) THE LOVELY ROOD CROSS FEATURED ON THE EAST WALL WAS ONE TREASURE OF THE PRE-RENOVATION SANCTUARY THAT WAS SAVED. TODAY IT DOMINATES THE CHANCEL SPACE BY VIRTUE OF ITS SIZE AND THE SPARSENESS OF ITS NEW SURROUNDINGS. ( RIGHT ) THE LARGE MODERN CROSS-MOUNTED TABERNACLE EMPHASISES THE PRESENCE OF OUR LORD YET DWARFS ITS PLAIN COLUMN STAND. NEXT

THE BEAUTIFULLY PROPORTIONED NAVE CULMINATES IN THE CHOIR GALLERY ( A SURE INDICATOR OF CATHOLICITY IN ANY AUSTRALIAN CHURCH) AND THE LOVELY TRACERIED WEST WINDOW. ABOVE, THE PLAIN HAMMERBEAM ROOF IS A REFLECTION OF THE ENGLISH INFLUENCE ON WHAT WAS GENERALLY A CONTINENTAL ARCHITECTURAL TRADITION AMONG CATHOLICS AS WELL AS THE GREATER EASE IN OBTAINING WOOD IN AN AREA NOTED FOR ITS FORESTS.

AT THE FAR END ARE TWO ARCHITECTURALLY DSITINCT EXTENSIONS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE NARTHEX. TO THE LEFT IS THE CONFESSIONAL WITH ITS ATTRACTIVE GLASS PANELLED DOORWAYS AND TO THE RIGHT IS THE FORMER BAPTISTRY NOW THE SITE OF THE STATUE OF OUR LADY.

THE GLASS OF THE MANY WINDOWS PIERCING THE WALLS AT BOTH THE END AND SIDES OF THE NAVE IS PRIMARILY OF A SIMPLE LOZENGE-PATTERNED LEAD-LIGHTING. THE SEATING IS TRADITONAL WITH PEWS ARRANGED IN TWO ROWS FACING FORWARD ALONG THE WEST-EAST AXIS TOWARDS THE CHANCEL MARKED BY A TRADITIONAL ARCH.

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THE ATTRACTIVE GLASS-PANELLED DOORS TO THE CONFESSIONAL.	THE FORMER BAPTISTRY IS NOW USED AS THE LADY SHRINE.

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<<<<
THE PLAIN LITTLE MARBLE FONT WHICH ONCE STOOD IN THE BAPTISTRY NOW STANDS IN THE FORMER LOCATION OF THE LADY ALTAR AT THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH LOOKING SADLY SOMEWHAT ISOLATED AND ALONE IN THE LARGER EXPANSE OF THE GREAT NAVE.

TOP PARISH CHURCHES MACKSVILLE

ONE OF THE PARTICULAR TREASURES OF THE CHURCH WHICH WERE PRESERVED IN THE RE-ORGANISATION IS THE SET OF STATIONS OF THE CROSS. THESE ARE BUILT INTO THE WALL AND CONSIST OF A SET OF DARKLY GLITTERING PAINTINGS.
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PARISH CHURCH OF ST PATRICK, MACKSVILLE

PARISH	HISTORY	CHURCH

PARISH

MACKSVILLE IS AN ATTRACTIVE TOWN OF 2900 PEOPLE LOCATED ON THE BANKS OF THE NAMBUCCA RIVER. ORIGINALLY SETTLED IN THE 1870’S IT IS TODAY A FISHING AND OYSTER-FARMING CENTRE WHICH SERVICES A PRODUCTIVE AREA NOTED FOR ITS BANANAS AND OTHER TROPICAL FRUITS, ALONG WITH GRAZING, DAIRYING, VEGETABLES AND TIMBER. IT IS ALSO WELL KNOWN FOR THE RUNNING OF THE MACKSVILLE GIFT FOOTRACE.

THE HISTORY OF THE MACKSVILLE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY GOES BACK TO THE BUILDING OF THE VERY FIRST CHURCH OF ST PATRICK IN 1886. IT WAS THEN A STATION OF BOAT HARBOUR LATER BECOMING A FOUNDATION STATION OF BOWRAVILLE IN 1894. IT BECAME A PARISH IN 1943 WITH STATIONS AT TAYLOR'S ARM, NAMBUCCA HEADS AND BELLWOOD. IN 1998 IT JOINED WITH NAMBUCCA HEADS IN THE NEW PARISH OF NAMBUCCA VALLEY.

FIRST & SECOND CHURCH

FIRST CHURCH OF ST PATRICK	SECOND CHURCH OF ST PATRICK
THE FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH IN MACKSVILLE WAS BUILT AROUND 1886 NEAR THE CORNER OF PRINCESS AND WALLACE STREETS. A SMALL 'GOD-BOX' STRUCTURE MADE OF PIT-SAWN TIMBER (BELOW) IT WAS DEMOLISHED IN 1910 AND REPLACED BY A LARGER CHURCH.	THE GROWING TOWN SOON NEEDED A LARGER SITE AND IN 1910 A NEW CHURCH WAS BUILT ON THE HILL ABOVE THE TOWN (BELOW). NEXT

THE SECOND ST PATRICK'S WAS AN IMPRESSIVE WOODEN CHURCH WITH PORCH, SACRISTIES AND AN EXTERNAL CONFESSIONAL. IN 1943 IT BECAME THE PARISH CHURCH UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED IN 1975. IT WAS THEN SOLD AND MOVED TO THE MACKSVILLE INDUSTRIAL AREA WHERE IT REMAINS TODAY (BELOW LEFT). IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING THE CHURCH LOST MUCH OF ITS OUTER FORM BUT THE INTERIOR RETAINS SOME OF ITS FEATURES INCLUDING THE POINTED WINDOWS AND THE CHOIR GALLERY MADE FROM LOCAL CEDAR (BELOW RIGHT).

THIRD CHURCH

THIRD CHURCH OF ST PATRICK
IN 1974 IT WAS DECIDED TO BUILD A NEW CHURCH TO REPLACE THE OLD WOODEN ONE. THE FINISHED CHURCH WAS OPENED IN 1975 BY THEN BISHOP SATTERTHWAITE OF LISMORE. IT IS A MODERN LOW-PROFILE STRUCTURE IN BLONDE BRICK WITH ATTRACTIVE CONTRASTING TRIM. NEXT

THE CHURCH REFLECTS ITS TIME. THE CENTRAL SPACE COMPRISES A SQUARE NAVE WITHOUT AN ARCHITECTURALLY DISTINCT CHANCEL. ON EACH SIDE ARE LOCATED TRANSEPT-LIKE WINGS THAT INCORPORATE THE SACRISTIES AND VARIOUS DEVOTIONAL SPACES. THE ROUNDED ARCHES GIVE A SLIGHTLY MEDITERRANEAN LOOK TO THE BUILDING IN KEEPING WITH THE COASTAL FEEL OF THE TOWN. THE BUILDING PROCLAIMS ITS PURPOSE WITH A PLAIN METAL GABLE CROSS.

OVERALL ST PATRICK'S IS A FAIRLY ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE MODERN STYLE OF CHURCH BUILDING, STANDING OUT WITHOUT DOMINATING.

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THE INTERIOR OF ST PATRICK'S COMPRISES A SINLGE UNIFIED SPACE WITH THE SANCTUARY AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE NAVE. THE DECORATION IS MINIMALIST IN THE STYLE OF THE 70's WITH AN ATTRACTIVE TABLE-ALTAR AND A LOVELY CARVED WOODEN CRUCIFIX ON THE REAR FEATURE WALL. MATCHING WOODEN STATUES OF THE SACRED HEART AND OUR LADY ADORN THE SIDE WALLS OF THE SANCTUARY AREA. THE REMAINING FURNISHINGS OF THE SANCTUARY (AMBO, FONT AND CELEBRANT'S CHAIR) ARE ALL PLACED WELL TO THE SIDE TO AVOID DISTRACTING FROM THE CENTRAL ACTION OF THE MASS. THE BODY OF THE NAVE IS PLAIN WITH TRADITONAL PEWS.

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^^^^ THE STATUE OF THE SACRED HEART AND THE DIGNIFIED SANCTUARY, CRUCIFIX AND MODERN TABLE-ALTAR. >>>>		^^^^ THE STATUE OF THE OUR LADY NEXT


	^^^^ THE LOVELY MODERN CRUCIFIX AND << THE BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL >>
IN KEEPING WITH MODERN LITURGICAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IS LOCATED IN AN ARCHITECTURALLY DISTINCT AREA SET ASIDE FOR DEVOTIONS. THE BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL IS LOCATED TO THE LEFT OF THE NAVE AND IS MORE RICHLY DECORATED. A BRICK ALTAR WITH A WOOD-PANEL INLAY CARVED WITH EUCHARISTIC SYMBOLS ACTS AS A BASE FOR THE TABERNACLE. NEXT

<<<<
ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL A MATCHING SPACE IS ALSO SET ASIDE FOR DEVOTIONS. IN IT IS THIS VIBRANTLY COLOURED STATUE OF THE CHURCH PATRON, ST PATRICK.

TOP PARISH CHURCHES

NAMBUCCA HEADS

ALSO LOCATED IN THIS AREA IS THE FRAMED HOLY ICON OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP. BELOW THE ICON IS A WOODEN CABINET CONTAINING THE OILS FOR BAPTISM AND ANOINTING THE SICK.
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PARISH CHURCH OF OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA, NAMBUCCA HEADS

PARISH	HISTORY	CHURCH

PARISH

THE RICH RED CEDAR STANDS OF THE NAMBUCCA VALLEY AND ATTRACTIVE BEACHES HAVE ENCOURAGED STEADY GROWTH IN THE AREA SINCE THE VERY BEGINNINGS OF NORTH COAST SETTLEMENT. NAMBUCCA HEADS ITSELF WAS ORIGINALLY A SMALL PORT FOR THE TIMBER INDUSTRY BUT BEGINNING IN THE 1920's IT BECAME A POPULAR HOLIDAY RESORT. NAMBUCCA EXPERIENCED A MAJOR BOOM WITH THE MOVE ALONG THE COAST DURING THE LATER PART OF THE 20th CENTURY AND TODAY IT IS A MAJOR TOURIST RESORT OF SOME 10,000 PEOPLE.

THE PARISH OF NAMBUCCA HEADS WAS THE BABY OF THE NAMBUCCA VALLEY YET TODAY IT RANKS AS THE FIRST TOWN OF THE VALLEY AND THE PAROCHIAL CENTRE. COMMENCING AS A STATION OF BOWRAVILLE IN 1908 AND LATER 0F MACKSVILLE AFTER 1943, IT BECAME A PARISH IN 1977. IT JOINED WITH ITS FORMER PARISH OF BOWRAVILLE IN 1986 AND THEN IN 1998 WITH ITS FORMER PARISH OF MACKSVILLE TO FORM THE NAMBUCCA VALLEY PARISH.

FIRST CHURCH

	FIRST CHURCH OF OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA
	THE FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NAMBUCCA HEADS WAS A SIMPLE WOODEN 'GOD-BOX' TYPE STRUCTURE BUILT IN 1908 AND AFFECTIONATELY KWNOWN AS THE 'BUTTER BOX'. IT WAS GIVEN THE TITLE OF OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA BUT WAS GENERALLY KNOWN AS ST MARY'S. IT STOOD ON THE SLOPE FACING MANN ST WHERE THE PRESENT CHURCH STANDS PARALLEL TO THE STREET.
COMPRISING A BASIC NAVE AND PORCH THE LITTLE CHURCH SERVED THE SMALL COMMUNITY OF NAMBUCCA HEADS WELL UNTIL THE 1950's BUT BY THEN THE TOWN'S GROWING POPULARITY AS A HOLIDAY RESORT WAS PLACING GREAT STRAIN ON THE CHURCH ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER SEASON AND SO IN 1954 THE OLD CHURCH WAS DEMOLISHED AND AN IMPRESSIVE NEW CHURCH BUILT TO TAKE ITS PLACE. SECOND CHURCH

SECOND CHURCH OF OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA

PHOTO BY MULTI-IMAGE STUDIOS, NAMBUCCA HEADS

	THE PRESENT CHURCH WITH ITS DOMINATING PRESENCE WAS DESIGNED BY FRANK CULLEN OF BRISBANE AND BUILT IN 1954. IN 1977 IT BECAME THE PARISH CHURCH OF NAMBUCCA HEADS AND IN 1981 IT WAS EXTENDED WITH A NEW SANCTUARY ADDED. A PARISH HALL WAS ADDED BESIDE THE CHURCH IN THE 1990's (SEEN RIGHT ABOVE).

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THE CHURCH IS BUILT IN THE VERY SIMPLIFIED MODERN GOTHIC STYLE THAT HAD BECOME SO POPULAR IN THE POST WAR PERIOD. IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN THE CHURCH COMPRISED A SINGLE HEIGHT NAVE AND CHANCEL ENDING IN A BLANK EAST WALL. THE TALL HEIGHT OF THE CHURCH PROVIDED BOTH NAVE LIGHTS AND A CLERESTORY OF AMBER GLASS WINDOWS. THE DOOR WAS DIVIDED INTO THREE BY TWO WHITE COLUMNS BUT THESE WERE LATER REMOVED. ABOVE THE DOOR IS THE SISTINE MADONNA IMPORTED FROM PIETRASANTA IN ITALY.

THE CHURCH IS LOCATED IN THE CENTRE OF TOWN ALONG THE RIDGE LINE WITH A PRECIPITATE DROP ON THE SOUTH ( EASTERN ) SIDE. THIS CAN BE SEEN IN THE WAY THE CHURCH IS BUILT UP ON THAT SIDE CREATING A TREMEDOUS IMPRESSION OF HEIGHT. IN 1981 A NEW DISTINCT CHANCEL WAS ADDED MARKED BY AN EXTERNAL CROSS ( RIGHT ). SEVERAL ADDITIONS INCLUDING PORCHES AND SACRISTIES CLUSTER AROUND THE CHURCH.

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THE BEAUTIFUL INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH SEEN HERE AT THE TIME OF THE 1994 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS PRIOR TO THE INSTALLATION OF THE BRONZE ART WORK ON THE SANCTUARY WALL. THE NAVE WITH ITS WHITE-WASHED WALLS IS LIGHT-FILLED AND AIRY WITH A SPACIOUS AMBIENCE THROUGHOUT. TRADITONAL STATIONS OF THE CROSS LINE THE WALL WHILE THE SEATING IS FOCUSED FORWARD TOWARDS THE SANCTUARY. THE TABERNACLE IS LOCATED TO THE LEFT WITH ITS OWN BLESSED SACRAMENT SHRINE.

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OVER THE YEARS THE APPEARANCE OF THE SANCTUARY HAS CHANGED SEVERAL TIMES. THE ORIGINAL SANCTUARY (ABOVE LEFT) WAS NOT ARCHITECTURALLY DISTINGUISHED FROM THE NAVE BUT WAS MARKED OFF BY AN ALTAR RAIL. ITS SIMPLE YET DIGNIFIED FURNISHINGS WERE IN TUNE WITH THE IMMEDIATE PRE-VATICAN II ERA.

IN 1981 A NEW SANCTUARY WAS ADDED (ABOVE RIGHT) PROVIDING A DISTINCT SACRED SPACE. THE FURNISHINGS OF THE NEW SANCTUARY KEPT THE RESTRAINED STYLE OF THE OLD WITH A NEW ALTAR BUT TRADITIONAL STATUES AND CRUCIFIX.

IN 1994 A COPPERWORK FRAME WAS PROVIDED FOR THE CRUCIFIX BY A PARISHIONER IN MEMORY OF HER MOTHER TO GIVE TODAY'S APPEARANCE.

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THE SANCTUARY AND THE COPPERWORK DONATED BY CARMEL HOWLE IN MEMORY OF HER MOTHER MARY MALONE IN LATE 1994. NEXT



THE BLESSED SACRAMENT SHRINE WITH ITS LOVELY TABERNACLE AND THE APT TAPESTRY OF THE LAST SUPPER BENEATH. NEXT


	<<<< ONE OF THE TWO ATTRACTIVE MEMORIAL STAINED GLASS WINDOWS LOCATED ON EITHER SIDE OF THE SANCTUARY. THE LOWER IMAGE IS APTLY A MONSTRANCE WITH THE SACRED HOST. THE CHURCH IS NOTABLE FOR THE EXTENSIVE COPPERWORK DECORATIONS INCLUDING THE LAST SUPPER ON THE ALTAR AND (ABOVE CENTRE) THE FONT AND (ABOVE RIGHT) THE AMBO. THE BEATEN COPPER DESIGNS ARE THE WORK OF TWO PARISHIONERS, GWEN AND BILL PARSONS. TOP PARISH CHURCHES STATION CHURCHES

STATION CHURCHES

TAYLOR'S ARM

CHURCH OF CHRIST THE KING, TAYLOR'S ARM
	STATION
	THE SMALL VILLAGE OF TAYLOR'S ARM LIES ON THE UPPER REACHES OF THE NAMBUCCA AND IS FAMOUS FOR BEING THE HOME OF THE FAMOUS "PUB WITH NO BEER". ALTHOUGH ORIGINALLY A TIMBER FELLING SETTLEMENT TODAY IT RELIES ON TOURISM FOR SURVIVAL. A STATION OF BOWRAVILLE FROM 1901 IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE NEW PARISH OF MACKSVILLE IN 1943. IT BECAME PART OF NAMBUCCA VALLEY IN 1998. CHURCH OF ST FINBAR

	CHURCH OF ST FINBAR, UPPER TAYLOR'S ARM
	THE FIRST CHURCH IN TAYLOR'S ARM WAS A SMALL WOODEN BUILDING BUILT BY IRISH SETTLERS IN 1901. IT WAS LOCATED MIDWAY BETWEEN UPPER AND LOWER TAYLOR'S ARM AND DEDICATED IN GOOD IRISH FASHION TO ST FINBAR. AFTER TWENTY YEARS OF SERVICE THE CHURCH SUFFERED THE FATE OF MANY A COUNTRY CHURCH BEING BURNT DOWN IN 1925. CHURCH OF CHRIST THE KING

CHURCH OF CHRIST THE KING, LOWER TAYLOR'S ARM

WHEN IT CAME TO THE DECISION TO BUILD A NEW CHURCH IN 1926 THE LOCAL CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SETTLED ON A FAR MORE AMBITIOUS PLAN THAN SIMPLE REPLACEMENT. A LARGE SITE WAS PURCHASED IN LOWER TAYLOR'S ARM WITH A VIEW TO BUILDING NOT ONLY A CHURCH BUT ALSO A CONVENT AND SCHOOL. SADLY THE LATTER NEVER EVENTUATED ALTHOUGH FUNDS WERE RAISED WHICH LATER HELPED BUILD THE NEW NAMBUCCA HEADS CHURCH.

THE CHURCH WAS OPENED ON THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING, HENCE THE NEW DEDICATION, AND WAS QUITE A LARGE CHURCH FOR A RURAL STATION. IT COMPRISED A NAVE, PORCH, SACRISTY AND PRIEST'S ROOM FOR OVERNIGHT STAYS. ONE UNUSUAL FEATURE FOR A COUNTRY STATION CHURCH IS THE DISTINCT CONFESSIONAL WHICH WAS ADDED LATER DURING THE 1940's.

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THE CHURCH PERCHED ON A HILL ABOVE THE VILLAGE. NEXT	THE VIEW FROM THE BACK SHOWING THE SHALLOW CHANCEL. NEXT


A VIEW OF THE SACRISTY FROM BELOW THE EAST END. NEXT	THE UNUSUAL "BUILT-ON" CONFESSIONAL ADDED IN THE 1940's. NEXT

THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH IS SPARSE AND ASCETIC, MADE MORE SO BY POST-VATICAN II CHANGES. THE EMPHASIS IS ON FUNCTIONALITY WITH A PLAIN TABLE-ALTAR DOMINATING THE CENTRE OF THE SANCTUARY. A TRADITIONAL CRUCIFIX AND STATUES OF OUR LADY AND THE SACRED HEART COMPLETE THE FEW CHANCEL DECORATIONS. LIGHTING IS PROVIDED BY TWO LANCET WINDOWS IN THE EAST WALL WHILE THE BARENESS OF THE NAVE WALLS IS OFFSET BY THE ATTRACTIVE STATIONS OF THE CROSS.

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( LEFT TO RIGHT ) THE STATUE OF THE SACRED HEART, THE TRADITIONAL STYLE CRUCIFIX AND THE STATUE OF OUR LADY. NEXT


THE WELL-LIT BUT SEVERELY PLAIN NAVE WITH TRADITIONAL PEWS AND THE CONFESSIONAL DOORS IN THE FAR LEFT CORNER. NEXT


	TWO OF THE ATTRACTIVE PLASTER STATIONS OF THE CROSS AND THE CONFESSIONAL. TOP STATION CHURCHES HISTORIC CHURCHES

HISTORIC CHURCHES

HELP PLEASE

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION DOES NOT CLAIM TO BE COMPREHENSIVE. IF ANYONE KNOWS OF ANY CHURCHES WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED, OR HAS INFORMATION ABOUT OR HISTORIC PHOTOS OF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CHURCHES PLEASE CONTACT ME. I WOULD APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU AND ADDING TO THE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE CHURCHES.

BELLWOOD

MISSABOTTI

CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR, BELLWOOD
	STATION
	THE ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY OF BELLWOOD LIES ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF NAMBUCCA HEADS. FOR DECADES IT WAS LARGELY A SEPARATE COMMUNITY BUT RECENT GROWTH HAS SEEN THE AREA INTRUDED ON BY ITS NEIGHBOUR. THE ABORIGINAL APOSTOLATE WAS ALWAYS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE CHURCH'S WORK IN THE NAMBUCCA VALLEY. IT WAS IN RESPONSE TO THIS APOSTOLATE THAT IN 1954 A CHURCH WAS BUILT WITH FUNDING FROM THE PONTIFICIAL MISSIONS SOCIETY SPECIFICALLY TO SERVE THE ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY. SADLY IT WAS CLOSED SOME TWENTY YEARS LATER. IT WAS LATER SOLD TO THE COMMUNITY AND CONVERTED INTO USE AS THE ABORIGINAL LANGUAGE CENTRE. NEXT

THE ATTRACTIVE LITTLE CHURCH UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN 1954. NEXT	THE OPENING BY THE BISHOP - NOTE THE DEDICATION STONE. NEXT


PART OF THE LARGE CONGREGATION AT THE DEDICATION. NEXT	THE FORMER BELLWOOD CHURCH AS IT IS TODAY. NEXT

	>
THE SIMPLE NAVE OF THE CHURCH WITH A FULL CONGREGATION.	THE SANCTUARY AS IT WAS WHEN THE OPENED IN 1953.
TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES MISSABOTTI

CHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS, MISSABOTTI
	MISSABOTTI IS A FARMING LOCALITY ABOUT 12KM NORTH OF BOWRAVILLE. IT WAS SETTLED BY IRISH PIONEERS TO THE VALLEY AND IT WAS IN HONOUR OF ONE OF THESE, HUGH MORAN, THAT A WOODEN CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1937 AND DEDICATED TO THE MOST HOLY CROSS. FOR 40 YEARS THE LITTLE CHURCH SERVED THE SETTLERS IN THE AREA AS A STATION CHURCH UNTIL CHANGES IN POPULATION LED TO ITS CLOSURE. IT WAS SOLD IN 1980 AND WAS CONVERTED INTO A HOUSE. BY GOOD LUCK THE ORIGINAL CEDAR ALTAR WAS SAVED AND IS NOW IN THE BOWRAVILLE MUSEUM. NEXT

THE CHURCH WAS DESIGNED IN A SIMPLE GOD-BOX STYLE - NAVE, PORCH, SACRISTY, AND A PRIEST'S ROOM FOR OVERNIGHT STAYS.	A SIDE VIEW SHOWING THE SEVERELY FUNCTIONAL DESIGN OF THE CHURCH. IT HAS LITTLE CHANGED FROM THE ORIGINAL EVEN TODAY.

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THE CLOSURE AND SALE OF THE CHURCH WERE NOT WITHOUT A CERTAIN CONTROVERSY AS A SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY WISHED TO RETAIN WHAT THEY SAW AS THEIR CHURCH ESPECIALLY GIVEN ITS STATUS AS A TRIBUTE TO AN EARLY PIONEER. IT IS THEREFORE TO BE WELCOMED THAT THE LOVELY POLISHED CEDAR ALTARPIECE WAS SAVED AND PASSED TO THE LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY. TODAY IT IS ON DISPLAY AT THE BOWRAVILLE MUSEUM.

IT IS A SUPERB PIECE OF LOCAL WORKMANSHIP CARVED IN THE STYLE COMMON TO PRE-WAR CATHOLIC ALTARS WITH A BEAUTIFULLY LINED TABERNACLE. A FASCINATING FEATURE ARE THE TWO TREFOILS, ONE OF WHICH IS SLIGHTLY OFF CENTRE.

TOP STATION CHURCHES HISTORIC CHURCHES OTHER BUILDINGS

OTHER BUILDINGS
AS THE AMALGAMATION OF THREE PREVIOUS PARISHES NAMBUCCA VALLEY HAS HAD A WIDE RANGE OF CATHOLIC BUILDINGS. THE ORIGINAL PARISH CENTRE OF BOWRAVILLE INCLUDED A SCHOOL AND CONVENT OPENED BY THE DAUGHTERS OF OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART IN 1905 AND LATER TAKEN OVER BY THE GRAFTON SISTERS OF MERCY. A NEW SCHOOL BUILT IN 1963. MACKSVILLE HAD A SCHOOL AND CONVENT OPENED BY THE SISTERS OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN IN 1918. IT WAS TAKEN OVER BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY IN 1954. A NEW CONVENT WAS BUILT FOR THEM IN 1963 AND A NEW SCHOOL IN 1958. TO ACCOMODATE THE PARISH PRIESTS OF THE VALLEY PRESBYTERIES WERE BUILT AT BOWRAVILLE, MACKSVILLE AND NAMBUCCA HEADS. THE MACKSVILLE PRESBYTERY IS NOW A PARISH OFFICE AND THE PRIEST RESIDES AT THE NAMBUCCA HEADS PRESBYTERY. THE BOWRAVILLE PRESBYTERY IS NOW A PRIVATE HOME. ABORIGINAL OUTREACH HAS ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT IN THE NAMBUCCA AND MACLEAY VALLEYS AND ACCORDINGLY THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE DIOCESAN ABORIGINAL CATHOLIC MINISTRY HAS BEEN HOUSED IN A COUPLE OF UNPRETENTIOUS COTTAGES FIRST IN RIVER ST AND NOW IN BRINER ST. AN ATTRACTIVE NEW PARISH HALL WAS BUILT AT NAMBUCCA HEADS IN 1992. THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY MAINTAINED CONFERENCES IN MACKSVILLE AND NAMBUCCA HEADS AND RUNS A RETAIL OUTLET AND A PREGNANCY CARE SERVICE. THE FORMER WAS HOUSED IN SEVERAL RENTED SHOPS IN MACKSVILLE OVER THE YEARS UNTIL FINALLY PURPOSE BUILT PREMISES WERE OBTAINED FOR THE SOCIETY.
BOWRAVILLE PRESBYTERIES	MACKSVILLE PRESBYTERY	NAMBUCCA HEADS PRESBYTERY	NAMBUCCA HEADS PARISH HALL	MACKSVILLE ST VINCENT DE PAUL

PRESBYTERIES, BOWRAVILLE
	FR WILLIAM READE THE FIRST PARISH PRIEST IN THE VALLEY HAD ESTABLISHED HIS RESIDENCE IN BOAT HARBOUR BUT FOLLOWING HIS DEPARTURE IN 1890 THE PAROCHIAL CENTRE SHIFTED TO BOWRAVILLE WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED AS THE PARISH IN 1894. FROM THAT TIME THE PARISH PRIESTS APPEAR TO HAVE LIVED AT BOWRAVILLE IN A HOUSE NEXT TO THE OLD CHURCH IN GEORGE STREET (BELOW LEFT). WHEN THE CHURCH WAS MOVED TO CARBIN STREET THE PRESBYTERY REMAINED IN GEORGE STREET. AFTER HAVING SERVED FOR OVER 30 YEARS AS THE PRIEST'S HOME THIS BUILDING BURNT DOWN IN 1951 AND SADLY ALL THE KEY PARISH RECORDS WERE LOST. IN 1951 A NEW PRESBYTERY (BELOW RIGHT) WAS BUILT ADJACENT TO THE CHURCH AND PROVIDED THE RESIDENCE OF THE PARISH PRIEST UNTIL THE PARISH WAS CLOSED IN THE 80's. THE HOUSE, A LARGE BRICK BUNGALOW, WAS LATER SOLD OFF AND TODAY IS USED AS A PRIVATE RESIDENCE. NEXT

THE PHOTO BELOW SHOWING TWO PRIESTS ABOUT TO SET OFF ON HORSEBACK SHOWS THE FIRST PRESBYTERY BEHIND THEM.	THE SECOND PRESBYTERY BUILT IN 1951 AFTER FIRE DESTROYED THE FIRST IN TYPICAL 50's STYLE DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE.

TOP OTHER BUILDINGS MACKSVILLE PRESBYTERY

PRESBYTERY, MACKSVILLE
	THE MACKSVILLE PRESBYTERY DATES FROM THE FORMATION OF THE PARISH IN 1943 AND IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE MOST ATTRACTIVE OF THE THREE NAMBUCCA VALLEY PRESBYTERIES. LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE CHURCH IT IS AN IMPRESSIVE TWO-STORY BUILDING WITH AN ATTRACTIVE ROUND-ARCHED COLONADE ALONG THE VERANDAH. IT IS THE EPITOME OF A SIGNIFICANT RURAL TOWN DWELLING OF THE AGE. ALTHOUGH THE YARD IS SHOWING THE EFFECTS OF A LONG DROUGHT IT STILL PROVIDES A PLEASANT TRE-FILLED AMBIENCE. THE METAL PIPE AND CHAINLINK CROSS-TOPPED GATEWAY IN THE STYLE OF A LYCHGATE IS AN INTERESTING FEATURE. WITH THE AMALGAMATION OF THE THREE PARISHES THE PREBYTERY BECAME SURPLUS TO NEEDS AND WAS CONVERTED FOR USE AS THE PARISH OFFICE IN VIEW OF ITS CONVENIENT CENTRAL LOCATION. NEXT


TOP OTHER BUILDINGS NAMBUCCA HEADS PRESBYTERY

PRESBYTERY, NAMBUCCA HEADS
	THE PARISH OF NAMBUCCA HEADS WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1977 AND FR GALAVAN APPOINTED PARISH PRIEST. AT THE TIME NAMBUCCA HEADS CONSISTED OF A CHURCH BUILDING ONLY AND SO RENTED PREMISES WERE SECURED IN PALMER STREET TO SERVE AS A TEMPORARY PRESBYTERY. IT WOULD BE FOUR YEARS BEFORE THE PARISH PRIEST WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO HIS OWN HOME. IN 1981 THE PRESBYTERY WAS FINALLY COMPLETED IN MANN STREET NEXT DOOR TO THE CHURCH. CONSTRUCTED BY JUNGE BROS IT IS A PLEASANT DOMESTIC BUNGALOW WHICH MATCHES THE CHURCH. A WALL CROSS INDICATES ITS RELIGIOUS PURPOSE. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS PARISH HALL

PARISH HALL, NAMBUCCA HEADS
	THE PARISH HALL AT NAMBUCCA HEADS WAS COMPLETED IN 1992 WITH THE HELP OF VOLUNTARY LABOUR FROM MANY PARISHIONERS. THE HALL PROVIDES A SPACE FOR MEETINGS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND HAS BEEN A GREAT ASSET TO THE PARISH. IT IS AN ATTRACTIVE BUILDING IN MULT-COLOURED BRICK. THE HALL IS SURROUNDED BY EXTENSIVE LANDSCAPING AND THE ROUND-HEADED ARCHED PORCH PROVIDES A SLIGHTLY CHURCHY FEEL TO THE BUILDING IN KEEPING WITH ITS FUNCTION WHICH IS ALSO PROCLAIMED BY THE BRICK CROSS. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS ST VINCENT DE PAUL

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, MACKSVILLE
	THE FIRST CONFERENCE OF THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY WAS ESTABLISHED IN NAMBUCCA HEADS IN THE 1950's FOLLOWED BY MACKSVILLE. THE TWO WENT THROUGH SEVERAL PERIODS OF AMALGAMATION AND SEPARATION UNTIL NAMBUCCA HEADS WAS DEFINITIVELY CLOSED DUE TO DECLINING MEMBERSHIP IN 1999. THE PRINCIPLE OUTLET FOR THE SOCIETY AND ITS WORK IN THE VALLEY WAS IN MACKSVILLE WHERE SEVERAL SHOPS WERE RENTED AT VARIOUS TIMES TO SERVE AS THE 'VINNIES' SHOP. DURING THE 1970's THE SOCIETY WAS ABLE TO ESTABLISH A NEW PERMANENT HEADQUARTERS FOR ITSELF IN PURPOSE BUILT PREMISES LOCATED IN WALLACE ST MACKSVILLE WHERE IT REMAINS TODAY. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS RELIGIOUS ORDERS PARISH DIRECTORY

RELIGIOUS ORDERS
SISTERS OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN	DAUGHTERS OF OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART AUSTRALIAN PROVINCE	SISTERS OF MERCY GRAFTON CONGREGATION

MISSIONARIES OF THE SACRED HEART
AUSTRALIAN PROVINCE

SOCIETY OF MARY
AUSTRALIAN PROVINCE

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS
ST MARY'S SCHOOL BOWRAVILLE	ST PATRICK'S SCHOOL MACKSVILLE

PARISH DIRECTORY
PARISH CHURCHES PARISH OFFICES NAMBUCCA HEADS 4 MANN STREET NAMBUCCA HEADS 2448 POST: PO BOX 141 NAMBUCCA HEADS 2448 PHONE: (02) 6568 6642 FAX: (02) 6569 4183 EMAIL: nambuccavalleyparish@tsn.cc MACKSVILLE 24 DURKIN STREET MACKSVILLE 2447 PHONE: (02) 6568 1107 FAX: (02) 6567 3671 CHURCHES CORPUS CHRISTI BOWRAVILLE CARBIN STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449 ST PATRICK MACKSVILLE WALLACE STREET MACKSVILLE 2447 OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA NAMBUCCA HEADS MANN STREET NAMBUCCA HEADS 2448	PRIMARY SCHOOLS ST MARY'S PRIMARY SCHOOL CARBIN STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449 MAIL: PO BOX 264 BOWRAVILLE 2449 PHONE: (02) 6564 7369 FAX: (02) 6564 7622 EMAIL: smpbowra@lism.catholic.edu.au WEBSITE: smpbowra.lism.catholic.edu.au ST PATRICK'S PRIMARY SCHOOL WALLACE STREET MACKSVILLE 2447 MAIL: PO BOX 89 MACKSVILLE 2447 PHONE: (02) 6568 1397 FAX: (02) 6568 1721 EMAIL: admin@newlmbtn.mn.catholic.edu.au WEBSITE: www.macvp.lism.catholic.edu.au
STATION CHURCH CHRIST THE KING TAYLOR'S ARM UPPER TAYLOR'S ARM	OTHER SERVICES ST VINCENT DE PAUL CENTRE 28 WALLACE STREET MACKSVILLE 2447 PHONE: (02) 6568 1579 FAX: (02) 6568 4020 ST ELIZABETH'S PREGNANCY CARE 2/3 McKAY STREET MACKSVILLE 2447 PHONE: (02) 6568 1076 FAX: (02) 6568 4576
ABORIGINAL MINISTRY ABORIGINAL CATHOLIC MINISTRY 13 BRINER ST MACKSVILLE 2447 PHONE: (02) 6568 3502 FAX: (02) 6568 3572

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

INFORMATION AND SOME PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE WERE OBTAINED FROM THE PARISH HISTORIES OF 1994 AND 2004 BY PATRICIA LOVEGROVE WHO HAS ALSO PROVIDED EXTENSIVE PERSONAL HELP. THIS HELP IS HERE ACKNOWLEDGED WITH GRATITUDE.

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