1947
 |
MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE
|
PARISH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR WINGHAM |
|
FOUNDED 1947 |
|
DIOCESE MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE |
| PARISH CHURCH | HISTORIC CHURCHES |
|
|
PARISH CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR |
 |  | |
| PARISH | CHURCH |
 |
 | PARISH |
| WINGHAM IS A CHARMING AND PEACEFUL 'OLD WORLD' COUNTRY TOWN WHICH HAS REMAINED LARGELY UNCHANGED BY THE TOURISM WHICH HAS AFFECTED THE TOWNSHIPS OF THE NEARBY COASTLINE. IN FACT WINGHAM IS THE OLDEST TOWN IN THE MANNING VALLEY. IT IS SITUATED 20 M ABOVE SEA-LEVEL ON THE MANNING RIVER AND CURRENTLY BOASTS A CITIZENRY OF SOME 4600. TIMBERGETTING HAS LONG BEEN THE MAINSTAY OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY BUT IT IS NOW ON THE DECLINE. DAIRYING AND BEEF CATTLE ARE PRESENTLY THE AREA'S MAJOR INDUSTRIES. THE TOWN, WHICH FUNCTIONS AS THE DISTRICT'S COMMERCIAL CENTRE, IS ALSO A POPULAR VENUE FOR WATER ACTIVITIES DUE TO ITS RIVERSIDE LOCATION. ALTHOUGH THE FIRST TOWN ON THE MANNING, THE INITIAL CATHOLIC CENTRE WAS LOCATED AT CUNDLETOWN AND LATER TAREE, WITH WINGHAM AS A STATION. WINGHAM RESIDENTS HOWEVER WERE VERY ACTIVE WITHIN THE PARISH AND SERVICES WERE HELD FROM THE MID-1800's WITH PRIESTS TRAVELLING UP FROM TAREE. IN 1947 WINGHAM BECAME A PARISH IN ITS OWN RIGHT BEFITTING THE TOWN'S SIZE AND IMPORTANCE AND COVERING BOTH WINGHAM AND WHERROL FLAT. WITH THE DECLINE IN VOCATIONS HOWEVER, WINGHAM LOST ITS PRIEST AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW CENTURY AND IS TODAY LINKED ONCE AGAIN WITH TAREE. NEXT |
| FIRST CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR, WINGHAM |  |
| A CHURCH EXISTED AT WINGHAM DURING THE 1800's BUT NO TRACE OF IT REMAINS TODAY. | |
| SECOND CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR, WINGHAM | |
| THE PRESENT CHURCH WAS OPENED BY BISHOP MURRAY IN 1901. THIS IMPRESSIVE BUILDING RESEMBLES IN SIMPLIFIED FORM THE PARISH CHURCH IN TAREE. NEXT | |
 |
 | THE CHURCH COMPRISES AN AISLED NAVE WITH EXTENSIONS AT EITHER END FORMING THE CHANCEL AND NARTHEX. ATTRACTIVE BRICKWORK IS USED ON THE WESTERN FACADE AND THE EAST END WITH ITS TWO MODERN STAINED GLASS WINDOWS. IN THE ANGLE OF THE NAVE AND SACRISTIES IS A LOVELY GARDEN WHILE AT THE REAR OF THE CHURCH OUR LADY GAZES UP AT THE SANCTUARY FROM THE WALL OF THE SCHOOL. ALL IN ALL, A FITTING MONUMENT TO THE CATHOLIC PIONEERS OF THE TOWN. TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES |  |
|
| HISTORIC CHURCHES | ||||
| ||||
| LITTLE DINGO | WHERROL FLAT | |||
|
| CHURCH OF ST JOSEPH, WHERROL FLAT (LITTLE DINGO) | ||
 | STATION | |
| JUST TO THE NORTH-WEST OF WINGHAM IS A RICH FARMING AREA DOTTED WITH SMALL LOCALITIES. MANY WERE VISITED BY PRIESTS TRAVELLING FROM TAREE, INCLUDING BOBIN, ELANDS AND LATER GLENWARRIN. TO ACCOMODATE THESE PEOPLE, A CHURCH WAS BUILT BETWEEN DINGO CREEK AND WHERROL FLAT (HENCE THE CONFUSION OF NAMES) TO SERVE THE LOCAL POPULATION. THE STATION WAS CLOSED AT THE END OF THE 20th CENTURY. | ||
| FIRST CHURCH OF ST JOSEPH, WHERROL FLAT | ||
| THE FIRST CHURCH OF ST JOSEPH WAS BUILT IN 1882. A WOODEN GODBOX STYLE BUILDING, IT WAS DESTROYED IN A BUSHFIRE IN 1905. NEXT | ||
| SECOND CHURCH OF ST JOSEPH, WHERROL FLAT |  |
| THE PRESENT CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1905 TO REPLACE THE ONE DESTROYED BY BUSHFIRE. A BASIC NAVE, PORCH AND CHANCEL WITH PLAIN SQUARE WINDOWS, IT SERVED THE LOCALITY TILL THE END OF THE CENTURY WHEN IT WAS SOLD AND CONVERTED TO A RESIDENCE. TOP> HISTORIC CHURCHES | |
 |
