COWRA, A TOWN OF 9500 PEOPLE SITUATED ON THE LACHLAN RIVER, GOT ITS NAME FROM A RIVER CROSSING KNOWN AS 'COURA ROCKS'. AROUND 1847 THE CROSSING BECAME KNOWN AS COWRA AND A TOWNSHIP WAS PROCLAIMED IN 1849. IN THE 1850's THE CROSSING WAS USED BY MINERS HEADING TO THE GOLDFIELDS AT LAMBING FLAT AND GRENFELL. THE FIRST BRIDGE OVER THE LACHLAN WAS BUILT IN 1870 AND THE RAILWAY IN 1886. IN 1940 A LARGE ARMY TRAINING CAMP WAS ESTABLISHED JUST OUTSIDE COWRA AND IN 1941 A PRISONER-OF-WAR CAMP WAS BUILT ON THE NORTH-EASTERN OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN. IT WAS THERE ON 5 AUGUST 1944 THAT THE LARGEST MASS POW ESCAPE IN BRITISH MILITARY HISTORY OCCURRED. A JAPANESE WAR CEMETERY WAS LATER ESTABLISHED BY AN AGREEMENT WITH THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT. TODAY COWRA IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE OF A LARGE RURAL SHIRE WHICH IS NOTED FOR ITS MANY HISTORICAL AND NATURAL ATTRACTIONS.

COWRA WAS A STATION OF THE LARGE KINGS PLAINS MISSION AND THE FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE WEST OF BATHURST TO HAVE ITS OWN CHURCH MAKING IT THE OLDEST CENTRE OF CATHOLICISM IN THE MID-WEST. IN 1889 COWRA BECAME A PARISH WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LATER PARISHES OF CANOWINDRA AND EUGOWRA TOGETHER WITH STATIONS AT MOUNT McDONALD, DARBY'S FALLS AND WOODSTOCK. FURTHER CHURCHES WERE BUILT IN WYANGALA, BILLIMARI, TARAGALA ROAD AND WYANGALA (AGAIN). IN 1964 WOODSTOCK BECAME A SEPARATE PARISH BUT IN THE EARLY 70's WAS REAMALGAMATED WITH COWRA. IN THE LATE 1980's GOOLOOGONG WAS ADDED FROM THE DIOCESE OF CANBERRA-GOULBURN. COWRA WAS ALSO THE SITE OF A HISTORIC BRIGIDINE CONVENT SCHOOL.

IN 1854 FATHER BERNARD MURPHY, KNOWN TO MANY AS THE 'PARISH PRIEST OF THE LACHLAN', WAS GRANTED A BLOCK OF HIGH GROUND WHICH OVERLOOKED THE MAIN STREET OF OLD COWRA AND IT WAS THERE THAT ARCHBISHOP POLDING LAID THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE FIRST CHURCH TO BE BUILT WEST OF BATHURST IN 1859. COMPLETED TWO YEARS LATER, THIS CHURCH (RIGHT) WAS A SMALL GOTHIC 'GODBOX' MADE FROM LOCALLY CUT STONE WHOSE ENDURING WORKMANSHIP AND MATERIALS WERE SUCH THAT IT STILL EXISTS TODAY AS THE KERNEL AROUND WHICH THE LATER CONVENT HAS BEEN BUILT. THE CHURCH SERVED THE EXPANDING COMMUNITY OF COWRA AS A PLACE OF WORSHIP FOR TWENTY YEARS UNTIL A NEW AND LARGER CHURCH WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1878. THE OLD CHURCH WAS THEN PUT INTO USE AS THE FIRST PARISH SCHOOL AND LATER BECAME THE COMMUNITY ROOM OF THE BRIGIDINE CONVENT. TODAY IT HAS BEEN CONVERTED INTO A PARISH HERITAGE ROOM GIVING PROOF OF THAT DEDICATION AND SKILL WHICH MARKED THE WORK OF OUR FOREFATHERS.

(vvvv) THE SECOND CHURCH UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE SMALLER FIRST CHURCH. (>>>>) THE CHURCH WALLS CAN BE SEEN AS A PART OF THE CONVENT.

IN 1878 FATHER PHILIP RYAN WHO HAD BEEN PARISH PRIEST OF CARCOAR SINCE 1866, WISHED TO MAKE PROVISION FOR THE RAPIDLY EXPANDING CATHOLIC POPULATION ON THE LACHLAN. IT WAS CLEAR THAT A LARGER CHURCH WAS REQUIRED IN ADDITION TO A CONVENT AND SCHOOL FOR THIS THE MOST ACTIVE CATHOLIC LOCATION IN HIS PARISH. IN DUE COURSE HE PUT IN TRAIN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW 300-SEAT CHURCH (>>>) AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE FIRST CHURCH WHICH THEN BECAME THE SCHOOL ROOMS.

WITH THE ADDITION OF THE TWO-STORIED CONVENT AT THE FAR END OF THE ORIGINAL CHURCH FOR THE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH THE EXISTING APPEARANCE OF THE CATHOLIC COMPLEX IN COWRA TOOK SHAPE IN STARK OUTLINE. THE BUILDINGS WERE DESIGNED BY EDWARD GELL UNOFFICIALLY ARCHITECT OF THE DIOCESE AND INCLUDED THE NEW CHURCH WITH ITS LOFTY TOWER (>>>). THE INTERIOR WAS GRACED BY TWELVE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS BROUGHT FROM TOULOUSE IN FRANCE WHICH MAINTAINED COWRA'S REPUTATION FOR THE WESTERN REGION'S PREMIER CATHOLIC CHURCH BUILDING. THE SECOND CHURCH WAS TO SERVE COWRA FOR SIXTY YEARS UNTIL IT WAS DEMOLISHED IN 1938 TO MAKE WAY FOR THE MAGNIFICENTLY CONCEIVED THIRD COWRA CHURCH.

IN 1938, SIXTY YEARS AFTER THE BUILDING OF THE SECOND CHURCH AND EIGHTY YEARS AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST CHURCH, THE PEOPLE OF COWRA RAISED A TRUE HYMN OF PRAISE IN STONE TO THE GOD WHO HAD SO BLESSED THEM. THE PRESENT CHURCH OF ST RAPHAEL (>>) IS A MAGNIFICENT BUILDING WHICH PROCLAIMS THE CONFIDENCE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH DURING THE INTER-WAR ERA.

(<<<) THE CATHOLIC COMPLEX IN COWRA SHOWING (L. TO R.) THE CONVENT ORATORY AND SCHOOL ROOMS THE CONVENT AND THE CHURCH. (>>>) A VIEW OF THE CHURCH FROM A SOUVENIR POSTCARD ISSUED TO COMMEMORATE THE OPENING OF THE NEW CHURCH OF ST RAPHAEL. THE CHURCH WAS BUILT IN AN ITALIANATE ROMANESQUE STYLE WITH STONE FROM THE SECOND CHURCH FORMING THE FOUNDATIONS. THE ROOF IS TOPPED WITH SPANISH TERRACOTTA TILES AND THE 86 FOOT HIGH TOWER CONTAINS THE ORIGINAL INSCRIBED BELL TAKEN FROM THE SECOND CHURCH. THE NEW CHURCH WAS THE DREAM OF ARCHDEACON DENIS O'KENNEDY THE FIRST PARISH PRIEST OF COWRA WHO AT 83 WAS GRANTED THE JOY OF SEEING ITS OPENING. AT THE TIME IT WAS THE LARGEST CATHOLIC CHURCH WEST OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.

THE CHURCH FOLLOWS THE BASIC GOTHIC OUTLINE COMPRISING A LONG HIGH NAVE WITH TWO LOW SIDE AISLES, A HIGH TURRETED TOWER WITH A FLETCHED SPIRE, AND A TRIPLE ARCHED DOORWAY. THE CHURCH WAS INTENDED TO BE A MATERIAL AFFIRMATION OF THE ONE TRUE CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF THE NICENE CREED AND FORMED PART OF AN OVERALL RENOVATION OF THE PARISH BUILDINGS WHICH INCLUDED NOT ONLY THE NEW CHURCH BUT ALSO AN IMPOSING CONVENT ORATORY AND A NEW CONVENT FACADE.

THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH IS MARKED BY MYSTICAL DARKNESS ENGENDERED BY THE HIGH AMBER GLASS CLERESTORY. AT THE FAR END IS A SPARE SANCTUARY NOW RE-ORDERED TO ACCORD WITH THE VERY LATEST PROGRESSIVE IDEAS. A MARBLE AMBO AND ALTAR ARE THUS GIVEN EQUAL PRIDE OF PLACE AT THE FOREFRONT WITH THE TABERNACLE AND A CHAIR FOR THE CELEBRANT SET IN THE CENTRE. A LARGE CRUCIFIX HANGS WITHIN AN ARCH ABOVE.

THE AISLES WITH ROUNDED ROMANESQUE ARCHES GLITTER WITH VIBRANT COLOURS PROVIDED BY TEN VIVID COLOURED GLASS WINDOWS. AT EITHER END IS A SIDE ALTAR AND IN THE SOUTH AISLE AN ATTRACTIVE FONT. THERE ARE SEVERAL DEVOTIONAL STATUES TO BE FOUND LOCATED AROUND THE CHURCH INCLUDING A REPLICA OF THE FAMOUS PIETA BY MICHELANGELO. A FINE SET OF STATIONS BUILT INTO THE WALLS IS A DONATION GIVEN BY MRS ALICE CASS IN HONOUR OF HER DECEASED RELATIVES.

THE WELL-PROPORTIONED NAVE IS LIT BY A SET OF BRILLIANTLY COLOURED STAINED GLASS WINDOWS, TWO DOUBLE WINDOWS TO EACH SIDE. AT ONE END OF THE SOUTH AISLE ARE ALSO TWO SMALLER WINDOWS SHOWING OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY (<<) AND ST FRANCIS (>>).

BEGINNING AT THE WEST END OF THE SOUTH AISLE ARE SEEN ST JOSEPH, ST DYMPNA, ST COLUMBA AND ST PATRICK. ON THE NORTH SIDE BEGINNING AT THE EAST END ARE ST RAPHAEL, ST DENIS, IN HONOUR OF FATHER O'KENNEDY, OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND ST BRIGID.

(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) ST THERESE OF LISIEUX, PATRON OF AUSTRALIA, LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE NORTH AISLE, THE HOLY INFANT OF PRAGUE WITH ST ANTHONY OF PADUA FOUND AT THE BACK OF THE CENTRAL AISLE AND ST PATRICK LOCATED IN THE SOUTH AISLE PORCH.

THE OLD BAPTISTRY (CENTRE), NOW A MEETING ROOM, AND THE STAINED GLASS WINDOW OF CHRIST THE PRIEST (<<<) AND OUR LADY (>>>).

AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE CHURCH THERE IS A NARTHEX CONTAINING AN ATTRACTIVE MARBLE HOLY WATER STOUP IN THE FORM OF AN ANGEL (RIGHT), A STATUE OF OUR LADY (LEFT) AND THE FOUNDATION STONE. ON THE NORTH SIDE IS THE APSIDAL FORMER BAPTISTRY AND ON THE SOUTH A MATCHING PIETY STALL. AT THE BACK OF THE CHURCH IS A TAPESTRY HUNG FROM THE CHOIR LOFT COMMEMORATING THE CENTENARY OF THE PARISH ESTABLISHMENT (BELOW)

GOOLOOGONG IS A LITTLE VILLAGE ON THE BANKS OF THE LACHLAN RIVER, AND LIKE ITS NEIGHBOUR COWRA, IT IS A SERVICE CENTRE FOR A RICH FARMING AREA. ALTHOUGH IT HAS KNOWN DECLINE IN RECENT YEARS IT HOLDS THE STRONG LOYALTY OF ITS PEOPLE. FROM 1872 THE TOWN WAS A STATION OF GRENFELL WHO BUILT THE FIRST CHURCH IN 1880. FROM 1914 TO 1976 IT WAS A PARISH IN ITS OWN RIGHT WITH A STATION IN MULYANDRY. AFTER THE LAST RESIDENT PRIEST LEFT THERE WAS A CHANGE IN THE DIOCESAN BOUNDARIES AND GOOLOOGONG WAS TRANSFERRED TO COWRA A PARISH WITHIN THE DIOCESE OF BATHURST.

THE ORIGINAL CHURCH OF ST MALACHY WAS BUILT IN 1880 OUT OF LOCALLY CUT STONE FERRIED OVER THE LACHLAN FROM THE MARSH AND MELLIDAY PROPERTIES. ST MALACHY'S WAS A SIMPLE GOTHIC CHURCH WITH ITS PORCHLESS NAVE, SMALL SACRISTY AND LOVELY APSIDAL SANCTUARY LIT BY SIDE LANCETS. THE BEAUTIFUL TIMBER ROOF IS INTACT EVEN TODAY OVER 100 YEARS AFTER ITS BUILDING. THE CHURCH DEDICATION WAS THE RECOGNITION OF THE STRONG IRISH PRESENCE WITHIN THIS OVERWHELMINGLY CATHOLIC REGION. ST MALACHY'S WAS MADE A PARISH CHURCH IN 1914 BUT AS THE PARISH GREW TO INCLUDE A CONVENT AND SCHOOL IT WAS DECIDED TO BUILD A LARGER CHURCH ON THE SCHOOL SITE. AFTER COMPLETION OF THE NEW CHURCH OLD ST MALACHY'S WAS USED AS THE INFANTS SCHOOL FOR SOME YEARS. TODAY THE SADLY NEGLECTED RUIN STILL GUARDS ITS CORNER AS A PART OF THE HISTORIC HERITAGE OF THE VILLAGE

IN 1947 FATHER THOMAS MOORE WAS APPOINTED PARISH PRIEST OF GOOLOOGONG. A MOST ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE GOULBURN PRESBYTERIATE WHOSE COMING TO THE VILLAGE COINCIDED WITH A PERIOD OF GREAT CONFIDENCE IN THE CHURCH, HE IMMEDIATELY REALISED THE NECESSITY FOR A NEW PARISH CHURCH AND SET ABOUT RAISING FUNDS FOR IT. ON 9 MARCH 1952 THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A NEW CHURCH WAS LAID AND JUST OVER ONE YEAR LATER, IN MAY 1953, THE CHURCH WAS BLESSED AND OPENED TO GREAT ACCLAIM BY THE BISHOP OF GOULBURN, GUILFORD YOUNG.

COSTING THE THEN CONSIDERABLE SUM OF £25,000 THE CHURCH IS AN IMPRESSIVE RED BRICK BUILDING RISING TWENTY METRES HIGH WITH A TILED ROOF, ITS GREAT BULK DOMINATING THE SMALL VILLAGE. FROM THE OUTSIDE THE LARGE NAVE AND CHANCEL ARE UNDIFFERENTIATED WITH TWO FLAT TOPPED SIDE CHAPELS FORMING SHALLOW TRANSEPTS DECORATED WITH BRICKWORK CROSSES TO MARK THE POINT WHERE THE NAVE ENDS AND CHANCEL BEGINS. A CLUSTER OF LOW BUILDINGS AT THE REAR CONSITUTE THE SACRISTIES, AND ALONG THE SIDE THE CONFESSIONALS.

OVER THE FRONT PORCH ARE PLACED TWO MEMORIALS OF THE CHURCH PATRON, ST MALACHY, BISHOP OF ARMARGH IN 12th CENTURY IRELAND. FIRSTLY THERE IS A LIFE SIZED STATUE OF THE SAINT SCULPTED BY A MR ROSSI, AN ITALIAN SCULPTOR WHO LIVED IN AUSTRALIA FOR MANY YEARS. SECONDLY THERE IS A MARBLE PANEL OF THE BOOK OF ARMARGH ABOVE THE LINTEL OF THE ENTRANCE DOOR, A RELIC OF THE OLD ARMARGH CATHEDRAL IN IRELAND GIVEN AT FATHER MOORE'S REQUEST.

INSIDE THE WARM GOLDEN GLOW OF SUNLIGHT FALLING THROUGH AMBER GLASS WINDOWS ON THE POLISHED WOODEN CHURCH FURNISHINGS HOLDS FORTH AN INVITATION TO SHARE IN THE TRANQUIL ATMOSPHERE OF THE LORD'S HOME.

THE DOMINANT FEATURE OF THE CHANCEL IS A MAGNIFICENTLY CARVED WOODEN HIGH ALTAR WITH ITS TWO ATTENDANT ICON-LIKE PANELS ON EACH SIDE AND A HIGH BALDACHINO ABOVE. THE ADDITION OF THE NEW AMBO, A PORTABLE ALTAR AND THE RELOCATED FONT FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION OF THE REVISED LITURGY DETRACTS NOT ONE IOTA FROM THE ONCE AND PRESENT PRE-EMINENCE OF THIS HIGH ALTAR.

THE DIVISION BETWEEN NAVE AND SANCTUARY, UNMARKED BY CHANGES IN WIDTH, IS SIGNIFIED BY THE SLIMLY OUTLINED ARCH. TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT OF THIS ARE THE DISTINCTIVE LADY AND SACRED HEART CHAPELS. THE BEAUTIFUL DOMED TABERNACLE IN THE LADY CHAPEL WAS A GIFT FROM THE CONVENT SCHOOL CHILDREN. VARIOUS STATUES AND THE ATTRACTIVE SET OF STATIONS COMPLETE THE CHURCH DECOR.

AMONG THE UNIQUE FURNITURE OF THE SANCTUARY ARE THE TWO UNPAINTED STATUES OF ST ANTHONY OF PADUA (LEFT) AND ST JOSEPH (RIGHT) AND THE TWO ICON-LIKE CARVED WOODEN PANELS WHICH REPRESENT THE HOLY FAMILY (SEEN BELOW LEFT) AND OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR (BELOW RIGHT).

EQUALLY UNUSUAL IS THE HANGING IRON SANCTUARY LAMP LOCATED TO THE LEFT OF THE SANCTUARY (BELOW CENTRE). FATHER MOORE WAS A FORWARD THINKING PRIEST WHO PROVIDED A GLASSED 'CRYING ROOM' FOR PARENTS IN THE NARTHEX WHERE TWO OF AUSTRALIA'S PATRON SAINTS GREET ARRIVALS.

WOODSTOCK WAS ONE OF THE SERIES OF GOLD MINING TOWNSHIPS WHICH NESTLED IN THE HILLS EAST AND SOUTH OF COWRA DURING THE LACHLAN VALLEY GOLDRUSH. THE TOWN WAS MOVED TO ITS PRESENT LOCATION WHEN THE RAILWAY ARRIVED IN THE 1890's AND BECAME A BUSY SERVICE CENTRE FOR SURROUNDING PROPERTIES. TODAY WOODSTOCK REMAINS A PRETTY HISTORIC VILLAGE THAT IS POPULAR WITH MANY VISITORS TO THE LACHLAN VALLEY.

THE FIRST MASS STATION WAS LOCATED AT SHEET O'BARK BUT WAS MOVED INTO WOODSTOCK IN THE 1890's WHEN AN IRON CHURCH WAS ERECTED THERE. SUCH WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF WOODSTOCK THAT THE BRIGIDINES OPENED A LOCAL SCHOOL IN 1918. IN 1964 WOODSTOCK WAS MADE A PARISH WITH MASS STATIONS AT DARBY'S FALLS AND WYANGALA DAM. THIS PARISH CLOSED IN 1974 AND WOODSTOCK AND ITS STATIONS REUNITED WITH COWRA PARISH.

THE FIRST MASS WAS SAID IN SHEET O' BARK IN 1853 BY FR BERNARD MURPHY. IN THE 1890's WHEN THE COWRA RAILWAY WAS COMPLETED THE WHOLE VILLAGE MOVED THE FEW KILOMETRES TO WOODSTOCK WHERE AN IRON-CLAD CHURCH (POSSIBLY A SHED ORIGINALLY BUILT AS A MASS CENTRE FOR SHEET O' BARK) WAS ERECTED ON A TWO-ACRE PLOT IN CARRINGTON STREET AND OFFICIALLY OPENED AS THE CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART IN 1892 BY BISHOP MATTHEW QUINN. THIS PLAIN LITTLE CHURCH CAN BE SEEN AT THE RIGHT ABOUT 1897

DURING THE EARLY 1900's THE LITTLE CHURCH UNDERWENT SEVERAL CHANGES SOME OF WHICH ARE VISIBLE IN THE PHOTO TAKEN IN 1910 AT RIGHT. AMONG THESE WAS AN APSIDAL CHANCEL AND THE BELL TOWER SEEN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CHURCH. AROUND 1905 THE CHURCH WAS RENAMED ST BRIGID'S ANTICIPATING THE BRIGIDINE'S ARRIVAL THIRTEEN YEARS LATER. IT WAS REPLACED BY THE SCHOOL DURING THE 1920's AND IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DEMOLISHED. THE MATERIALS WERE THEN USED TO CONTRUCT THE INFANTS SCHOOL.

WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE BRIGIDINE SISTERS DURING 1913 AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CONVENT SCHOOL WOODSTOCK BECAME AN IMPORTANT CATHOLIC CENTRE WITHIN THE PARISH SECOND ONLY TO COWRA ITSELF. IT SEEMED THEREFORE FITTING THAT A LARGE NEW CHURCH SHOULD BE ERECTED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A GROWING CATHOLIC POPULATION SO BEGINNING IN THE 1920's PLANS STARTED TO BE MOOTED FOR SUCH A CHURCH TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON THE ORIGINAL TWO-ACRE BLOCK. IN PREPARATION FOR THIS SCHEME THE FIRST CHURCH WAS TAKEN DOWN AND RE-ERECTED AS A SEPARATE INFANTS SCHOOL BEHIND THE CONVENT. HOWEVER THE PLANS FOR A NEW CHURCH WOULD NOT COME TO FRUITION UNTIL 1956 AND IN THE MEAN TIME IT WAS DECIDED TO USE THE EXISTING PRIMARY SCHOOL BUILDING, A LARGER AND MUCH MORE CHURCH-LIKE STRUCTURE, AS A TEMPORARY CHURCH (LEFT) PENDING THE FINALISATION OF FUND-RAISING FOR THE NEW CHURCH. THE SCHOOL WAS CONVERTED ON FRIDAY AFTERNOONS TO MAKE READY FOR THE SUNDAY MASS AND WAS THEN RECONVERTED FOR SCHOOL USE ON MONDAY MORNINGS. THE SCHOOL WAS TO SERVE FAITHFULLY AS THE CHURCH UNTIL THE FINAL COMPLETION OF WOODSTOCK'S PERMANENT CHURCH IN 1956.

AS EARLY AS 1938 PLANS WERE DRAWN UP FOR A CHURCH COMPLEX ON THE ORIGINAL TWO-ACRE SITE BUT NOTHING CAME OF IT FOR THE MONEY WAS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE NEW ST RAPAHEL'S CHURCH IN COWRA. AFTER THE WAR NEW PLANS WERE MADE TO CONSTRUCT A CHURCH ADJACENT TO THE CONVENT. HOWEVER IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1956 THAT THE IMPOSING BRICK CHURCH OF ST BRIGID (RIGHT) WAS FINALLY FINISHED. THIS NEW CHURCH CONSISTING AS IT DOES OF A NAVE AND A BAPTISTRY WITH A MATCHING STAIRWELL ROOM TO THE LEFT QUITE OBVIOUSLY DRAWS ITS INSPIRATION FROM THE DESIGN OF ST RAPHAEL'S. LIKE MANY CHURCHES OF THE TIME IT WAS MEANT TO HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED IN STAGES. WHEN VIEWED FROM THE EAST END (BELOW RIGHT) THE TEMPORARY EASTERN WALL IS QUITE VISIBLE WHILE THE SMALL AND NARROW SANCTUARY WAS EQUALLY CLEARLY MEANT TO BE REPLACED BY A NEW ONE AT SOME FUTURE STAGE. IN 1964 ST BRIGID'S BECAME A PARISH CHURCH BUT AFTER TEN YEARS IT REVERTED TO A STATION CHURCH OF COWRA IN WHICH FUNCTION IT YET FAITHFULLY SERVES THE PEOPLE OF WOODSTOCK.

DESPITE BEING BUILT ON THE CUSP OF THOSE REVOLUTIONARY CHANGES FOLLOWING FROM THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL, THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH SHOWS REMARKABLY LITTLE ALTERATION OF THE ORIGINAL APPEARANCE. THE ALTAR RAILS HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND A PORTABLE ALTAR INSTALLED TO PERMIT THE MASS TO BE SAID VERSUS POPULAM BUT THE DEVOTIONAL STATUES AND A LOVELY CARVED HIGH ALTAR WERE OTHERWISE RETAINED. THE NEW ALTAR FORMS A MATCHED SET WITH THE AMBO AND A PLAIN FONT (NOW LOCATED AT THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH). A CRUCIFIX IN REALIST STYLE DOMINATES THE SANCTUARY.

THE REST OF THE FURNISHINGS CONSIST OF A TRADITIONAL SET OF STATIONS AND FOR THE NARTHEX A PAINTED STATUE OF ST JOSEPH. SADLY THE CHURCH NEVER DID RECEIVE THE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS THAT WOULD HAVE UNDOUBTEDLY BEEN INTENDED TO COMPLETE THE CHURCH, PARTICULARLY FOR THE ROSE WINDOW. IN SPITE OF ITS INCOMPLETE STATE ST BRIGID'S IS STILL A LOVELY EXAMPLE OF A CHURCH BUILT THROUGH POPULAR DEVOTION.

ORIGINALLY A PROPERTY AND THE SITE OF A BRIEF GOLD RUSH, IN 1929 WYANGALA CAME ALIVE WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A LARGE DAM. A TEMPORARY HAMLET WAS BUILT FOR DAM WORKERS BUT QUICKLY DISAPPEARED ON THE DAM'S COMPLETION. THEREAFTER A NEW PERMANENT VILLAGE WAS DEVELOPED AT THE BASE OF THE DAM FOR VISITORS TO THE RECREATION FACILITIES AND WORKERS.

EVER EAGER FOR THE FAITH FR O'KENNEDY ERECTED A CHURCH IN 1929. ALTHOUGH THIS DISAPPEARED WHEN THE FIRST TOWN WAS DEMOLISHED, WYANGALA REMAINED A MASS STATION. FOR A DECADE MASS WAS SAID IN THE MIGRANT CENTRE AND IN THE HOME OF A LOCAL CATHOLIC FAMILY UNTIL A CHURCH HALL WAS BUILT. IN 1964 THE TOWN BECAME PART OF THE WOODSTOCK PARISH BEFORE BEING FINALLY REJOINED TO COWRA IN 1974.

UNTIL 1954 MASS HAD BEEN CELEBRATED FOR A DECADE ON THE VERANDAH OF THE HOME OF ALLAN AND AGGIE CORCORAN AND IT WAS NEXT DOOR TO THEIR HOUSE THAT A PERMANENT HOME FOR WYANGALA'S CATHOLICS WAS BUILT. THE CINDER-BLOCK HALL WAS OPENED ON NOVEMBER 19, 1954 BUT DUE TO STORM DAMAGE WAS NOT USED FOR ITS FIRST MASS UNTIL DECEMBER 5. BUILT AS A MULTI-PURPOSE VENUE WITH THE SANCTUARY CLOSED OFF EXCEPT FOR MASS (IT WAS ALSO USED BY OTHER DENOMINATIONS), IT HAD A SMALL SUPPER ROOM FOR COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS BUILT OUT THE BACK. THE HALL WAS NOT GIVEN A NAME AT THE TIME AND SO WHEN FR PAT STANLEY DISCOVERED THIS AROUND 1971 HE HAD IT DEDICATED TO ST VINCENT AFTER HIS FATHER. DURING THE LATER 20th CENTURY THE HALL WAS CONVERTED INTO A FULL-TIME CHURCH. THE PLAIN INTERIOR REFLECTS ITS ORIGINS WITH THE SANCTUARY HAVING JUST A TABLE ALTAR AND STATUES OF THE SACRED HEART AND OUR LADY. A FUNCTIONAL TABERNACLE HAS ALSO BEEN INSTALLED IN THE OLD SERVING HATCH.

THE TINY VILLAGE OF BILLIMARI NESTLES TWIXT COWRA AND CANOWINDRA. THIS WAS IN ORIGIN A STATION OF CANOWINDRA BUT MOVED TO COWRA IN 1948. THE STATION CLOSED IN THE EARLY 70's.

MASSES WERE HELD IN THE BILLIMARI HALL OVER MANY YEARS TILL ca.1940 AN OLD IRON BUILDING WAS RELOCATED FROM NORTH OF CANOWINDRA TO BILLIMARI AND RENOVATED BY FR LONERAGAN AS A CHURCH. IT SERVED AS THE VILLAGE MASS CENTRE UNTIL ABOUT 1971 WHEN IT WAS CLOSED. TODAY IT IS USED AS A PRIVATE HOME (BELOW).

DARBYS FALLS IS A SMALL VILLAGE LYING BELOW MOUNT McDONALD. BEGUN IN THE BRIEF LACHLAN VALLEY GOLDRUSH IT WAS A STAUNCH CATHOLIC AREA WHICH IS TODAY KNOWN AS THE SITE OF AN IMPORTANT SPACE OBSERVATORY. A STATION OF COWRA FROM THE 1880's, IT PASSED BRIEFLY TO WOODSTOCK IN 1964 ONLY TO RETURN TO COWRA TEN YEARS LATER. THE STATION WAS CLOSED IN A 1980's RATIONALISATION OF RURAL CHURCHES.

THE LACHLAN VALLEY GOLDRUSH BEGAN IN 1861 AND SOON MINERS WERE FLOCKING FROM OLDER GOLDFIELDS FURTHER EASTWARDS. A GOLD REEF HAD BEEN DISCOVERED AT MT McDONALD IN THE 1880's AND NEW DISCOVERIES WERE SOON MADE AT WYANGALA, WOODSTOCK AND DARBY'S FALLS. A SUBSTANTIAL VILLAGE WAS ESTABLISHED AT THE LATTER PLACE BUT A FEW YEARS LATER THE POST OFFICE REMOVED FROM THE FIRST DARBY'S TO DARBY'S SPRINGS (LATER CALLED RYANVALE AND THEN DARBYS FALLS) AND IT WAS HERE THAT A TRUE CATHOLIC TOM NEVILLE GIFTED 2 ACRES TO FR O'KENNEDY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CHURCH. AROUND 1910 FR O'KENNEDY ERECTED A WEATHERBOARD AND IRON CHURCH WITH A SMALL CEMETERY (RIGHT). FOR FOURTEEN YEARS THIS CHURCH WAS TO SERVE AS A MASS CENTRE FOR THE FARMERS WHO ARRIVED TO WORK THE RICH AGRICULTURAL LANDS OF THE LACHLAN VALLEY. IN 1924 THE CHURCH WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW CHURCH ON A HILL ABOVE THE VILLAGE. THE OLD CHURCH WAS THEN DEMOLISHED BUT ITS FORMER SITE REMAINS IN USE AS THE TOWN'S CEMETERY.

SET LIKE A JEWEL IN THE CROWN ON A HILL OVERLOOKING THE VILLAGE, THE LOVELY CONCRETE CHURCH OF ST JOSEPH IS A TRIBUTE TO THE FAITH OF THE PEOPLE OF DARBY'S FALLS. ERECTED IN 1924 TO REPLACE THE FIRST CHURCH AND MOVED AT THE SAME TIME FROM THE ORIGINAL SITE DOWN ON THE FLAT IT IS TYPICALLY GOTHIC. ESSENTIALLY A HALL CHURCH WITH A PORCH AND SHALLOW BUTTRESSES IT IS NOTABLE FOR THE INTERESTING CAPITALS OF THE WEST FACADE. THE CHURCH WAS THE MASS CENTRE FOR THE VILLAGE FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS UNTIL CLOSED DURING THE 1980's. THE CHURCH WAS THEN SOLD OFF AND HAS SINCE BEEN CONVERTED INTO A PRIVATE RESIDENCE.

MOUNT McDONALD WAS A MINING SETTLEMENT ON THE WYANGALA-WOODSTOCK ROAD DURING THE SHORT-LIVED LACHLAN GOLD RUSH. IT HAD BEEN A STATION OF CARCOAR EVEN BEFORE COWRA BECAME A SEPARATE PARISH AND OVER SEVERAL YEARS MASS WAS HELD AT A PUBLIC HOUSE OWNED BY A MISS NEVILLE. IT WAS IN FACT FATHER O'KENNEDY, LATER FIRST PARISH PRIEST OF COWRA, WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING THE LITTLE STATION CHURCH THERE IN 1884. THE TIMBER STRUCTURE WAS BUILT ON A LOW HILL ABOVE THE VILLAGE AND ENDURED UNTIL 1927 BY WHICH TIME THE SETTLEMENT HAD DWINDLED TO JUST A FEW HOUSES WHILE THE POPULATION HAD MOVED ONWARD. THE CHURCH WAS CLOSED AND LATER DEMOLISHED ALTHOUGH FOR MANY YEARS TWO PINE TREES CONTINUED TO MARK THE SITE WHERE THOSE EARLY MINERS HAD WORSHIPPED GOD. THE CHURCH IS POSSIBLY SHOWN ARROWED IN THE 1900 PHOTO AT LEFT.

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HISTORIC CHURCHES

MULYANDRY

MULYANDRY, A SMALL RURAL LOCALITY LYING TO THE NORTH-WEST OF GOOLOOGONG, WAS A STATION OF THE LATTER FROM ITS ORIGINS AS A PARISH IN 1914. BY 1956 FATHER MOORE, THEN PARISH PRIEST OF GOOLOOGONG, HAD COMPLETED THE ERECTION OF THE SECOND ST MALACHY'S CHURCH AND WAS THUS ABLE TO TURN HIS ATTENTION TO PROVIDING FOR THE PEOPLE OF MULYANDRY. IN THAT YEAR HE SAW TO THE BUILDING OF THE CHURCH OF ST PIUS X WITH ITS LITTLE COLUMNED PORCH (LEFT). IT SERVED AS A LOCAL MASS CENTRE FOR SOME TWENTY YEARS UNTIL CHANGES IN TRANSPORTATION MADE IT UNNECESSARY. IT WAS THEN CLOSED AND THE BUILDING LATER LOCATED TO RED BEND COLLEGE AT FORBES.

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HISTORIC CHURCHES

TARAGALA

THE POST-WAR PERIOD WAS A TIME OF GREAT GROWTH WITHIN THE CHURCH. IT WAS IN THIS CLIMATE THAT SEVERAL NEW PARISHES WERE ERECTED AND NUMEROUS CHAPELS OF EASE BUILT IN MAJOR REGIONAL TOWNS. TARAGALA ROAD JUST SOUTH OF COWRA TOWN CENTRE WAS THE SITE OF ONE SUCH CHAPEL OF EASE. DURING THE 50's THE THEN PARISH PRIEST OF COWRA RELOCATED AN OLD ARMY HUT FROM THE FORMER ARMY BASE TO TARAGALA ROAD AND HAD IT CONVERTED INTO A CHURCH (<<<). THE MASS STATION OPERATED FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS BEFORE A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF PRIESTS SERVING IN COWRA PARISH MADE CONTINUATION OF THE CHURCH UNVIABLE. IT WAS CLOSED IN 1973 AND WAS LATER BOUGHT AND THE SITE SUBSEQUENTLY REDEVELOPED BY A PENTECOSTAL CHURCH. TODAY THERE IS NO PORTION OF THE ORIGINAL BUILDING LEFT.

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HISTORIC CHURCHES

WYANGALA

IN THE EARLY DECADES OF THE 20th CENTURY EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE WATER SUPPLY IN RURAL NEW SOUTH WALES SAW THE BUILDING OF SEVERAL DAMS AMONG THEM WYANGALA ON THE LACHLAN RIVER SOUTH OF COWRA. TO FACILITATE THE WORK A TEMPORARY VILLAGE WAS BUILT TO HOUSE THE WORKERS ON THE PROJECT. IT WAS LATER DEMOLISHED ON THE DAM'S COMPLETION AND THUS SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH THE SMALL MODERN DAY TOWNSHIP OF WYANGALA.

FATHER O'KENNEDY, EVER KEEN TO PROMOTE THE PRACTICE OF THE FAITH, HAD A SMALL GALVINISED TIN CHURCH CONSTRUCTED IN THE WORKER'S TOWN WHICH HE DEDICATED TO ST PATRICK. COMPLETED IN 1930 IT SERVED THE COMMUNITY FOR AROUND FIVE YEARS WITH FATHER O'KENNEDY TRAVELLING DOWN TO SAY MASS REGULARLY FOR THE DAM WORKERS. WHEN THE WORKERS LEFT BOTH THE TOWN AND THE CHURCH WERE DEMOLISHED. THE MASS CENTRE WAS LATER RELOCATED TO THE NEW WYANGALA TOWNSHIP AT THE FOOT OF THE DAM WHERE A CINDER BLOCK CHURCH HALL WAS BUILT DURING 1954.

AS ONE OF THE OLDEST CATHOLIC CENTRES IN THE MID-WEST COWRA HAS HAD A RANGE OF CATHOLIC BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY. AMONG THESE HAVE BEEN TWO PRESBYTERIES AS WELL AS SEVERAL SCHOOLS AND CONVENTS. IN 1878 A CONVENT AND SCHOOL WERE BUILT BY THE PARISH AND STAFFED BY THE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH. IN 1894 THESE WERE REPLACED BY THE BRIGIDINES WHO TOOK OVER THE CONVENT AND PARISH PRIMARY SCHOOL WHILE ALSO FOUNDING ST RAPHAEL'S COLLEGE, THE FORERUNNER OF TODAY'S ST RAPHAEL'S CENTRAL SCHOOL. THE IMPORTANT RURAL STATION AT WOODSTOCK ADDED ITS QUOTA OF BUILDINGS TO THE PARISH TOO WITH A CONVENT AND ST BRIGID'S SCHOOL OPENED BY THE BRIGIDINES AND LATER STAFFED BY THE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH IN A REVERSAL OF THE COWRA STORY. DURING ITS BRIEF PERIOD AS A PARISH THE PARISH PRIEST WAS ACCOMODATED FIRSTLY IN A RENTED HOUSE AND THEN IN THE FORMER CONVENT. THE ADDITION OF THE FORMER PARISH OF GOOLOOGONG TO COWRA BROUGHT WITH IT ANOTHER CONVENT AND ST THOMAS' SCHOOL, ON THIS OCCASION FOUNDED BY THE GOULBURN SISTERS OF MERCY. DURING THE WAR YEARS COWRA BECAME AN IMPORTANT MILITARY BASE AND A C.U.S.A HUT WAS ERECTED AT THE CAMP. THE NEWEST ADDITION TO THE PARISH INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN THE MODERN AND FUNCTIONAL ST RAPHAEL'S HALL JUST ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE CONVENT. AN ACTIVE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY OPERATES A MODERN RETAIL OUTLET IN TOWN. THE PARISH ALSO CONTAINS A HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT CATHOLIC CEMETERY AT DARBY'S FALLS.

FATHER, LATER ARCHDEACON, O'KENNEDY WAS APPOINTED THE FIRST PARISH PRIEST OF COWRA IN 1889. WITH NO PRESBYTERY AVAILABLE, HE STAYED FOR EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN THE AUSTRALIAN HOTEL UNTIL THE FIRST PRIEST'S RESIDENCE (BELOW LEFT) WAS OPENED BY THE BISHOP, DR BYRNE, IN FEBRUARY OF 1891. BUILT ON THE HILL OVERLOOKING THE CHURCH AND CONVENT IT SERVED THE PARISH FOR CLOSE ON A CENTURY. IN THE 1980's A NEW PRESBYTERY AND PARISH OFFICE (BELOW RIGHT) WAS BUILT ON THE CORNER NEXT TO THE OLD WHICH WAS LATER SOLD. THE NEW PRESBYTERY IS IN THE MODERN DOMESTIC STYLE AND COMBINES THE FUNCTIONS OF RESIDENCE AND OFFICE.

WHEN MONSIGNOR LYNCH WAS APPOINTED PARISH PRIEST OF GOOLOOGONG IN 1914 THERE WAS NO PRESBYTERY AND SO FOR THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS HE LIVED IN THE GOOLOOGONG HOTEL. SO KEEN WAS FATHER LYNCH TO PROMOTE THE FAITH HE PUT HIS OWN COMFORT SECOND TO THE NEEDS OF THE PARISH AND HIS FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WAS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CONVENT AND SCHOOL. ONLY IN 1921 DID FATHER LYNCH TURN HIS ATTENTION TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A RESIDENCE FOR HIMSELF. THE RESULT WAS THE LOVELY RURAL PRESBYTERY SEEN BELOW. WITH THE SUPPRESSION OF THE PARISH THE PRESBYTERY WAS SOLD AND TODAY IT IS A PRIVATE RESIDENCE.

ST RAPHAEL'S HALL IS THE MOST RECENT ADDITION TO THE PARISH INFRASTRUCTURE BEING COMPLETED IN EARLY 2008. IT IS NOT THE FIRST HALL TO BE SO USED FOR PARISH PURPOSES AS THE ORIGINAL PRIMARY SCHOOL SERVED THIS FUNCTION FOR MANY YEARS. AFTER ITS DEMOLITION THE PARISH WAS WITHOUT A HALL FOR A LONG TIME UNTIL THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW AND QUITE FUNCTIONAL ST RAPHAEL'S HALL. DESPITE ITS FUNCTIONALITY IT IS AN ATTRACTIVE BUILDING WITH ITS MOCK BUTTRESSES AND NARROW LANCET STYLE WINDOWS AND A MOST WELCOME ADDITION TO THE PARISH ASSETS.

MUCH VALUABLE INFORMATION AND A NUMBER OF PHOTOS USED ON THIS PAGE WERE PROVIDED BY THE COWRA AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. ADDITIONAL PHOTOS WERE SUPPLIED BY ANN GRAHAM AND BERNADETTE SHEEHY. I AM INDEBTED ALSO TO THE 1939 PUBLICATION CATHOLIC COWRA BY TIMOTHY REEN WHICH IS THE DEFINITIVE WORK ON COWRA CATHOLIC PARISH. FOR GOOLOOGONG PHOTOS WERE PROVIDED BY THE GOOLOOGONG HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED FROM THE BOOKLET ST MALACHY'S GOOLOOGONG 1880-1980. THE HELP OF ALL THESE PEOPLE IS HEREWITH GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGED.