The Catholic Parish of Merriwa was officially established in 1874 and was originally a large area extending from Gungal to Uarbry.
Because the parish was so large, the priest arranged with families living in country areas to celebrate Mass in their homes regularly. These became known as Mass Stations. Early Mass Stations in the Gungal Area were at Eugene & Caroline Nebauer, or Charles & Rosina Stair.
The Station Masses became something of a big occasion for all who attended. Some came with their families in drays and spring carts, while others came on horse-back. After Mass there was often the common meal, a ‘talk-in’.. and occasionally a ‘sing-song’.
In 1904 a block of land was purchased to build a church and construction was well advanced by Nov 1910. The builder was Walter Barrett of Muswellbrook. Work was carried out by skilled contractors as well as local volunteers. The main construction material was brick which was made at Gungal.
An article in the Merriwa & Cassilis Standard Nov 1910 described “the great sacrifice and .. wonderful courage (of the Gungal parishioners) in undertaking the work (building the church) which promised to be a credit to them and an ornament to the district.”
St Anthony’s was blessed and opened on May 9th, 1911 by the Bishop of Maitland Patrick Vincent Dwyer.
Father William Edmund O’Reilly was resident priest of the parish when St Anthony’s Catholic Church was built in 1911. He had been appointed to Merriwa Parish in 1886.
The following description of Father O’Reilly appears in the book “Saint Anne’s Church Merriwa 1881–1981″:
Father William Edward O’Reilly was a cultured Irishman and a gentleman whose company was sought by young and old…. He was “a universal favourite. He was full of wit and humour…
He would leave (to visit his country Mass Stations) about 6.30am in an Irish cape cart – a sulky with a pole and big wheels which made it easy to pull.
Father was an expert horseman and loved to experience the thrill of speed. His horses were always so fit that he would let them gallop for about the first three miles and then would trot at top speed for the rest of the journey.
The roads in those days were just rough tracks and great skill was required to avoid the many logs and stumps which usually lined the route.
In 1926 a fine alter was constructed for the church by Andrew Parkinson of Muswellbrook. The installation was described in the Muswellbrook Chronicle 15th June 1926:
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at Gungal.
(Contributed)
On Sunday, June 6, there was a great concourse of people at St. Anthony’s, Church, Gungal. Many brought their luncheon with them and as the day was so salubrious and pleasant, they were able to have an open-air picnic, and so keep up their visits to the Blessed Sacrament during the day.
The Missa Cantata was sung by Father Kelly at 10.50 a.m. at the magnificent oak altar just erected, designed and constructed by Mr. Andrew Parkinson, of Muswellbrook. Certainly it is a worthy throne for our Eucharistic King and reflects great credit on the genius of the architect who designed it. Whatever is artistic is devotional and very few churches can compete with St Anthony’s in artistic merit.
Not alone is it well furnished with a beautiful altar and fittings, but it is very tastefully painted by John Gould, especially in the sanctuary, where the sacred vessels are painted on the walls and the wheat and grapes, representing the bread and wine for the Holy Sacrifice; also the pelican, representing our Lord and the agony of our Lord in the garden, are depicted. A beautiful border of roses and lilies right around the church gives a very beautiful effect.
There is no doubt but the little church of St. Anthony’s wears an air of happiness, and is most uplifting and inviting to pray in. The Sisters of St. Joseph, as well as members of the Denman Choir, gave a beautiful rendition of the Missa de Angelis, the composition of an old Irish monk.
REFS: St Anne’s Church Merriwa 1881, St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church 1911-2011, National Library of Australia.
Gungal Community 