150th Anniversary of the Mourambine Church, 1873-2023 - Western Australia

On the 24th September this year we were priviledged to attend a church service to celebrate the 150th Year of the Consecration of St Patrick's church in the tiny town of Mourambine near Pingelly in Western Australia's wheatbelt. 

I know 150 years is not a lot in terms of the history of some countries, but for Australia it is. To put it in perspective, the first European settlement in Western Australia was at Albany in 1826, followed by our capital city, Perth, in 1829. Settlement of inland Western Australia didn't happen immediately. 

The tiny church at Mourambine and its church yard, sits on a small rise overlooking undulating grain fields, and holds a special place in my family history. 

I first wrote about it in 2014 - you can see the post here - Peace in a country church

My Dad lived just down the road from the church during some of his boyhood and he often spoke about Mourambine. We visited several times with my father in his latter years, and if we are going this way we stop to lay flowers on family graves. 

My grandparents - my father's father and mother - Bob and Roma Clayden (nee Fairhead), my Great-grandparents on Roma's side - George Valentine and Florence Fairhead (nee McBurney), and my Great-great-grandparents - James and Mary Fairhead (nee Welsh). Along with other family members, including 2 small babies. They all had large families who are now scattered across Australia. I have recently made contact with the daughter of one of Roma's brothers, and I am hoping to learn more family history. 

The unnamed grave on the bottom right here is baby Alex Fairhead son of George and Florence, and twin of Bernard. I finally found out his name when we were there in September. Alex died at 2 and a half months old in 1920.

James Fairhead was the first to come to Australia arriving on 30 April 1853 as convict # 1863 on the ship Pyrenees. He was immediately given ticket-of-leave on 1 May 1853 on arrival in Fremantle and given a Conditional Pardoned on 15 September 1855. He married Mary Welsh on 1 December 1859 and they bought land in Beverley in the wheatbelt. They had twelve children in twenty years.

Below is a photo of James Fairhead.

I am yet to find a photo of Mary or any of the details of how she came to be Western Australia. I made a couple of new contacts at the anniversary celebration but my search still continues for a photo and details of Mary. I think I will need to go to the Battye Library in Perth to search.

The 150th commemoration service was conducted by The Right Reverend Dr. Ian Coutts Bishop of the Anglican church in Bunbury. Over 150 people attended the service. As the tiny church only holds 50 people, the elderly were given first preferance and the remainder sat outside. We could hear the service through a two way microphone. Thankfully the sprinkling of rain earlier held off while we were there.

After the service the Bishop planted a commemorative olive tree in keeping with the olive trees that are growing along the path leading to the church. I enjoyed meeting Bishop Ian. 

At the old Atkins house down the road from the church is a large olive tree said to have been planted by Benedictine monks from New Norcia when they passed through the district around 1873. I am wondering if this was where the olive trees at the church also came from. 

A little short history of the church - (with thanks to the 150th celebration committee) 

Settlers arrived in the district around 1846 and the townsite of Mourambine was declared in 1884. Years later the railway bypassed the town and Pingelly (7 kilometres to the west) became the centre of the district. 

The Reverand F Lynch from Gilgering held a monthly service in Mourambine from 1869 onwards. Two blocks of land, each of 50 acres were gazetted. Originally the church was going to be built from timber, but the carefully selected timber was burnt in a bushfire before building could begin. The residents then decided to build a stone church from local stone. The church was built by William Atkins, a stone mason, under the supervision of John Shaddick, Edward Robinson and John Seabrook Jr who were responsible for its erection. 

It was orginally roofed with hand-split she-oak shingles but these were later covered with corrugated iron roofing, the building having no ceiling. The seats in the church were made at the 'Establishment' in York by convict labour. The building was consecrated in the presence of 45 people by Bishop Hale on Sunday 18 May 1873, costing 89 pounds to erect. 

After the celebrations at the church we were treated to a delicious lunch at the Pingelly Recreation and Cultural Center put on by the Pingelly Shire. 

For more about the church - Western Australian Heritage Council

And an interesting article from Trove where you an search newspapers and gazettes - Trove - 1886 letter to the Editor

And also from Trove - Notes from Mourambine

A list of graves - Ozburials

Thank you so much for stopping by. Do you have a church yard that holds significant value to your family? 

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