St Bede’s Catholic Church, located in the little village of Appin, provides a rare opportunity to view one of Australia’s best Regency Gothic churches.
Prior to the construction of St. Bede’s, Fr. John Summer was appointed as Appin Parish Priest in 1835, and mass was held at Gordon’s Farm. By 1838, mass was being held in a cottage before Father John Therry decided to erect a church at Appin. With community support and more than AUD300 in donations, the dream became a reality. On December 18, 1837, the “Sydney Morning Herald” reported that “Bishop Polding laid the foundation for the Roman Catholic Chapel at Appin last week.”
The official opening of St Bede’s Catholic Church took place on October 8, 1843. Restoration work began in 1999, and the formal opening occurred in early 2000.
“The oldest Catholic Church in continuous use on the Australian mainland” reads a rustic iron sign outside the beautiful and historically significant St Bede’s. The National Trust has also recognized St Bede’s as one of the greatest Regency Gothic churches built by the Roman Catholic Church in Australia.
Email: contact@visitwollondilly.com.au
Website: www.visitwollondilly.com.au
Address: 26 King Street, Appin, Sydney, NSW 2560 Australia
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