Shellharbour Village Unit Church marks 150 years

Feb. 16, 2015, 5:11 p.m.

SHELLHARBOUR Village Uniting Church will celebrate a significant milestone next Sunday when parishioners mark the 150th anniversary.

The original Wesleyan Church and the modern Uniting Church are celebrating the old stone church's 150th anniversary this weekend.

SHELLHARBOUR Village Uniting Church will celebrate a significant milestone next Sunday when parishioners mark the 150th anniversary.

After the founding of Shellharbour by the district's pioneers, starting from land clearing in 1851, the village gradually started taking shape after the then Peterborough was divided into 80 farms.

In 1858 the stone Church of England and Presbyterian churches were built, followed by the Catholic Church in 1860.

As the town grew a courthouse and police station were built in 1863. The town's fourth stone church, then known as the Wesleyan Church, was also constructed in 1863. The church became the Uniting Church in 1977.

Current Church Council secretary Cliff Bell said the church's congregation was extremely excited to be celebrating such a significant milestone.

"The church was first used on February 23, 1865, with the Reverend W. Curnow conducting the opening service," Mr Bell said.

"The church has made somewhat of a comeback in recent times, with numbers falling quite alarmingly at one stage, but with around 70 members now, the church is, thankfully, in quite a strong position again.

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Shellharbour Village Unit Church marks 150 years