History

St Margaret’s

In 1894 Bellingen became a separate parochial district, having been under the pastoral care of the Kempsey Parish since 1876. In 1896, the Bellinger Parish had its first church building opened and dedicated. The Rectory was opened in 1904 and the area was raised to the status of a full Parish in 1905. The new parish embraced the villages of Bellingen, Bellinger Heads (Urunga), Fernmount, Orama, Gleniffer, Raleigh and Bonville. In modern times the Orama and Gleniffer churches were sold and Bonville is now a separate parish with Sawtell. 

The present church of St Margaret of Scotland was dedicated in 1935. It was referred to as a concrete church, the second in the diocese, (the first being the Prince of Peace at Raleigh built in 1919). At the time it was described by the Northern Courier, Bellingen as being ‘picturesquely set in the church grounds at the top of the Broadway, its commanding location a contribution to the architectural beauty of the town’ (12 Feb 1935).

St Margaret’s is known for its beautiful stained glass windows and many memorials and gifts. Very recently the parish has had some windows repaired through a Heritage Council grant. Notable windows in the Baptistry are of St Cecilia, Patron Saint of Music (1984), St Mary, Mother of the Lord (1984), St Elizabeth, (1962), Princess of Hungary (1984), and St Margaret, Queen of Scotland and Patron Saint of this church (1962). 

A plaque dedicated to the memory of Margaret De Mestre is proudly displayed at St Margaret’s. Margaret was born on St Margaret’s Day, 16th November 1915 and grew up on the family’s dairy farm in Kalang.  She trained to be a nurse and enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Corps. Margaret was on board the HMAHS Manunda when it was attacked while anchored in Darwin Harbour on 19th February 1942. Margaret died of shrapnel wounds and her sacrifice is acknowledged at Christ Church Cathedral in Darwin and by a plaque in St Margaret of Scotland in Bellingen.

Prince of Peace Raleigh

This concrete church was built in 1919 by a local builder and generations of the McBaron family have had a close involvement in its history. Mrs Rae McBaron who still worships there remembers attending this church as a child, travelling by horse and sulky. The name was altered to ‘Prince of Peace’ to commemorate the First World War. The church lichgate invokes English village churches and the beautiful stained glass windows speak of the pastoral life still surrounding this area.