St Margarets Anglican Church
Bellingen NSW
2454
Who we are
The Bellinger Parish is located within the stunningly beautiful Mid North Coast of New South Wales, halfway between Brisbane and Sydney and approximately 30 km south of Coffs Harbour. Comprised of three centres: Bellingen (St Margaret’s), Urunga (St Barnabas) and Raleigh (Prince of Peace), the parish is set amidst the lush green valleys of the Bellinger and Kalang rivers and the blue seascapes around Urunga and neighbouring villages. The majestic blue Dorrigo mountains form a beautifully dramatic backdrop to this idyllic setting and balmy sub-tropical climate.
Bellingen has its origins firmly planted in its rural beginnings but is also now a popular tourist destination and known for its relaxed lifestyle of cafés and restaurants. Creative occupations abound in Bellingen including artists and craftspeople, writers, musicians and horticulturalists. It is an economy in transition from traditional timber, dairying and meat processing industries to the creative sectors of tourism and events such as Camp Creative, Bellingen Music Festival and the Readers and Writers Festival. The Bellinger River wends its way gently through the town as does the Waterfall Way, a tourist road leading from the Pacific Highway through to the Dorrigo plateau and beyond.
In contrast to Bellingen, Urunga is a seaside town nestled between the coastline and the Kalang River. Many people choose to live in Urunga and neighbouring villages of Raleigh, Repton and Mylestom for the milder climate and village lifestyles. There are boardwalks and scenic trails, wonderful birdlife and wildlife to enjoy and explore. The name “Urunga” comes from the local aboriginal language and means “a long spit of sand.”
Historically, this area became colonised by early settlers when in 1841 a government surveyor led an exploration party into the area and named the main river the ‘Bellinger’, an aboriginal word meaning ‘clear water’ and the smaller river he called ‘Odalberrie’, now known as the Kalang River. Cedar cutters moved into the Bellinger Valley, taking advantage of the rivers to carry the logs downstream. Farmers soon followed from Kempsey, using the rich alluvial soil to grow maize and dairy cattle.
A flourishing shipping trade was developed in Urunga until, in 1923, the railway reached this town. The historical past can still be glimpsed throughout the charming main street in Bellingen (Hyde St) and in many of the old cottages and houses. In Urunga, the Ocean View Hotel and early cottages speak of a bygone era. The famous Urunga boardwalk has been is a great tourist attraction where migrating whales can be seen on their journey south.
In the local paper, The Bellingen Shire Courier-Sun, dated June 26th, 2019 says “research conducted by local government experts has confirmed Bellingen Shire is an extraordinary place to live ….”. In the same report the paper states that 94 per cent of people living here strongly agree/agree with the statement: “There is something about the landscape that makes me feel good”, as opposed to 77 per cent nationwide
Bellingen has its origins firmly planted in its rural beginnings but is also now a popular tourist destination and known for its relaxed lifestyle of cafés and restaurants. Creative occupations abound in Bellingen including artists and craftspeople, writers, musicians and horticulturalists. It is an economy in transition from traditional timber, dairying and meat processing industries to the creative sectors of tourism and events such as Camp Creative, Bellingen Music Festival and the Readers and Writers Festival. The Bellinger River wends its way gently through the town as does the Waterfall Way, a tourist road leading from the Pacific Highway through to the Dorrigo plateau and beyond.
Historically, this area became colonised by early settlers when in 1841 a government surveyor led an exploration party into the area and named the main river the ‘Bellinger’, an aboriginal word meaning ‘clear water’ and the smaller river he called ‘Odalberrie’, now known as the Kalang River. Cedar cutters moved into the Bellinger Valley, taking advantage of the rivers to carry the logs downstream. Farmers soon followed from Kempsey, using the rich alluvial soil to grow maize and dairy cattle.
A flourishing shipping trade was developed in Urunga until, in 1923, the railway reached this town. The historical past can still be glimpsed throughout the charming main street in Bellingen (Hyde St) and in many of the old cottages and houses. In Urunga, the Ocean View Hotel and early cottages speak of a bygone era. The famous Urunga boardwalk has been is a great tourist attraction where migrating whales can be seen on their journey south.
In the local paper, The Bellingen Shire Courier-Sun, dated June 26th, 2019 says “research conducted by local government experts has confirmed Bellingen Shire is an extraordinary place to live ….”. In the same report the paper states that 94 per cent of people living here strongly agree/agree with the statement: “There is something about the landscape that makes me feel good”, as opposed to 77 per cent nationwide
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Leadership
Leader Name:
Rev. Anne Goode
Phone:
Leader Email:
Click here to contact Rev. Anne Goode
St Margarets Anglican Church Service Times
Sunday 10:00am
It's been more than a year since the last service times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm service times.
Please contact the church to confirm Service Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
It's been more than a year since the last service times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm service times.
Please contact the church to confirm Service Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
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St Margarets Anglican Church History
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.
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).
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.
"As is the business of tailors to make clothes and cobblers to make shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray."Martin Luther
St Margarets Anglican Church listing was last updated on the 19th of February, 2023
