THE Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Dr Brian Farran blessed a new all-weather entry porch at the church of St John the Divine in Taree.
One hundred and thirty guests who witnessed the ceremony included the mayor of Greater Taree City, Paul Hogan, and Federal member for Lyne, Rob Oakeshott.
Members of the St John's Parish Council and the Reverend Canon Keith Dean-Jones hosted the function on Saturday afternoon, welcoming in particular many members of the building and construction industry who helped carry out the work.
Parish council member Wal Riley acknowledged all those responsible and outlined some of the history of the church.
The first Anglican service in the Manning region was celebrated by the Reverend William Macquarie Cowper, chaplain to the Australian Agricultural Company on September 3 1845, he said.
The first church, a slab timber building, was erected in the vicinity of the present Martin Bridge in Taree in 1850.
In 1857, a brick church dedicated to the glory of god and in honour of St John the Apostle was built on the present church site.
On May 2, 1954 the Right Reverend Francis de Witt Batty, the seventh bishop of Newcastle, laid the foundation stone for the current church building.
Within a year, the first part of the new church had been completed and the old church was demolished.
In 1962, the last two bays of the nave and the tower were constructed, and on February 17, 1963, the Right Reverend James Housden, the eighth bishop of Newcastle, dedicated the completed building.
After all debts had been paid, the church was consecrated by Bishop Housden on December 10, 1972. The current church has been greatly assisted by the generosity of the late Beatrice Selena Latham, widow of the late the Reverend Walter Latham, the third rector of Taree.
Mrs Latham died on November 17, 1977, leaving a bequest to the church for the extension and maintenance of the present building.
The first main use of the bequest was for construction of the adjoining Latham Centre, which has proved to be a most useful addition, regularly used for meetings and receptions.
It was designed by Mr Geoffrey Danks, built by Mr Peter Nicholson of Taree and dedicated by the Right Reverend Roger Herft, the 11th bishop, on March 20, 1994.
The original design of the church included a covered entrance porch, and over the years the parishioners have recognised the need for a sheltered entrance.
Mr Danks was asked to prepare a conceptual design, plans were displayed, and at a general meeting of parishioners, a decision was made to proceed with the project.
It was pointed out that this is one of the main heritage buildings of the Mid North Coast and that any construction work would need to be of the highest quality.
Work on the entrance building has been excellent, Mr Riley said, and the church was indebted to Mr Peter Nicholson and all who assisted.
"In generations to come, many will remark on the beautiful brick work, paving, roofing and landscaping. Hidden from view is the work of electricians and plumbers.
"The entrance porch has been built to the glory of God, and all who have worked on the site have honoured the holiness of the place."
Mayor Hogan added his congratulations and best wishes to the church for the important role St John's continues to have in Taree's community life.
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