Anglican Parish of Northern Mallee

Post Office Box 692, Mildura 3502, Victoria, Australia
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Church History
Our 11 Clergy

All Saints',   Meringur

80 Kms west of Red Cliffs, at Meringur
Visit the park beside the church, maintained by the
Millewa Community Pioneer Forest & Historical Society Inc.

All Saint's church, Meringur Interesting screen behind the Communion table

Our History

St Arnaud Diocese Coat of Arms
Bishop James confirmed a number of candidates on 21 October 1928, at the Tarrango State School. The Bush Church Aid Society missioner, Revd Reginald James Tuck, also called the Priest-in-charge of the Werrimull Parochial District, was tragically drowned 26 Dec 1928, while swimming in the Murray river at Ned's Corner. All Saints has a Memorial and a portrait of Revd Tuck on their walls.
Arnaud Diocese Coat of Arms
The original Altar frontal is preserved in the entry porch The Communion table is set for the service. We visited Meringur, All Saints' Day, 7 Nov 1999 and photographed the church.

All Saints has three Memorials. Our first Bush Church Aid Society missioner Rev Tuck, tragically drowned 26 Dec 1926, both through his portrait, and a brass tablet. Emily Annie Hallahan, died June 24, 1931, is commemorated by her husband Rev R T Hallahan and the parishioners of Werrimull. The third memorial is for F/O James Austin Hakewill, RAAF, killed in action on 5 Dec 1944, and was erected by members of All Saints congregation and friends.

The Communion table is set for the service.

Fellowship luncheon in the gardens, Stronger With Time choir members Colleen and Peg Mr and Mrs MatthewsAfter the service, we enjoyed a fellowship luncheon in the gardens at the rear of the church, hosted by Mr and Mrs Matthews
Catholic church, Werrimull The Town of Werrimull Began
In November 1923 the railway line reached Werrimull, about 34 miles west of Red Cliffs, and the township was formed.

The unusual church at Werrimull was built by the Catholic community, and stands as a memorial to the early settlers who tried to make a living on dry land farms that were far too small.

St Nicholas church built at WerrimullBishop James visited in 1929. St Luke's church at Irymple was dedicated on 27 October, 1929, and the next day the Bishop carried out the benediction of St Nicholas' Clergy House at Werrimull. Help was obtained from England towards building the church at Werrimull. St Nicholas' was opened and consecrated on 30 May 1932.
On 25 October 1942 Bishop James met the Church Wardens and Vestry of St John's to discuss the amalgamation of the Parochial Districts of Werrimull and Merbein. Arrangements were made, and Revd V D Hartwig commenced taking services at St Nicholas' Werrimull on Sunday 25 October 1942, until 30 June 1943, when Revd Hartwig transferred to the Parish of Wentworth, and commenced services at Wentworth, helped by two Lay Readers, one at Merbein and the other at Dareton.

Lutheran church built at Meringur, closed 2000 Meringur has two churches, as does Werrimull. Those at Meringur hold services for the Anglicans and Lutherans of the area, Werrimull has churches for the Catholics and Uniting Church members. In 1956 the parish of Werrimull, with its centre at Meringur, was vacant. In 2000 the Lutherans conducted the closing of their centre at Meringur, shown in this photo.

Anglican church moved to Meringur 1964Mr Alex Matthews, an Anzac who gained the Military Medal, was a pioneer of the Millewa, and a member of Synod for many years. He died on 8 July 1964.
All Saints Opened here 1964 In 1949 the Millewa was placed under the jurisdiction of Mildura. All Saints Billabong was opened and dedicated by Bishop James on 20 Nov 1927 at 3pm. Almost 37 years later the building was tramsported to Meringur and opened and dedicated by Bishop Winter 8 Nov 1964.
Changes again, 18 Feb 1970 Rectors and Church Wardens of Mildura, Merbein and Red Cliffs were called to a meeting on 18 Feb 1970, by the Bishop-in-Council to discuss the realignment of parish boundaries and responsibilities. One result is that each of the clergy will take a turn visiting Werrimull/Meringur and conducting a service. This means each Rector will be absent from the 10 am Eucharist at his own church for one Sunday every four months.

Amalgamation On 22 July 1973 Bishop WInter inaugurated the Millewa Anglican Parish Council, and the resources of All Saints Meringur and of St Nicholas Werrimull were pooled and named 'the Millewa Anglican Parish', Services are held once a month, with venues alternating between the two centres, and serviced by clergy from the three Sunraysia parishes.

Our Clergy, based at St Nicholas', Werrimull

Revd R J Tuck
The Bush Church Aid Society missioner, Revd Reginald James Tuck, also called the Priest-in-charge of the Werrimull Parochial District, was tragically drowned 26 Dec 1926, while swimming in the Murray River at Ned's Corner.
Back to 'Three Memorials'.
Revd V H Willaims
Revd Vernon Henderson Williams was Curate 1926-28.
He took a service at St John's Merbein, on 31 Jan 1926.
Revd W I Fleming
Revd William Irving Fleming was Priest-in-charge 1929-31.
He acted as Bishop's Chaplin for the Induction of Revd Gribble in St John's Merbein on Sat, 11 Jan 1930.
Revd R T Hallahan ThL
Revd Hallahan was transferred to West Townsville in 1934
Revd T Gee
Revd Thomas George Gee served as vicar at St Nicholas' 1934-36.
He visited St John's Merbein to celebrate Holy Communion on 9 Sept 1934.
Revd F T R Bayly
Revd Francis Thomas Richard Bayly was Vicar 1936-40.
Revd E J Dorrell
Revd Edward John Dorrell was Vicar 1940-42. He went to serve at Carisbrook
Revd R F Gibbins
Revd Gibbins was Priest-in-charge 1942-43. He had come to us from Woomelang/Tempy and after a year was transferred to Manangatang
Revd J J Matthews
Revd Jack Joseph Matthews was Deacon-in-charge 1943-45. he was then transferred to Manangatang
Mr Eric G T Ind
Eric Ind was appointed to Werrimull as Stipendary Lay Reader by Bishop James on 5 April 1945, and continued till 1948. he was supervised by Canon Horner, then Canon Hardingham of Mildura
Revd K R S Hodgson
Revd Kenneth Russell Stephen Hodgson, whose qualifications were ThL 1945 (Melb), BA (Melb) 1950, MA 1960, PhD (Chicago) 1964, Deacon 1949 was Curate-in-charge 1949-52.
Under Mildura
In 1949 the Millewa was placed under the jurisdiction of Mildura and worked with the aid of Curates.
1. Revd KR Hodgson 1949 - 1952
2. Revd GB Lucas 1953 - 55 who went to Sea Lake
3. Revd RM Davis 1955 - 58 who went to Nyah
4. Revd CEK Beatty 1958 - 60 who went to Manangatang
5. Revd PN Wellock 1960 - 63 who went to ABM Missionary College
6. Revd FM Stein 1963 - 64
7. Revd DW Carter 1964 - 65 went to study in Melbourne
8. Revd GB Browne 1968 - 71 who went to Sea Lake
Worker Priests
On 26 Nov 1972 at Christ Church Cathedral, St Arnaud, Messrs OC Connors (Merbein) and CN Rudd (Bealiba) were ordained Deacons by Bishop Winter for service in the Sunyaysia District, and on 21 Dev 1973 Bishop DHW Shand of St Arnaud ordained the Revds DG Allen, OC Connors and CN Rudd as priests in St Margaret's Church Mildura. All have ministered at Werrimull and Meringur.
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