Bungonia’s little church packs a mighty historical punch

St Michael’s Bungonia,

It’s a little church on a little hill with the biggest of claims.

How many know that the oldest Catholic Church on mainland Australia, still in its original footprint and still in continuous use, is in our midst within the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn?

It’s St Michael’s, tucked away amid the scrub on the edge of the small community of Bungonia, about 90 minutes’ drive north of Canberra and a stones’ throw east of Goulburn.

For nearly 180 years, it’s been the spiritual home to Catholics in the Bungonia area, the scene of countless celebrations of the Eucharist, baptisms, and funerals.

The Rosary is prayed there every Thursday night at seven. Last week, the Catholic Voice travelled to Bungonia to join three rosary regulars, Anne Wiggan, Moira McGinity, and Dennis Boreham.

The trio told the Catholic Voice how the first Masses in the area were celebrated by Fr John Therry, the legendary Irishman and Catholic priest who seems to pop up everywhere throughout the colony of New South Wales during the 1830s and 1840s.

Convicts and ex-convicts were a dime a dozen – Catholic priests less so – when the idea of St Michael’s was first mooted back then.

L-R_ Moira McGinity, Dennis Boreham, Anne Wiggan at St Michael’s Bungonia

Through the influence and designs of Fr Therry and a fellow priest Fr McElroy, ex-convicts Patrick Kelly (stone mason) and Stan Cruice (carpenter) played leading roles in the church’s construction. It was consecrated on 3 July 1847.

Such is the richness of its history that today, every part of the church, roof, walls, pews, altar, cross stations, and so on comes with a story that Ms McGinity and Ms Wiggan were keen to tell.

The church bell, for example, predates the church itself, having been cast in England in 1833. Ms McGinity related how it was donated by an early settler and manager of convicts, Robert Futter. “It was used to call the convicts [in],” she said. The bell originally hung from a tower above the sacristy but now hangs between two wooden posts outside the church.

When suggested that few might know of St Michael’s significance, Ms Wiggan said it was a bit like Bungonia. “It tends to be forgotten, and if you don’t know anything about it, you can’t care [about it].”

That care is evident not just at St Michael’s but at many of Bungonia’s old landmark buildings and locations that are signposted thanks to the efforts of the local historical society started by Ms McGinity, Ms Wiggan, and others.

St Michael’s has survived white ant attacks, bushfires, hailstorms, and all the winds and weather could throw at it.

Classified by the National Trust as a historic building having national significance, it will celebrate the bicentenary of its consecration in 2047.

It’s a good bet that when it comes around, the faithful will still be at prayer at the little church on the little hill.