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Maitland Anglican Parish is celebrating a big birthday this year.
And only fittingly, the parishioners at St Mary’s joined together to laugh and remember its rich history on Sunday.
For parish member and event organiser Margaret Richardson, it was a “brilliant” morning on the grounds of the church with the sun shining.
“We had our usual mass and then a garden party which was a wonderful. The weather was beautiful and we were in a beautiful setting,” she said.
“We had the party on the site of the original church.”
Maitland Anglican Parish was first established in 18238, and is considered one of the oldest parishes in the Diocese.
Organist Barb Slade said the combined mass and party drew about 100 people including Paterson MP Meryl Swanson and Maitland mayor Loretta Baker.
”We have about 80 to 90 people who regularly attend our three different services but we couldn’t tell you how many people claim to be Anglican in the area,” she said.
“But it was a lovely day. We had cake, and it was cut by our oldest and youngest parishioners.”
The original St Mary’s Church was situated between the present rectory and the existing church, and could accommodated about 400 people.
The first foundation was laid in 1837, and the final touches finished in 1843.
But times have certainly changed, did you know families would pay the church an annual rental for the pew?
The first bishop of Newcastle, William Tyrell, consecrated the existing church in July 1878. The beautiful stone structure still stands, and can hold up to 600 people within in her stone walls.
“The parish has seen a lot of change in those years,” Ms Richardson said.