A celebratory event to mark 90 years since the Herons Creek Chapel’s dedication is on Sunday, September 10. 

The event will begin at 1.30pm with the official opening of The Cedar Way stage 1 project. 

The project was organised by Herons Creek Heritage & Tourist Trails which is a group of volunteers engaged in establishing a series of signs to depict historic sites and stories of the forgotten pioneering families.

The project has received financial assistance from the federal government’s Stronger Communities Programme through the Local Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie and also from the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.

Pastor Martin Parish said the group was grateful to all those who provided assistance including through local businesses and families.

Records of the early settlers in the district show they were folk of strong Christian faith. For years they held services in private homes. In the 1920s Mrs Emilie Baker, the neighbouring landowner, gave the land so the community could build its own church.

Timber was donated by local residents and milled free of charge at the Longworth Mill. The first service was on February 21, 1926 and the church was dedicated as St Mary the Virgin’ Church, Herons Creek in September 1927.

In 2001 most small Anglican local churches were closed in favour of a single combined place of worship in Lakewood.  While the Herons Creek Chapel congregation resisted being closed, the church ceased being used for almost a decade. 

In 2008, Pastor Martin Parish, grandson of early Postmasters, Harry and Sarah Parish, and his wife Jeanette bought the church and undertook a significant restoration (assisted by numerous local supporters). It was reopened on 26th November, 2011 as the Herons Creek Chapel.

Herons Creek long-time resident Les Latham said ‘the chapel was put here by the people, for the people and as a witness to the people of Herons Creek’.

The chapel is located at 49 Blackbutt Road, Herons Creek. The event will begin at 1.30pm with the official opening of the Cedar Way stage 1 project followed by afternoon tea and a service to mark 90 years. People are asked to bring a plate of food to share. The event is expected to conclude at 4pm.