Brief History

THE FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LAURIETON WAS OPENED BY DR MURRAY, BISHOP OF MAITLAND IN 1899. BY THE EARLY 50's, THE OLD CHURCH (SEATED ABOUT 40 PEOPLE) BECAME OVERWHELMED AS POPULATION GREW IN THE AREA. IN JANUARY 1958 A NEW CHURCH/HALL WAS BUILT. IT WAS BLESSED, AND OPENED BY BISHOP TOOHEY NEXT DOOR TO THE ORIGINAL CHURCH AND COULD SEAT 200. FURTHER EXTENSIONS WERE MADE IN 1968. IN 1984 AFTER THE THIRD LAURIETON CHURCH WAS BUILT, THE OLD CHURCH/HALL WAS MOVED TO THE NEW SITE WHERE IT CONTINUES TO SERVE AS THE PARISH HALL.

THE CURRENT CHURCH IS A WHITE BRICK STRUCTURE DEDICATED TO ST PETER THE FISHERMAN. IT WAS OPENED IN 1985. IN 1995 THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE REFLECTIVE GARDEN BEGAN, THE BRAINCHILD OF THE PARISH PRIEST, FR JOHN CASEY. IT IS NOW A MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION AND ATTRACTS VISITORS NATIONWIDE AND INTERNATIONALY.

OTHER CHURCHES IN THE DIOCESE

St James - St John the Evangelist - Our Lady of Mount Carmel