The Anglican Parish of St Alban the Martyr is both the largest (in area) and the smallest (in population) of all the parishes in the Diocese of Newcastle. This is a very brief overview of its history. In the early 20th century, when motor transport was scarce, we had six churches in the parish.
The main church was newly rebuilt and rededicated in 1897, as described in our church history page. Downriver, at Central Macdonald, we had St Jude's, up 'the Branch' (the Macdonald River) we had St Matthew's (more or less opposite Gorricks Run) and then St Phillips at Higher Macdonald, 17 km from the village. Taking the other branch, Mogo Creek, along Wollombi Road, we had St John the Baptist at Fernances and then, further up, St Peter's at Greengrove (Upper Mangrove).
So what happened? Major floods in the 1940s seriously depopulated the valley. With a much smaller population and better transport we no longer needed so many churches. St Peter's was cut off by a reservoir development. St Jude's was sold as a private dwelling and still exists. St Matthew's was moved to the Pioneer Village at Wilberforce, where it can still be seen. St John the Baptist became derelict, and was used as a hay shed. St Phillips remained in use. It was very much a Sternbeck family church and Ninian and Robert Sternbeck looked after it.
In 1983 it was decided to move St John's to St Albans and turn it into the church hall. It was refurbished, largely by volunteer labour, and reopened in December that year. To say it has been a valuable asset ever since would be a huge understatement!
In the early 2000s the decision was made to renovate St Phillips. This work was largely organized by 'weekenders' Eve Harman and Jennifer and Phillip Perry. The 100-year-old iron roof needed replacing and the window timbers were so rotten they were deemed not worth painting. New windows were commissioned from local carpenter Derek Nealon. On completion, a service of consecration was held in 2011. From then it was used for services every second month. In recent years much further work has been needed, almost all carried out by volunteers. After a hiatus caused by bushfires, floods and Covid it is now (as of May 2024) back in action again, but only twice a year.