Margaret River

The parish of Margaret River was established by Archbishop Prendiville with the opening of a school and convent on 5th March 1950. The parish was to include the area from Cowaramup in the north to Augusta in the south. Prior to 1950, Margaret River had been part of the Busselton parish under the Archdiocese of Perth. Over the years churches have been built at Cowaramup, Margaret River, Karridale and Augusta but today there are churches in all these towns except Cowaramup where the first church was built.

The Catholic community grew slowly as the farming district became established after the First World War. During the group settlement scheme most of the development was around Cowaramup and a new church was opened in this thriving community in 1936 at a cost of 450 pounds. However, things changed rapidly and due to a diminishing population the church was transferred to Margaret River in 1939. Some 16 years later another church was built in Cowaramup that remained there until 1979. The present church in Karridale, the Church of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, was built in 1955 and opened by Bishop Goody.

In 1950 Fr. Farrelly bought the ‘Big House’ from the Davis famile at Karridale and transferred it to Margaret River where it was re-erected as a convent for the Sisiters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart. The old church, which had been moved from Cowaramup in 1939, was sold to the Nyindumurra Family School in 1983 when the new rammed earth church was built under the direction and inspiration of Fr. William Glover. In 1986 a rammed limestone church was built overlooking the Blackwood River in Augusta, again as a result of the drive and enthusiasm of Fr. Glover. Thus the parish is blessed with two new churches of architectural and tourist significance as well as the old Karridale church which is an important part of the parish heritage.

Augusta Karridale
The late Fr Glover proposed the Lumen Christi Church at Augusta. He was the priest behind the inspirational rammed earth church at Margaret River – St. Thomas More. The rammed limestone church was completed and blessed in 1982 and like Margaret River, is of great interest to many tourists traveling around the South West. A history of the Catholic community of Augusta-Karridale titled “Through the Darkness” by Patricia Patmore was written and published in 1986.

Karridale
The Karridale church was built and blessed in October 1955 by Bishop Goody called “Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament”. This church, now more than 40 years old, is still opened on Sundays for Mass (8am summer and 9am winter) and is a simple but inspiring classic little timber building. The Karridale community fulfilling the duties regarding operation and upkeep.

The Parish Council operates as a satellite to Margaret River and includes the Karridale community and church. A caretaker and his wife reside at Lumen Christi, their duties being directed by the Parish Priest in Margaret River in consultation with the committee.

Patch Story
The red comet in the centre of the patch is the symbol used for the Year of Jubilee. (In the Jewish tradition, the comet was a fiery sign of a life of forgiveness, liberty, justice and jubilation.)

The blue Celtic cross overlaying this symbol signified the growth of Christianity in the 2000 years since the birth of Christ. Augusta and Margaret River, the two main parish centres, are represented by a motif signifying the name of each church: Lumen Christi the lighted candle and St. Thomas More an open book marked with a cross.

The patch was designed and made by Margaret Hall (Karridale) and Joan Barber (Margaret River). Margaret Douglas, a parishioner from Augusta, attached the patch to the banner.