That little tin church

September 11, 2025

If you've driven along Abercrombie Road through Black Springs any time in the last 134 years you might have noticed the little cream corrugated iron church near the intersection with Beaconsfield Road. It's St Aidan's Village Church and there's a bit of history there.

June 1986 - The land was purchased from Fr Walsh of Oberon by the Diocese of Bathurst.

Click to see the original sale document

1888-1891 - The church was built by Mr Tuke of Oberon and opened by Bishop Camidge.

Click to see the story in the Bathurst Times

1904 - Consecrated by Bishop Camidge.

1904 - 2017 - Monthly Services were conducted from O'Connell and Oberon.

2018 - The church was closed by Bishop Palmer despite the protests of locals. It was deconsecrated and sold.

July — August 2018 - The church and land were purchased by Andrew Wilson. The church was reopened and rehallowed and ownership transferred to the congregation.

Services are held on third Sunday of each month at 11am, followed by light refreshments and a time of fellowship.

The services follow a Morning Prayer style with bible readings, hymns and prayer.
A traditional Communion service occurs 4 times a year including Christmas Eve and Easter Day.
Christmas and Easter services
Lenten Bible Study each year.
Occasional seminars and talks on topics of interest.

While the nature of worship reveals it's Anglican roots, St Aidan's is a non-denominational church and welcomes people of all faiths (and even if you don't have any). Oberon Matters (a very lapsed confirmed member of the Anglican Communion) went to the Easter Day service and there was at least one Buddhist and one atheist there causing no concern to anyone else. It's what "interfaith" is all about.

Thanks go to Rosemary Sempell who provided the scans of the ancient docuiments.