Church Grows Out of the Ashes

Wars, drought, depression and certainly bushfires have all been a part of the 150 years of history for St Mary’s Catholic Church at Snug.

Since the first building was opened on the site of the current church in 1858 by Tasmania’s first Catholic Bishop, Robert Willson, there has been a strong Catholic community in the Channel area.

The current building on the corner of Snug Tiers Rd and Channel Hwy is the third church on this site. The original church lasted for 40 years before being claimed in the 1897 bushfires.

Another church was soon placed on the site, lasting another 70 years before being destroyed in the devastating bushfires of 1967.

It was this history that was remembered recently as the sesquicentenary was celebrated at St Mary’s with a well attended Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Hobart, Rev. Adrian Doyle and Fr Chris Hope, Kingston-Channel Parish Priest.

Archbishop Doyle said that it was thanks to the drive and commitment of the community that within one year, that the current St Mary’s Church was erected as the place of worship and gathering for this community in the Channel area after the 1967 bushfires.

A crucifix, recently commissioned by the parishioners and carved by local artist, sculptor and parishioner, Judy Lyneham, provided a central focus for the Mass.

The unique crucifix was shaped out of Huon pine with the figure of Christ formed out of Tasmanian she-oak.

Parish Priest Fr Chris Hope described the crucifix as the current parishioners’ gift to future generations.

“It’s even more special that it’s been made by Judy, a local artist, a parishioner and our friend,” Fr Chris said.

“It is such an honour to have people put their faith in me to create this piece,” said Judy Lyneham, who created this unique piece over 115 hours.

The Christ figure is unique in that natural red stains in the timber appear in the same spot, where the real Christ was pierced with a Roman spear as he hung on the cross.

Soon the original bell, donated in 1897 by the Rabbitt family, will be also reinstalled back at St Mary’s.

For the sesquicentenary, the church and grounds were given a facelift – under the eye of Noel Fyfe and his band of assistants.

While over 150 years, buildings, parishioners and priests have come and gone, St Mary’s Catholic Church at Snug has certainly continued to be a part of an enduring contribution to the Channel community