SUNDAY, 22 February marked the end of a significant chapter in Mid North Coast history, as Christ the King Catholic Church at Taylors Arm officially closed its doors after nearly a century of service to the local community.
The final Mass was led by The Very Reverend Bishop Greg Homeming, Bishop of Lismore, assisted by Father Peter Rebello and Father Vinod Lobo.
Parishioners, former residents and visitors gathered to farewell the small country church that has been at the heart of Catholic life in the district since the 1920s.
In his homily, Bishop Homeming reflected on the significance of the moment, saying, “Even though the building has closed, please continue to cherish and carry what the community of Taylors Arm has given you, wherever you may be.”
At the conclusion of the service, Bishop Homeming led the ceremonial departure before formally closing the doors, declaring, “With thanks to God for all the good accomplished here, I declare the church of Christ the King in Taylors Arm officially closed.”
The day also coincided with the ninth anniversary of Bishop Homeming’s episcopal ordination, which was acknowledged with a small commemoration in the shade of the trees surrounding the church.
In a poignant moment symbolising both farewell and continuity, baby Theodore August Spear was baptised during the service, the last baptism ever to take place in the church.
Theodore travelled from Cairns with his parents, Abraham and Jessica Spear, to be present for the historic occasion.
His father, Abraham, was himself baptised at Christ the King, making the ceremony deeply personal for the family.
The large crowd that attended the service then moved to the Taylors Arm community hall where the Hall committee provided a fitting lunch and refreshments.
The closure marks the end of a long history of Catholic worship in the Taylors Arm district, dating back to Irish settlers who arrived in the Nambucca Valley from the 1860s seeking new opportunities.
These early pioneers established farming and timber communities and maintained their faith despite isolation and hardship.
In the earliest years, priests travelled on horseback from the Macleay and Bellingen districts, navigating dense bush, rough tracks and flooded waterways to minister to scattered families.
Masses were often held in private homes or at local venues such as the Congarinni Hotel.
The first purpose-built church at Taylors Arm, St Finbarr’s, opened in 1901 on land donated by John Kearney.
The present Christ the King Church was constructed in 1926–27 under Father Cohalan and blessed in May 1927.
It became a focal point for weddings, baptisms and community gatherings, including the first wedding celebrated there later that year.
Although Taylors Arm once supported a thriving congregation, numbers gradually declined over time.
The final regular Mass was celebrated in April 2023.
For generations of local families, the church has been a place of faith, celebration and connection.
Its closure reflects broader changes affecting small rural communities, where declining populations make it increasingly difficult to sustain local institutions.
While the doors of Christ the King Church are now closed, the memories, history and faith of those who worshipped there will continue to form an enduring part of the Taylors Arm story.
By Mick BIRTLES
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