St John the Baptist Anglican Church

The St John the Baptist Anglican Church, Dongara is part of the Parish of Dongara-Mingenew and part of the Diocese of North West Australia. On 27/10/1866 a small group proposed that a church be built, and a cemetery consecrated in the town, as about 30 childern in the area were growing up with no religious instruction. Progress was slow "in about 1871 Mrs S E Moore arrived as a bride to Dongara and she was appalled at the conditions and wrote to her father, a congregational minister in Perth, that there was 'no church, no school, no anything'. Her father suggested that she start a Sunday School. Mrs Moore's husband canvassed the local farmers. The following Sunday she was confronted by a gathering of over thirty adults, both men and women, and about as many children". On 3/8/1873, Bishop Hale held a Confirmation Service in the Irwin Schoolroom and then went on to consecrate the cemetery. "The Church was a reality despite the absence of a building, due to Mr & Mrs Moore." After many years of  fund raising effort, the St John's church building was dedicated on 28/6/1885 by the Right Rev Henry H Parry, Bishop of Perth. Over the years many enhancements have been carried out and a meeting room was added and opened on 27/3/1987¹. More historical information/photographs of the church/congregation are invited. Photograph uploaded 15/5/2015.

Note:  1: Sourced from: https://anglicandm.org.au/history/