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St Celestine Catholic Church - Former

Peterborough, SA 5422

Church Information

Church Name:	St Celestine Catholic Church - Former
Church Previous Name:	-
Denomination:	Catholic Church in Australia
Street Address:	Peterborough SA 5422, Australia
Suburb:	Peterborough
State:	SA
Postcode:	5422
Foundation Stone Laid:	unknown
Foundation Stone Notes:	A plaque in the local museum records: The Catholic church and school of - St Celestine - Lancelot, South Australia. - St Celestine's was built in 1878 and opened as a school in 1879. It was ministered to by Father John Pallhuber one of the Jesuit priests from Sevenhill. The building was wood and iron with an attractive interior of tongue and groove wooden panelling. Turned wood railing and posts surrounded the altar which was painted in pastel colours. With the demise of Lancelot the church fell into disrepair and was used as a shearing shed. The church has been recently demiolished. The salvaged ceiling rosettes and timber used by Adrian Polomka to create this memorial are all that remains to remind us of this once sacred site.
Date Opened:	00-00-1878
Date Closed:	00-00-1913
Email:	admin@churchesaustralia.org

Comments

The St Celestine Catholic Church, Lancelot (near Peterborough) closed many years ago and the building has been demolished. The church had been part of the Diocese of Port Pirie (formerly Port Augusta). The proposed railway line never materialised, and with regular drought Lancelot never developed as anticipated. The local council set up in 1888, moved out of the town to Ucotta in 1899. It is now a ghost town no longer recogized on google maps. The school opened in 1879 and closed in 1913 (it is assumed the church closed about the same time. No other details are known. More historical information/photographs of the former church/congregation are invited. Photographs uploaded 23/11/2025.

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Last Updated: Sunday 23rd November, 2025