On Saturday and Sunday June 21 and 22 the Uniting church in Nyngan celebrated its 50th anniversary of worship in the present building.
The celebration exceeded all expectations, and the numbers of family and friends who returned brought much pleasure.
Those who couldn’t come sent messages with stories of their memories, which were available for those present to read.
The Rev Ken and Mrs Pam Cornwell were special guests with Rev Cornwell leading the worship on Sunday morning.
Rev Cornwell was the minister 50 years ago when the church was built. He is the only trustee who was involved with the building still alive.
Clegg Forgie, the shire engineer at the time, designed and supervised the building. Roy Ward was the builder.
Photos are being sought to show progress of the building, as methods used today to lift large beams were not available then, and there are interesting stories about the daily developments.
Members of some of the families of the trustees were able to attend including the White, Gibson, Giddy and Priest families. Messages came from Errol Forgie with a message from Grace Forgie, Clegg’s widow.
Visitors and all present were welcomed by Ray Donald as mayor and church chairperson.
A plaque placed in the church to acknowledge the cross in the sanctuary was made by Foster Crichton who was a pharmacist in Nyngan from 1947 until 1980.
Photos show Rev Bowyer Hayward, president of the Methodist conference in 1958, declaring the church open, and Keith White can be seen in a photo playing the organ for the outside ceremony, while Wilma White was organist in the church.
Mr and Mrs Rawson - the first couple to be married in the church - attended and were given a framed photo of the church for their golden wedding anniversary this year.
Anne Quarmby was thanked for her years as musician and organist, and was presented with a posy of flowers and a rose bush.
During the weekend it was proposed the contribution to music by Wilma White and the special place of Mr Stan White and Mrs White in the life of the church during the 50 years be remembered.
Rev and Mrs Cornwell received a copy of Nyngan on the Bogan wrapped in a souvenir tea towel.
The weekend was organised by Collin and Yvonne Pardy and this, plus the creative contribution made by Allan White as part of the thankyou card, was acknowledged.
Food, a very special part of celebrations, was in abundance and provided by members of the Uniting church and their friends.
Oh, what hospitality - it was praised by everyone.
The Anglican ladies cleared away and washed up, and their mighty job was appreciated by everyone.
Past clergy who visited were Rev John and Mrs Carole Burnard, Rev Geoff and Mrs Rosemary McCubbin who were in Nyngan in the 1960s and 70s. Present clergy Rev Chris Paine (Nyngan 1997), central west Uniting church presbytery minister Rev Graeme Mac Raild and Broken Hill-based Uniting church flying padre Rev John Blair attended the celebrations.
Catholic priest Father Murphy and Anglican minister Rev Ricky were welcomed.
A packed congregation worshipped on Sunday, singing hymns from the new hymn books that were dedicated during the service.
A history was given of the past 50 years and new ways of keeping the church active in these changing times discussed.
A challenging message from Rev Cornwell was delivered.
The farewells and last conversations were shared at a morning tea/lunch that followed the time of worship. Yes, there was still plenty of food.
Surprisingly there seemed to be no sadness in the farewells, only joy for the wonderful weekend of sharing and being together.
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