Moss Vale History Churches
The history of the various churches and religious groups in Moss Vale.
In May 1872 it was proposed to build a building for the purpose of a Sunday school in connection with the Church of England. On the 16th of March 1879 Anglican services were held for the first time in the schoolroom at Moss Vale. A subscription list to raise money to build a church was opened on the 14th of January 1881 with the foundation stone being laid on the 24th of May 1881 and the opening of the building took place on the 24th of December 1881. On The 30th of October 1906 the Ven. Archdeacon Langley opened St Johns Rectory. On the 18th of June 1930 the foundation stone was laid for the new St Johns Church, which was a memorial to the men who served in World War 1, by Governor, Sir Philip Game and the building was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Gerard D'Arcy Irvine on the 29th of October 1930.
In 1881 the Primitive Methodist Church was in use and had been built a year earlier. In January 1888 a tender for a Wesleyan Methodist Church was accepted with the foundation stone being laid on the 21st of January 1888. On the 7th of November 1888 it was opened. In 1913 extensions to the church were made which were completed and opened on the 22nd of February 1914.
In 1880 the Presbyterian Church was built and is still in use. In 1880 Rev. JS Boyd was inducted to the charge but resigned in 1881.
In November 1886 a meeting was held to discuss the erection of a Roman Catholic Church with a decision being made to buy two and a half acres of land offered by W McCourt for £300. Monsignor Rigney opened the new St Paul's Church on the 15th of January 1888. The building cost £350 with the Presbytery opening at the same time at a cost of £600. Dr. Higgins, Associate Bishop of Sydney, blessed the addition of a vestry and sanctuary on the 16th of November 1896. A tower and other additions were made in 1916 at a cost of £1070. Archbishop Kelly blessed these in August.
In 1885 the Salvation Army began to hold services in Moss Vale with barracks opening in Lackey Road in September 1889.