Community & Business
7 November, 2025
Bishop to conduct service for St Faith’s Church, Hermidale
Although it was technically an Anglican church, the community has regarded St Faith’s as non-denominational.
For almost a century the tiny St Faith’s Church building in Hermidale was the centre for worship in the village but also the place of significant occasions, when local residents were christened, married or farewelled.
On Saturday, November 8, 2025, there will be a service for thanksgiving for St Faith’s Church held at the Hermidale Community Centre, conducted by the Right Reverend Mark Calder, Bishop of Bathurst, accompanied by Nyngan lay ministers Philip and Deanne Gerber.
The small, corrugated iron building is no longer fit for service, having had its final regular service on December 23, 2014, attended by 23 people.
Before the last hurrah, the number of parishioners attending St Faith’s had dwindled to around two to five, causing the Anglican diocese to bring about the closure. The St Faith’s building was once a shop in the Hermidale village but according to the book ‘Nyngan on the Bogan’ was moved and re-erected at its current site in 1923.
The foundation stone for the church was laid by Mrs Reid, of Wilga Downs, in October 1923, and the first time it was used was for a divine service in December that year, conducted by Rev. E.S. Woolly accompanied by choir members from Nyngan.
Following the building’s closure, there continued to be sporadic church services in Hermidale held at the community centre, usually around Christmas time, but these ceased in 2020. Mr and Mrs Gerber are committed to continuing periodic church services in the community centre, even for small numbers.
The service of thanksgiving for St Faith’s will be followed by afternoon tea catered by the Hermidale CWA.
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