Wilmington, SA - St Alexis & St John Nepumucene Catholic

History and Architecture:

A Heritage board at the front of the church reads, " The Wilmington Catholic Community was first served by the Jesuits at Sevenhill until about 1873. In 1874, Fr. B. Nevin was appointed Parish Priest of the newly formed "All Saints Parish" Port Augusta. Wilmington became part of this new and very large parish. Wilmington parishoners used a church, built circa 1879, about 18km North East of Wilmington on Sec. 117, Hd. Pinda until it was closed.

In 1903 planning began to build a Catholic Church in Wilmington. The Foundation Stone of the Catholic Church, St. Alexis and St. John Nepomucene was laid on the 17th May, 1908. Construction was supervised by Mr. E.P. Dignan. (1. Fr. R. Kirby was Parish Priest when the Wilmington Catholic Church was built. He celebrated the first marriage in the church on the 18th April, 1910. It was that of Francis Modystach and Hilda Noll. The first recorded burial was in 1883".