The first Parish Church (1750–1916)

Growth and Expansion

Sometime between 1750 and 1780 a new church with a 23m tall tower was constructed. In 1815, the chapel was extended over the old chapel yard, and a tower clock added. In 1816, St Helen’s Chapel was renamed to “St Mary’s”, and in 1852 became a Parish Church, with the creation of St Helen’s Parish. Throughout the mid to late nineteenth century, the church continued to grow with mission buildings and schools built around the parish, including St Mary’s School and Mission Church (1895), the Parochial Church Hall (1905), St Andrew’s Mission Church (1906) and the Parish Church School (1912).

The Great Fire

On 2nd December 1916 in the early hours of the morning, the church building was completely destroyed by fire, believed to have been caused by an electrical fault. For the next 10 years the congregation met in the town hall, and in a temporary consecrated structure on the site. This was built within a year in order to carry out communion and baptisms.