Merrigum’s last church closes doors

By Jemma Jones

Jan 22, 2025

Over the years, Joe Chant has watched as church pews, once filled with families squeezed hip-to-hip, became emptier and emptier.

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Now, with under five regular attendees to just one service per month, St Sebastian’s Catholic Church, with a 122-year history in Merrigum, will be closing its doors forever.

Mr Chant has been part of the congregation for over 40 years, attending every mass he could with his late wife before becoming a commentator and reader.

He will be marking the end of the church’s history during the official decommission of the building on Sunday, February 2.

Diminishing congregation numbers have succumbed the church entirely with little “envelope money” to keep the lights on for more than once a month.

According to Mr Chant, Merrigum’s ageing population, a decrease in farming in the area and a lack of interest in religion are the main drivers in the dwindling congregation — even when mass is only held on the third Sunday of every month.

Merrigum resident Joe Chant said the church’s closure is the sign of the times. Photo by Jemma Jones

“After COVID-19, people realised if you don’t go to church every Sunday, they don’t die — everything goes on — and a lot of (people) take that attitude,” Mr Chant said.

So, with rising insurance fees, bills, and constant maintenance and upkeep, Mr Chant said it was time to close the book on Merrigum’s final church.

The closure follows a trend in regional and rural Victoria, with churches unable to keep their doors open.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2021, the number of Australians who affiliated with Christianity was 43.9 per cent, down 17.2 per cent in a decade; while, people who did not affiliate with a religion rose from 23.1 in 2011 to 38.9 in 2021.

Churches across the Goulburn Valley have also faced closures such as the Bundalong and Katandra West Uniting Church’s who were caught up in the flurry of closures made by Uniting churches.

However, for Mr Chant, he believes the closure of 122-year-old St Sebastian’s Catholic Church is simply a “sign of the times“.

With less than five regular church attendees remaining, a decision was made to shut the doors of St Sebastian’s Catholic Church for good. Photo by Jemma Jones

St Seb’s rich history in Merrigum

For many part of a congregation, life begins and ends in their church.

Hundreds of baptisms, weddings and churches were held at the St Sebastian’s Church over it’s 122-year history.

The Kyabram Catholic Heritage book Ever Ancient, Ever New details the history of Catholicism in the Kyabram and District area including the history of the St Sebastian’s Church.

In 1901, when local Merrigum publican, and non-Catholic, John Sebastian Smith died, he left $3200 and a block of land on Morrisey St so that a Catholic church could be established in Merrigum.

St Sebastian's Church in Merrigum is closing after 122 years of service to the community. Photo by Jemma Jones

At that point, there was only one other church in the near area, which was St Monica’s at Kyabram West.

The church officially opened on Saturday, February 22, after several priests were unable to attend.

The honour of officiating fell to Rev Father Mulqueen, an Echuca resident.

In the 1920s, Merrigum Catholics only attended Mass on weekdays. Sunday Mass was introduced in later years when priests could drive out or had access to a car.

In 1932, the community formed the St Sebastian’s Tennis Club utilising the tennis courts on the east side of the church and would often travel to Kyabram for competitions.

The book features interviews with past churchgoers who fondly recall packed pews and the church brimming with large, extended families.

Fr Laurie Sullivan wrote about his time growing up attending St Sebastian’s Church.

“Mass, where football, fruit-picking and floods were thrashed out in detail. Now I see those occasions as a spirit of togetherness which is the fruit of the Eucharist shown in caring and love.”

All are invited to attend the decommissioning of the St Sebastian’s Catholic Church on Sunday, February 2 from noon. A lunch will follow at the Merrigum Bowling Club.