A COMMEMORATIVE artwork by Macleay artist Paula Tamblyn celebrating 150 years of the Catholic Church in Kempsey was unveiled at the All Saint’s Catholic Church last weekend.
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The painting will be displayed in the church throughout 2014.
It was originally conceived as the cover artwork for local historian Bruce Cain’s history of the Catholic Church in the Macleay, which will be officially launched at the Parish Hall on April 4.
The church held a competition to find the cover for the book which would depict the history of the church in the area.
Mrs Tamblyn, a former art teacher at St Paul’s and an accomplished artist in her own right in several media, entered the competition somewhat reluctantly after being encouraged to do so by a friend.
“It is a fairly straight forward depiction of church goers through the years depicting the different generation from today right back to the first parishioners,” Mrs Tamblyn said.
“You can see the progression of time through the clothes and the family groups from the mid-1800’s; the 1920s, the war years, the 1970s right up to the present day.
"They are following the priest in the procession which is an enduring tradition.”
The church will mark its sesquicentenary (150 years) with activities each month with the major celebration planned for the October long weekend.
This will feature a formal dinner, Mass, picnic lunch and school tours as part of the weekend’s festivities.
Copies of the History of the Catholic Church in the Macleay can be ordered through the parish office.
