The parish register dates from the 10th August 1839 when a rector was licenced for Whittingham which was then the official town site for Singleton.

The foundation stone for the first church at the current site of All Saints was laid by Bishop Broughton on 1st Nov 1845 - All Saints Day. However the construction and workmanship of this church was deficient and it had to be demolished just a few years later. A second church, designed by the colonial architect Edmund Blacket was then commenced and consecrated on 19th March 1851 by the first bishop of Newcastle, Bishop Tyrrell.

By 1907 the building was deteriorating with the roof being in bad condition and the walls bulging. At a meeting to discuss options for repair the wealthiest property owner in the district, Mr. A. A. Dangar, announced he would have nothing to do with the repair of the old building. He would however undertake to donate £5,000 if public subscription would raise £2,000. After a time Mr. Dangar undertook the erection of the new church with out any further call on the parishioners. And so was completed the beautiful church which cost in all £24,450.
The new church was consecrated on 13th April 1913 by Bishop Stretch. Unfortunately its greatest benefactor died eleven days prior to the opening and his funeral was the first service conducted in the church.

The parish was badly affected by the devastating 1955 flood which damaged the town considerably and caused great financial hardship in all sectors of the community. The church itself was not, however, harmed.
The insistence by A A Dangar on constructing a sound building has certainly paid off and the church is in an extremely good structural state. In recent years the vestry has spent a large amount of money repairing the roof and installing new lighting and wiring. In recent years a beneficial trust has purchased residential land opposite the church and developed a modern accommodation complex for aged residents. Further expansion plans are currently underway involving new office space and meeting rooms.
The acquisition of a peal of eight bells is an exciting new development which we are excited about. We hope to ring the first peal on the centenary of the Australian constitution on 1st Jan 2001.

David Mason-Jones, Singleton               

The Bells

The Trust has been looking for suitable second-hand and/or redundant bells for this potential project for some years. The breakthrough came in 1997 when Rev. Chris Boyce, vicar of New Brighton asked if we could find a "new" home for the bell from the redundant church of Emmanual. This we acquired using our Bell Rescue Fund. The following year we were offered a bell from Rangemore Hall, Staffordshire. We then had two bells to go with Singleton's existing clock bell. Three bells available, five to go!

After the project launch three more surplus bells were offered , giving  the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th and tenor of the proposed ring of eight bells - all of which are "modern" bells cast by the same bell-founder.

The Trust is pleased to announce that our offer to donate the ex-New Brighton bell to the Singleton bells project has been accepted. The picture on the right is the ex-New Brighton bell being lifted into the tower at Singleton.

Latest information: Project completed 5th January 2001.

If you would like to know more about this project please email David Mason-Jones