St Michael's Roman Catholic Church

Bishop Wilson was responsible for the construction of this bluestone church and his coat
of arms and initials, WW, can be found on the south-eastern wall.  Wilson had tried and
failed to obtain land for the Church in the 1840's, but succeeded in 1857 and it was 
consecrated in September of that year.

The Connell's, one of the early families to settle in the district, played a prominent role in 
the early days of the church.  Their son Daniel was baptised here and went on to join the 
Order of St Benedict.  He was the first native-born Australian to take Holy Orders and is 
buried in the local cemetery.

At the age of 6 Daniel witnessed a raid on the family property, Glen Connell, which was 
largely foiled by his quick-thinking mother.  Apparently the bushranger Brady, with an 
accomplice surprised the family and put a pistol to the head of John Connell.  His wife 
shouting "Oh me hundred pounds" ran into a storeroom followed by the accomplice who 
she managed to lock inside.  She then grabbed Brady enabling her husband to escape, 
there was a scuffle and finally both Brady and his accomplice escaped, the accomplice 
with a bullet inside him.

The Reverend John Fitzgerald came to Campbell Town as the first resident pastor in 
1855.  Although born in Hobart he had been educated in England and Rome and was 
ordained there in 1854, the first Australian to be so.  He left Campbell Town in 1862 and 
died at the age of 34 in Plymouth, England.

The Bergen family played an important part in parish affairs and Mrs Bergen senior, was 
a sister to Peter Lalor, who achieved fame for his role in the Eureka Stockade.

The Presbytery has been both a convent and a day school in its time.