WHERE & WHAT

Welcome to the Diocese of Willochra

Where is Willochra?
This Diocese covers all that part of South Australia north of Gawler and the Murray River area. Our other borders are the SA borders with the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales. The area of the Diocese is close to 1,00,000 square kilometres.

Population:   The population is scattered through agricultural and pastoral areas but more focussed in the four cities of the Diocese: Port Pirie, Port Lincoln, Port Augusta and Whyalla. In the Far North, the population is thinly scattered, except in the occasional mining areas. For some time, the population has been declining as people shift to the metropolitan area of Adelaide.

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Industries:   There is a wide range of industries found in the Diocese. These range from the pastoral areas of large cattle stations, to sheep stations and farms. In closer areas, grain crops are grown, including wheat, barley, canola  and oats.  In the cities, industries range from fish farms around Port Lincoln, to steel-making in Whyalla. Port Pirie is a refining centre for minerals from further inland,  and Moomba Gas Field supplies much of the natural gas for the State, Port Augusta is the site for several power stations, and is becoming again a rail centre for the State. Mining is taking place at a number of centres, including Leigh Creek with open cut coal mining (lignite) and other minerals are mined near Ardossan on Yorke Peninsula.  Ceduna is the export point for grain, salt and gypsum.  Better known is the huge copper, uranium and gold mine at Roxby Downs, and the opals produced at Coober Pedy and Andamooka.      

Almost so well-known as to need no introduction are the vineyards and wineries in the Clare Valley. As part of what has been a wine boom in recent years, the production of grapes and wine has gradually extended from the Clare Valley north through Jamestown and Laura right up to Melrose and Wilmington.
The Church
  • We have thirteen parishes, and five Ministry Districts (clusters of congregations of former parishes)  served by one Bishop, fifteen stipendiary, six local priests, one non-stipendiary priests, two local deacons and several retired clergy assist with Sunday services.
  • In spite of being spread over this vast, area, there are eighty  congregations, many of which can operate only because of the dedication of a team of over 180 licensed pastoral assistants.
  • The development of lay ministry is a central focus for our Diocesan life. Renewed life and direction is being experienced in congregations through this initiative. There is a number of small Mothers' Union branches as well as Lone Members. There is an active ABM-A Auxiliary; Anglicare Willochra has been established recently, and we have Missions to Seafareres in two locations - Port Pirie and Port Lincoln. There is a small ministry amongst indigenous people at Point Pearce, partly supported by Anglican Board of Mission-Australia.
  • The Bush Church Aid Society supports ministry in outback areas of the Diocese. The National Home Mission Fund gives a grant towards the employment of a Ministry Development Officer.
  • The Diocese has a proud tradition of supporting overseas mission through ABM-A and CMS. Currently two families originally from this Diocese are serving overseas.