Leigh Creek’s first Interdenominational Church was purchased and constructed as a kit-type building and was opened in April 1954. The bell, lectern and most of the pews came from Marree and the Sunday School building came from Loveday. When the uranium mining town of Radium Hill was closed in 1961, their United Church building was only four years old. Affectionately known as ‘The Little Church on the Hill’, this beautiful stained wood structure had been lovingly built by volunteers from the congregation. In 1962, with the help of Premier Thomas Playford, plans were made to carefully dismantle the church building and relocate it to another remote mining community – Leigh Creek. The Pengilly family – Alec, Enid, Janet and Rick – lived in Radium Hill and also moved to Leigh Creek in 1962. Rick says, ‘I always felt a touch of pride, knowing that my old hometown of Radium Hill had contributed something useful/special to my new hometown of Leigh Creek’.

St Barbara’s Catholic Church

Prior to the building of a Catholic Church a priest made regular weekly visits to conduct services in the RSL Hall or in private homes. In 1953 ETSA approved construction of a pre-fabricated church on Fourth Street. St Barbara’s Catholic Church, aptly named after the patron saint of mining (particularly those using explosives), was officially opened on 11 April 1954.

Moving St Luke’s Church from Copley to Leigh Creek

Around 1957, Bishop Thomas decided to move the church from Copley to Leigh Creek. In his opinion a team of men with poles underneath the building could carry it up – only six miles! In 1958 a small team of volunteers, including Ian Webber, Murray Kleeman and Harry Billinghurst, dismantled the church. The corrugated iron sheeting was removed and the frame cut into pieces to be transported on a truck hired from ETSA. There were many difficulties in getting it all back together including the pilfering of some of the roof sheets from the site. Eventually reassembled, a porch was added using bricks made at the Northfield kiln. Funded by the congregation finishing and decorating the new church was a long process. New windows were made by Symons & Symons in Adelaide and the pews came from Craddock. The relocated church was eventually dedicated by Bishop Tom Jones in April 1960. (Harry Billinghurst’s recollection – written in September 1981)