Up until 1860 the Missionary Fathers Norbert, Wooffrey and his brother Allie paid visits to Mangrove Creek and said Mass at Kelly’s home at “Popran” and at Mangrove Creek.
In 1860 William Woodbury gave land at Trinidad Point nearly opposite the mouth of Popran Creek. A little slab church was built in 1861.
William and his children at this time became Catholic along with the Cox & Byrne families.
Land was set aside for a burial ground at the back of the church. A post and rail fence was built around the church and the cemetery.
After the Northern Railway was built near the end of the nineteenth century the Priest came from Gosford to Hawkesbury River by train and the Shakeshaft family would bring him up by boat to Mangrove Creek.
The little slab church became run down early in the twentieth century.
Funds were raised for a new church from local residences including Mr A H Woodbury, E J Woodbury, S M Kelly, John Shakeshaft, J Donovan, Mrs T Green, Mr J T Toomey, Mr James Toomey and the Byrnes and Crossland families.
Enough money was raised to build the church free of debt. The slab building was sold to Mr D H Woodbury.
Mr Natham Greentree of Lower Hawkesbury built the church. The timber came from P J Toomeys mill at Ourimbah by train to Hawkesbury River then by boat to Mangrove Creek.
John Shakeshaft, Herbert Woodbury with aid of the horse drew the timber up to the church site. The roof came from Lysaght in Newcastle. The piers were cut off the hill behind the church. James Toomey and Austin H Woodbury built the wharf out of sandstone from the near by hillside. Over the years Mrs Amy Kelly, Mrs Herbert Woodbury, Mrs Colleen Woodbury and Anne Carroll play the organ.
Mrs Mary Hennessey looked after the church and gave meals to the various Priests that came to the service.
Miss Veronica, Mrs Dorothy Woodbury, Colleen Woodbury cleaned the church for the Sunday Mass.
Mr A W Woodbury looked after the church grounds and graves for a long time. Latter Mr Len Shakeshaft took over.
A small church school was built in 1867. The teacher was Mr Patrick Cregan. His son David died while Mr Cregan was teaching and is buried in the church ground. In the 1970’s a new roof was put on the church by Mr Fred Mizzi.