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The former Diocese of St Arnaud was created out of the Diocese of Ballarat during the episcopate of Bishop M. F. Maxwell-Gumbleton in 1926, with the enthronement of Bishop M. C. James in Christ Church, St Arnaud on 30 Sept 1926
Bishop James continued till 31 July 1950, and managed during very difficult times. Through his dedication and ability none of its capital was lost and after 20 years all the debts on the church buildings and land had been paid off.
Bishop Allen Ernest Winter was consecrated on 29 June 1951 and enthroned at Christ Church Cathedral on 4 July. His episcopate ended the last day of winter 1973 (Bishop Winter enjoyed that joke.)
Bishop David Hubert Warner Shand was consecrated on 30 Nov 1973 and enthroned in Christ Church Cathedral on 2 December. He faced problems such as the reducing number of parishes (then 13) and poverty of the dry land farming districts, and sought solutions. The result was the amalgamation of the Dioceses of Bendigo and St Arnaud on 1 January 1977.
The parishes were
Avoca with Amphitheatre, Elmhurst, Moonambel, Redbank, Tanwood and Barkly.
Charlton with Wycheproof, Wychitella, and Fenton's Creek
Dunolly with Bealiba, Moliagul, Tarnagulla, Laanacoorie and Newbridge.
Inglewood with Arnold, Kingower, Bridgewater and Rheola.
Maryborough with Carisbrook, Talbot and Bung Bong.
Merbein with the Millewa.
Mildura with Irymple, Werrimul and Meringur.
Ouyen with Tempy, Underbool, Patchewollock and Walpeup.
Red Cliffs.
Robinvale with Manangatang, Boundary Bend and Chillingollah.
St Arnaud with Cope Cope, Emu and Beazley's Bridge.
Swan Hill with Ultima, Tresco, Nyah, Nyah West, Woorinen and Quambatook.
Tyrrell with Birchip, Donald, Watchem, Culgoa, Berriwillock, Sea Lake, Nandaly, Woomelang, Lascelles and Turriff.
Wedderburn with Boort.
The enlarged Diocese of Bendigo now comprised that part of Victoria north of the Great Dividing Range and west of the Goulburn River, except that in the west the boundary skirted the Wimmera. Its area was approximately 65,000 square kilometers and the population in 1975 was 209,842, of whom 58,305 described themselves as Anglican. The Diocese had 36 parishes with 135 churches and several additional worship centres, served by 47 full-time clergy together with 3 on leave and 11 clergy (mostly retired) with permission to officiate.
Two retired Deaconesses, LL Appleby and GM Harvey also assisted in ministry.
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