Burnham Camp was served by Military chaplains during World War Two. After the war Catholic services continued, not only for soldiers but also for the wider Burnham community, inside and outside the camp.
The building used was known simply as “The Catholic Hut” but on November 21, 1966 it was dedicated to St Michael. Military priests served Burnham until the early 1990s when the Christchurch Diocese took over responsibility. In the late 1990s Bougainville community leaders involved in peace talks became a part of the St Michael’s community.
