"I'm a bit of a newbie compared to other families," he laughed.

The church first opened as the Bulli Wesleyan Chapel on May 7, 1865 with an article in the Illawarra Mercury dated May 12, 1865 reporting £15 was raised from the first collection plate.

A copy of the paper alongside the Sydney Morning Herald and other artefacts were laid in the foundation stone.

However, the exact location of the stone has been forgotten, perhaps excusable after a century and a half.

Families have attended the church over generations, with Mollie Blatch tracing her lineage back to the church's first sermon.

Mrs Blatch's great-great-grandfather, William Lewis, spoke at the opening of the church and his descendants have attended the church ever since.

"I've attended all my life and I'm 85," she said.

"My parents always took me as a baby and I took my children."

In her 85 years of attendance, Mrs Blatch has seen a few changes at the church.

"The style of worship has opened it up more to the lay people," she said. "Before then the ministers did everything."

She also commented that more women were involved than ever.

"If they have the capabilities there should be nothing stopping them," she said.

Over the years the sandstone church has grown its reputation as a popular wedding ceremony location.

"It's a lovely church with beautiful windows and people getting married here usually have family connections to the local area," Mr Tibben said.

The celebrations start at 7.30pm on Thursday with a candlelight service and end with a concert on Saturday, from 3pm.