A former Catholic priest from north-west New South Wales accused of assaulting 40 victims across eight parishes and nearly 30 years has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Key points: There are 40 complainants in the case against 82-year-old former Catholic priest David Joseph Perrett

There are 40 complainants in the case against 82-year-old former Catholic priest David Joseph Perrett It is alleged the offences occurred at Armidale, Guyra, Walgett, Moree, Penrith, Bundarra, Lower Creek and Sawtell between the 1960s and mid-1990s

It is alleged the offences occurred at Armidale, Guyra, Walgett, Moree, Penrith, Bundarra, Lower Creek and Sawtell between the 1960s and mid-1990s The defence has indicated it may apply for a stay of proceedings

David Joseph Perrett, 82, faced Armidale District Court on 139 charges relating to sexual offences against children.

Now an elderly man, the accused appeared frail in court, sitting in a wheelchair and using a hearing loop for assistance.

He was accompanied by two supporters.

The court heard the former Catholic parish priest is accused of assaulting the victims over a period of time stretching from the 1960s to the mid-1990s.

The offences allegedly took place when the children were aged from three years to their mid-teens.

Thirty-seven of the complainants are men and three are women.

The charges relate to a range of offences including assault, acts of indecency, buggery, carnal knowledge, and maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child under 16.

It has been alleged the accused carried out the offences at a number of locations including Armidale, Guyra, Walgett, Moree, Penrith, Bundarra, Lower Creek, and Sawtell.

It took more than an hour for Judge Jeffery McLennan to read out each of the 139 charges in court and for Mr Perrett to respond with "not guilty, your honour".

Judge McLennan commented the proceedings were a classic example of why there needs to be an amendment to the NSW Criminal Procedure Act to allow bulk arraignments.

The defence foreshadowed they may apply for a stay of proceedings, but if the matter goes to trial it is expected to take up to 12 weeks.

The matter will return to court in February next year.