St Brigid's Church, Perth

Last updated

St Brigid's Church
St-Brigids-Church-Perth.JPG
St Brigid's Church
St Brigid's Church, Perth
31°56′39″S115°51′12″E / 31.944148°S 115.853297°E / -31.944148; 115.853297 (St Brigid's Church)
Address Aberdeen Street, Northbridge, Western Australia
CountryAustralia
Denomination Catholic Church
History
Status Church
FoundedMay 1904 (1904-05)
Dedication Saint Brigid
Consecrated 5 February 1905
Architecture
Architectural typeChurch
Style Federation Gothic
Specifications
Capacity700 800
Length35 metres (115 ft)
Width18 metres (60 ft)
Height12 metres (40 ft)
Materials Red bricks; green Welsh slate; jarrah timber
Administration
Archdiocese Perth
Parish St Brigid's
TypeState Registered Place
Designated23 November 2004
Part ofSt Brigid's Group, Perth (2030)
Reference no. 1977

St Brigid's Church is a heritage-listed Roman Catholic church in Northbridge, Western Australia. The church precinct comprises the church building itself, a convent, a presbytery and a school, situated on a block of land bounded by Aberdeen Street (to the north-east), Fitzgerald Street (to the south-east), John Street (to the south-west) and a park and freeway exits (to the north-west).

Contents

History

St Brigid's Church with the old St Brigid's School St Brigid's Church with St Brigid's School.jpg
St Brigid's Church with the old St Brigid's School

On 16 July 1888, Sisters Berchmans Deane and John Evangelist Stewart of the Sisters of Mercy commenced the operation of a school in a cottage on John Street. The school (called [t Brigid's) quickly attracted many pupils and, in six months, plans were underway for a larger school. On 1 February 1889 (the feast of St Brigid), Bishop Gibney laid the foundation stone for a large school building. Student numbers continued to grow, necessitating the construction of a convent chapel with accommodation for larger numbers of the Sisters of Mercy required to run the school. As the number of Sisters increased, the convent building was progressively extended. The convent building was completed in 1896. [1]

On 25 May 1896, the convent became an independent community of the Sisters of Mercy (previously it had been affiliated with the Convent of the Immaculate Conception in Victoria Square). This allowed the convent to accept novices and postulants. [1]

In 1901, the parish of St Brigid's was established and Monsignor Bourke was appointed as parish priest. The nuns provided access to the school buildings for church services, but this was very inconvenient to constantly re-arrange everything, so a committee was formed in April 1901 to raise funds for the building a church and a presbytery. [2]

In 1902, the presbytery was built facing Aberdeen Street. In February 1904, the plans had been drawn up for the church itself and the foundation stone was laid in May 1904. [3] [4] The church was built on the corner of Fitzgerald Street and Aberdeen Street and was officially opened on 5 February 1905. [5]

Recent times

By 1974, the area, once residential, had become more of a commercial and industrial area. As a result, there were very few students. It was decided that the Sisters would sell the convent to the Western Australian State Government to be used by organisations such as the Department of Corrections and for Technical and Further Education (TAFE). [1]

In 1991, the church precinct was classified by the National Trust of Australia. The State Government offered the Sisters the opportunity to buy back the convent and a community grant was used to restore the buildings. The Sisters returned to St Brigid's in 1998 and the precinct was heritage listed in 2004. [1] [6]

In 2011, the St Brigid's Convent is used as the Congregation administration offices of the Sisters of Mercy in West Perth. The historical records of the Sisters are kept in the cottage where the school began. [1]

Architecture

Side view of St Brigid's Church St-Brigids-4.JPG
Side view of St Brigid's Church

The church is built in Federation Gothic style with walls of red brick. The church is about 18 metres (60 ft) wide and 35 metres (115 ft) long and the height to the ceiling is 12 metres (40 ft). There are three aisles giving access to seating for 700-800 people. There is a large rose window over the main entrance on Fitzgerald Street with another entrance on Aberdeen Street. On the corner nearest Fitzgerald and Aberdeen Streets, the stairs to the choir are extended up to a tower containing a belfry. The church bell was imported from England. The windows on the side are mullioned and traceried with the surrounds being made of freestone. The roof is made of Green Welsh slate. The furniture in the church was custom-made from solid polished jarrah timber. [5] [7]

The convent has an oratory and features a hammer-beamed trussed roof. The windows are painted dado and leadlight panel bay windows with gold-painted arches. [7]

The school is a two-storey building in the Federation Arts and Craft style. [7]

Related Research Articles

St Brigid's College is an independent Roman Catholic co-educational primary and single-sex secondary day and boarding school for girls, located in Lesmurdie, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia.

Mgr Anselm Bourke, born Nicholas Bourke, was a Roman Catholic priest of Irish origins. He was prominent in Catholic education for several decades, and also founded the West Perth parish of the Church in 1901. He made his profession as a Benedictine monk in 1858, but got dispensation from his monastic vows from the Vatican in 1871; therefore, he cannot be called a Benedictine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stirling Terrace, Toodyay</span> Street in Toodyay, Western Australia

Stirling Terrace is the main street of Toodyay, Western Australia, originally called New Road until 1905.

Michael Francis Cavanagh was an Australian architect, primarily known for his work in Western Australia from 1895 to the late 1930s.

The Catholic Presbytery, Toodyay is a former clergy house situated on Stirling Terrace in Toodyay, Western Australia.

The Roman Catholic Church Group, Toodyay is a site on Stirling Terrace in Toodyay, Western Australia, owned by the Catholic Church. This site was registered as Roman Catholic land in November 1861 in the newly proclaimed Avon District town of Newcastle. These buildings were erected here between the early 1860s and 1963:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Carmel Convent</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Mount Carmel Convent is a heritage-listed former Roman Catholic convent at 199 Bay Terrace, Wynnum, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Hall & Dods and built in 1915 by William Richard Juster. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 August 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Brigid's Convent, Red Hill</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

St Brigid's Convent is a heritage-listed Roman Catholic convent at 9-17 Upper Clifton Terrace, Red Hill, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Eaton & Bates and built from 1902 to 1923. It is also known as Convent of the Annuciation and Red Hill Convent. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 March 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Francis Xavier Church, Goodna</span> Roman Catholic church in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia

St Francis Xavier Church is a heritage-listed Roman Catholic church at 6 Church Street, Goodna, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Andrea Giovanni Stombuco and built in 1881 by William Hanley. It was originally known as St Patrick's Church. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Presbytery, Warwick</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

St Mary's Presbytery is a heritage-listed Roman Catholic presbytery of St Mary's Roman Catholic Church at 142 Palmerin Street, Warwick, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Wallace & Gibson and built from 1885 to 1887 by John McCulloch. It is also known as Father JJ Horan's private residence. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 31 July 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Ipswich</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

St Mary's Roman Catholic Church is a heritage-listed church precinct at Mary Street, Woodend, Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1874 to 1970s. It is also known as the former St Brigids Convent. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Angela Browne was born in County Cork, Ireland in 1884. She would later become Mother Superior at the Sisters of Mercy Convent in Toodyay, Western Australia

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Our Lady Star of the Sea Church & School</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Our Lady Star of the Sea Church & School is a heritage-listed Roman Catholic church and school at Goondoon Street, Gladstone, Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1924 to 1950. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church & Convent, Townsville</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

St Mary's Church & Convent are heritage-listed Roman Catholic church buildings at 34 Ingham Road, West End, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by the Rooney Brothers and built by Cowell & Holt in 1888. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 2 January 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Patrick's Convent, North Ward</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

St Patrick's Convent is a heritage-listed convent at 45 The Strand, North Ward, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was built in c. 1883. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 3 February 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Brigid's Church, Stuart</span> Church building in Queensland, Australia

St Brigid's Church is a heritage-listed Roman Catholic church at 523 Stuart Drive, Stuart, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1904. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Square, Perth</span> Grounds of St Marys Cathedral in Perth, Western Australia

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Joseph's Convent, Cairns</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

St Joseph's Convent is a heritage-listed convent at 179 Abbott Street, Cairns City, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Edward Gregory Waters and built from 1912 to 1914 by Wilson & Baillie. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 1 July 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Hallows' School Buildings</span> Heritage-listed buildings in Brisbane, Queensland

All Hallows' School Buildings are a heritage-listed group of Roman Catholic private school buildings at 547 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. They were designed by a number of notable Brisbane architects and were constructed over many years. The earliest is the All Hallows Convent, also known as Adderton. The buildings were added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archbishop's Palace, Perth</span> Building in Perth, Western Australia

Archbishop's Palace is a heritage-listed building in Perth, Western Australia, used by bishops and archbishops of Perth since 1855. In addition to the cultural value to the Roman Catholic community, the palace is a good example of architect Michael Cavanagh's Federation Academic Classical style, and a prominent landmark within the Victoria Square precinct. It is also known as the Catholic Church Office, and Roman Catholic Presbytery.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Collections Australia Network: Sisters of Mercy, West Perth, accessed 14 January 2011
  2. "ST. BRIGID'S PARISH". The West Australian . Perth: National Library of Australia. 15 April 1901. p. 7. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  3. "ST. BRIGID'S WEST PERTH". The West Australian . Perth: National Library of Australia. 6 February 1904. p. 9. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  4. "ST. BRIGID'S CHURCH". The West Australian . Perth: National Library of Australia. 23 May 1904. p. 7. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  5. 1 2 "ST. BRIGID'S CHURCH". The West Australian . Perth: National Library of Australia. 6 February 1905. p. 4. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  6. Heritage Council of Western Australia: St Brigid's Group, accessed 14 January 2011
  7. 1 2 3 Heritage Council of Western Australia: Register of Heritage Places: St Brigid's Group, Perth, accessed 14 January 2011