St Brigid's Roman Catholic Church

St Brigid's Roman Catholic Church
St Brigid's Roman Catholic Church
	St Brigid's Roman Catholic Church, and former school in 2012
	St Brigid's Roman Catholic Church Location in Sydney central business district
	33°51′31″S151°12′14″E / 33.8587°S 151.2038°E
Location	14, 16 Kent Street, Millers Point, Sydney, New South Wales
Country	Australia
Denomination	Catholic
Website	stpatschurchhill.org/st-brigids-beginning/
History
Status	Active
Founder(s)	Bishop Dr William Bernard Ullathorne OSB
Architecture
Functional status	Church
Architect(s)	Ambrose Hallen
Years built	1834–1835
Administration
Archdiocese	Sydney
Parish	St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Sydney
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name	St. Brigid's Roman Catholic Church & School; St Brigid's; St Bridget’s
Type	State heritage (built)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	645
Type	Church
Category	Religion

Last updated November 26, 2023

St Brigid's Roman Catholic Church is a heritage-listed Roman Catholic church building located at 14, 16 Kent Street, in the inner city Sydney suburb of Millers Point, New South Wales, Australia. It is also known as St. Brigid's Roman Catholic Church & School, St Brigid's, and St Bridget's. The property is owned by Saint Brigid's Roman Catholic Church. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.^[1]

History

The Roman Catholic Church was not formally recognised in Australia until 1820 with the arrival of Fathers Connolly and Therry, although unofficial churches and schools are believed to have operated in the colony prior to that time. St Brigid's is typical of the early development of educational facilities in New South Wales, which were either privately operated or church run. State run schools did not come into being until the National School system began in the 1840s. St Brigid's is believed to be the oldest church run school surviving in New South Wales (predating the Catholic school at Camperdown by five years).^[1]

The original design of St Brigid's, established as St Bridget's, has been attributed to Bishop Dr William Bernard Ullathorne OSB . It was originally designed as a single storey sandstone building containing a classroom and a separate chapel. Construction commenced in 1834, using “stone which is close at hand”. The single storey building was completed in April 1835. The completed building was handed over in May 1835 and was put into use immediately. A partition of folding doors divided the interior in half, providing separate class-rooms for the boys and girls. On Sundays, the school doubled as a chapel for Mass.^[2]

Pupils were initially under the care of the Christian Brothers, but by the 1870s the school had been taken over by the Sisters of Mercy. In the early 1930s Father Daniel Hurley, Parish Priest of St Patrick's, sought and gained permission to build another storey on top of the original classroom and chapel. The original sandstone classroom and chapel were converted to the church and apse visible today. The extended school was opened on 31 August 1933.^[1]

In 1933 an upper storey was added to St Bridget's, and at that time the present spelling (St Brigid's) came to be adopted. The upper storey construction allowed the original ground floor building to be used exclusively as a chapel. In 1992 the school closed because of falling enrolments. Restoration work commenced during 2002 and 2003 for maintenance and conservation of the interior and exterior historic chapel.^[3]

Description

The site lies on the west facing slope of Observatory Hill, a sandstone bluff which separates Sydney Cove from Darling Harbour.^[1]

Condition

As at 23 April 2003, a detailed archaeological research design report was prepared and submitted with the Section 60 application as required by the General Terms of Approval issued by the Heritage Council on 13 June 2002.^[1]^[4]

According to the archaeological research design report, until 1833 the whole site was part of an extensive sandstone quarry then in May 1835 the church building was completed and opened as a school. It is possible that artefacts related to the school were deposited in the southern yard from this time. In about 1935 the second storey was built into the church for use as the school, so that the ground floor room could be devoted exclusively to its use as a church. During these building works and improvements the level of the southern yard was raised with a new bitumen surface. This would have sealed in any earlier archaeological remains from the use of the area as the yard for the school and its sometimes use as a church.^[1]

In summary the Archaeological Research Design report concludes that the southern yard, which is to be excavated as a result of the proposed works, is not of high archaeological significance^[1]

Heritage listing

As at 23 April 2003, St Brigid's Church and School is of State significance because:

it is the oldest building in Australasia in continuous use for religious services for the Roman Catholic faith. The ground floor sandstone section, which still functions as a church, has been in use since 1835 (Grading of Significance: Exceptional);
the site has strong associations with Bishop Ullathorne (the first senior Catholic churchman to function in Australia) who was instrumental in placing the Church on a formal footing in New South Wales (Grading of Significance: Exceptional);
the building is one of the few surviving works by the Colonial Architect Ambrose Hallen (Grading of Significance: High); and
the building makes a visual contribution to the local historic precinct, which is recognised as being of national significance (Grading of Significance: High).^[1]^[5]

St Brigid's Church and School documents the religious and educational life of the local society over an exceptional length of time and may have special significance for the history of the Roman Catholic community in Australia.^[1]^[6]

St Brigid's Roman Catholic Church & School was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.^[1]

Related Research Articles

The Cathedral Church and Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Mother of God, Help of Christians is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and the seat of the Archbishop of Sydney, currently Anthony Fisher OP. It is dedicated to the "Immaculate Mother of God, Help of Christians", Patroness of Australia and holds the title and dignity of a minor basilica, bestowed upon it by Pope Pius XI on 4 August 1932.

St Patrick's Seminary, Manly is a heritage-listed former residence of the Archbishop of Sydney and Roman Catholic Church seminary at 151 Darley Road, Manly, Northern Beaches Council, New South Wales, Australia. The property was also known as St Patrick's Estate, St. Patricks Estate, St. Patrick's Seminary or College, Cardinal's Palace, Archbishop's Residence, St Pats, St Patricks and Saint Paul's Catholic College. It was designed by Sheerin & Hennessy, Hennessy & Hennessy, Scott Green & Scott and Sydney G Hirst & Kennedy and built from 1885 to 1889 by William Farley (Residence/Palace), W. H. Jennings (College/Seminary). The property is owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney. The property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 21 January 2011.

Cadmans Cottage or Cadman's Cottage is a heritage-listed former water police station and sailor's home and now visitor attraction located at 110 George Street in the inner city Sydney suburb of The Rocks in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The property is owned by Department of Planning & Environment, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

The National Shrine and Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic church in Randwick, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is heritage-listed.

St Brigid's Convent is a heritage-listed former 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 was also known as Convent of the Annunciation and Red Hill Convent. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 March 2003.

St Stephen's Chapel, also known as the Pugin Chapel, and formerly known as Old St Stephen's Church, is a heritage-listed Roman Catholic former church, now chapel, located at 249 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Augustus Pugin and built from 1848 to 1850 by Alexander Goold and Andrew Petrie.

St Patrick's Roman Catholic Cemetery is a heritage-listed closed cemetery on the corner of Pennant Hills Road and Church Street, North Parramatta, City of Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. It is the earliest formalised Catholic cemetery in Australia, and was in use from 1824 to 1972. A central feature of this historic cemetery is the 1844 Gothic revival styled mortuary chapel, which is the oldest mortuary chapel in Australia. The cemetery was closed in 1972 and subsequently transferred to the City of Parramatta in 1975. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 23 March 2012.

Saints Mary and Joseph Catholic Cathedral is a heritage-listed cathedral at 132 Dangar Street, Armidale, Armidale Regional Council, New South Wales, Australia. It is the diocesan cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Armidale and the seat of the Catholic Bishop of Armidale. The cathedral was designed by John Hennessy of Sheerin and Hennessy, and built from 1911 to 1912 by George Frederick Nott. It is also known as the St Mary & St Joseph Catholic Cathedral and the Cathedral of Saint Mary and Saint Joseph. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 13 February 2015.

Cathedral of St Michael and St John is a heritage-listed Roman Catholic cathedral at 107 William Street, Bathurst, Bathurst Region, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Charles Hansom and built from 1857 to 1861 by Edward Gell. It is also known as Cathedral of Saints Michael and John. The cathedral is the episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Bathurst. The property is owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bathurst. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 5 June 2012.

St Peter and Paul's Old Cathedral is a heritage-listed former Catholic cathedral and now parish church at 42 Verner Street, Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Andrea Stombuco and Charles Spadacini and built from 1871 to 1890 by C. J. O'Brien and Wilkie Bros. It is also known as St. Peter and Paul's Former Cathedral and St Peter and Paul's Catholic Cathedral; Saints Peter and Paul's Catholic Cathedral. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 20 April 2009.

St Anne's Church is a heritage-listed Roman Catholic church located at 60 Blair Street, North Bondi, Waverley Municipality, New South Wales, Australia. The church was designed by Joseph Fowell and Kenneth McConnel, and built from 1934 to 1964 by R. M. Bowcock. It is also known as St. Anne's Church and St Anne's Shrine. The property is owned by the Sisters of Mercy and it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 26 May 2006.

St Anne's Roman Catholic Church is a heritage-listed Roman Catholic school and church building located at St Annes Square, Strathfield South in the Municipality of Strathfield local government area in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1859 to 1864. It is also known as St. Anne's Roman Catholic Church (former) and St Anne's Catholic Church. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

St Francis Xavier's Roman Catholic Church is a heritage-listed Catholic church at Hume Highway, Berrima, Wingecarribee Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Augustus Pugin and built from 1849 to 1851 by William Munro. Originally known as St. Scholastica's Church, it is used by the Parish of St. Paul, administered by the Pauline Fathers, and located in the Diocese of Wollongong. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 25 January 2008.

The Mariners' Church is a heritage-listed former church and seamen's mission and now nightclub, bar and restaurant located at 98–100 George Street in the inner city Sydney suburb of The Rocks in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed in various stages by J. Bibb, H. C. Kent and Kent & Massie and was built from 1856 to 1859. It is also known as Mission to Seamen; Rawson Institute for Seamen & Mariners' Church; Craft Centre. The property is owned by Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002. The building was previously a cafe, place of worship and craft centre.

The Long's Lane Precinct, also Longs Lane Precinct, comprise a series of heritage-listed terrace houses located at 130 Cumberland Street, 132–134 Cumberland Street, 136-138 Cumberland Street, and 140–142 Cumberland Street, in the inner-city Sydney suburb of The Rocks in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The terrace houses were built from 1888 to 1914, and they are also known as 130 Cumberland Street,132–134 Cumberland Street, 136–138 Cumberland Street, Watson's Butchery, and 140–142 Cumberland Street. The properties are owned by NashCap, an Australian-based real estate private equity firm. The precinct and the terrace houses were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002.

107–109 George Street, The Rocks is a heritage-listed restaurant and former retail building, residence and bakery located at 107–109 George Street, in the inner city suburb of The Rocks in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built during 1860. It is also known as Rockpool Restaurant (former); and William Blue Dining. The property is owned by Property NSW, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002.

149–151 George Street, The Rocks is a heritage-listed duty-free store complex and former retail building and residence located at 149–151 George Street, in the inner city Sydney suburb of The Rocks in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1913 to 1913. It is also known as part of the Duty Free Store complex. The property is owned by Property NSW, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002.

61–65 Harrington Street, The Rocks is a heritage-listed serviced apartments and former terrace house located at 61–65 Harrington Street, in the inner city Sydney suburb of The Rocks in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1870. It is also known as Stafford Apartments and 75 Harrington Street; Clocktower Development. The property is owned by Property NSW, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002.

The St Patrick's Catholic Church is the oldest surviving Catholic church in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Opened in 1844, it is located at the junction of Grosvenor and Gloucester Streets in the inner city suburb of The Rocks in the City of Sydney. It is also known as St Patrick's, Church Hill or St Pat's Church Hill. The property is owned by the Trustees of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney. The Marist Fathers, a religious order, have administered the parish since 1868.

St Osmund's Church is a Roman Catholic church in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. It was designed by Augustus Pugin in the Gothic Revival style and built in 1847–1848. It is on Exeter Street, next to Bishop Wordsworth's School, in the city centre. It is a Grade II listed building.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "St. Brigid's Roman Catholic Church & School". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H00645. Retrieved 13 October 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence .
1 2 McMurrich SM, Fr Peter. "St Brigid's beginning". St Brigid's Church history. St Patrick's Church Hill, Sydney. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
↑ McMurrich SM, Fr Peter. "20th century and recent years developments". St Brigid's Church history. St Patrick's Church Hill, Sydney. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
↑ Application No. 02/IDA22, see Annexure D.
↑ John Graham and Associates, February 2002.
↑ 13/06/1989, Ref: HC 89/0767.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article was originally based on St. Brigid's Roman Catholic Church & School , entry number 645 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence , accessed on 13 October 2018.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[nswshr-645-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "St. Brigid's Roman Catholic Church & School". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H00645. Retrieved 13 October 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence .

[StB-2] 1 2 McMurrich SM, Fr Peter. "St Brigid's beginning". St Brigid's Church history. St Patrick's Church Hill, Sydney. Retrieved 2 November 2018.

[3] McMurrich SM, Fr Peter. "20th century and recent years developments". St Brigid's Church history. St Patrick's Church Hill, Sydney. Retrieved 2 November 2018.

[4] Application No. 02/IDA22, see Annexure D.

[nswshr-645-645-1-5] John Graham and Associates, February 2002.

[6] 13/06/1989, Ref: HC 89/0767.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

v t e Millers Point historical attractions
Residential buildings	Alfred's Terrace Argyle Place Nos. 1-7 Nos. 6-8 No. 9 Nos. 10-12a Nos. 22-32 No. 34 Nos. 36-38 Nos. 40-44 Nos. 46-48 No. 50 Nos. 52-60 Nos. 62-64 Argyle House Bettington Street Nos. 56-60 Nos. 66-68 Blyth Terrace Clydebank Dalgety Road Terraces Nos. 7-13 Nos. 15-25 Nos. 27a-35a Darling House Eagleton Terrace Hexam Terrace High Street Nos. 2-36 Nos. 3-9 Nos. 38-72 Nos. 74-80 House of Bodleigh Katoomba House Kent Street Nos. 18-22 Nos. 24-26 Nos. 21-29 No. 28 No. 30 Nos. 32-40 Nos. 37-47 No. 42 No. 44 No. 46 Nos. 48-50 Nos. 49-51 Nos. 52-54 Nos. 53-55 Nos. 56-58 Nos. 59-63 Nos. 60-62 Nos. 71-73 Nos. 75-79 No. 81 Nos. 82-88 Nos. 83-85 Nos. 90-92 Nos. 115-121 Nos. 123-125 Linsley Terrace Lower Fort Street Nos. 1-19 No. 20 Nos. 21-23 No. 22 Nos. 24-26 Nos. 25-35 No. 28 Nos. 30-42 Nos. 39-41 No. 43 Nos. 47-53 No. 55 Nos. 57-61 Nos. 63-65 Nos. 67-73 Nos. 75-77 No. 79 Merriman Street Nos. 14-16 No. 18 Nos. 20-48 Milton Terrace 18-20a Munn Street Osborne House Regency Townhouses Stevens Terrace Toxteth Trinity Avenue Nos. 2-4 Nos. 14-22 Undercliffe Cottage Undercliffe Terrace Vermont Terrace Windmill Street Nos. 1-63 No. 65 No. 69 No. 71 No. 73 Nos. 82-84 Nos. 86-88 Nos. 90-92 Winsbury Terrace
Commercial buildings	Argyle Street Railway Substation Dalgety's Bond Stores Grafton Bond Store MSB Stores Complex Oswald Bond Store Post Office Sydney Observatory Windmill Street No. 67
Churches	Garrison Anglican Church Precinct St Brigid's Roman Catholic Church
Pubs and hotels	Captain Cook Harbour View Hero of Waterloo Lord Nelson Palisade Shipwrights Arms
Other significant historical features	Millers Point & Dawes Point Village Precinct Walsh Bay Wharves Precinct