Corpus Christi Church, Nundah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Corpus Christi Church |
|
|---|---|
Corpus Christi Church and gardens in 2015
|
|
| 27°24′14″S 153°03′27″E / 27.404°S 153.0575°E | |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 14 June 1925 |
| Consecrated | 21 November 1926 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Hennessey, Hennessey, Keesing and Co |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Romanesque Revival |
| Years built | 1925–1926 |
| Construction cost | £16,840 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick, terracotta tiles, copper-sheeted dome |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Banyo Nundah |
| Archdiocese | Brisbane |
The Corpus Christi Church is a historic Roman Catholic church located at 65 Bage Street in Nundah, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by the architects Hennessey, Hennessey, Keesing and Co and built between 1925 and 1926 by Stanley Samuel Carrick. This beautiful church was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 6 July 1995, recognizing its important history and design.
Contents
History of Corpus Christi Church
The Corpus Christi Church was built from 1925 to 1926 for the Catholic community in Nundah. Before this, they used a smaller wooden church in a different spot. This new church was built with the help of Archbishop James Duhig. He wanted to build many impressive Catholic churches in Brisbane on high, noticeable spots.
Some people believe Corpus Christi Church was designed as a smaller version of the Holy Name Cathedral. That larger cathedral was being planned at the same time. The architects for both projects were Hennessey, Hennessey, Keesing and Co.
Early Days in Nundah
Nundah was first settled in 1838 by a Moravian mission. By the 1860s, many German immigrants lived there. The first Lutheran and Methodist church services in Queensland were actually held in Nundah.
The Catholic community in Nundah started meeting in 1903 to plan their own church. On 19 June 1904, Archbishop Robert Dunne opened "The Church of the Real Presence." This was a big moment because it was the first Catholic church in an area known for its early Protestant history. This first church cost £600 and was located at Duke Street and Buckland Road.
Growth of the Catholic Community
By 1915, the Catholic community in Nundah had grown a lot. They needed a school, so the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart came to open one. The church had also bought new land on a hill, which was a better spot for a church. A large house on this land, called Marsten, became the first school and convent for the sisters.
After 1920, Archbishop James Duhig became the owner of the property. A house for the priest, called a presbytery, was built there. Father Jordan was the first parish priest and stayed until 1941. Before him, priests would cycle from a nearby presbytery to hold mass. A spot was chosen on the hill near the school and presbytery for a grander church.
Archbishop Duhig's Vision
Archbishop Duhig had a big plan to make the Catholic Church stronger in Brisbane. He wanted many churches built on hilltops so they would stand out. By 1940, Duhig had helped build 46 new churches in Brisbane since 1912. These included churches like St Joseph's at Kangaroo Point and the Church of Saint Ignatius Loyola at Toowong. Duhig often chose the same architects, like Hennessey and Hennessey, who designed Corpus Christi. He believed that building these churches showed the strength and wealth of the church.
Corpus Christi Church was meant to be an important part of this plan. Some people say it was a smaller version of the Holy Name Cathedral, which was planned for Ann Street. Both buildings, designed by Hennessey and Hennessey, were thought to look like St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, with its famous dome and cross.
The foundation stone for Corpus Christi Church was laid on 14 June 1925. About 20,000 people came to the event and donated £2000 for the church's construction. However, the church wasn't fully paid for until the 1940s.
The architects, Hennessey, Hennessey, Keesing and Co, had offices in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne. Jack Hennessy, junior had just finished work on St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney and was a friend of Archbishop Duhig. Stanley Samuel Carrick, a local builder, completed the work for a total cost of £16,840. Corpus Christi Church officially opened on 21 November 1926, with its dome lit up by many lights.
The church has remained mostly the same since it was built, with very few changes.
Design and Features
Corpus Christi Church is a brick building located on top of a hill in Nundah. It offers wide views to the north and east. The church's design is inspired by the Romanesque Revival style. This style uses strong, simple shapes and details. The building is surrounded by large trees and well-kept gardens.
Outside the Church
Corpus Christi Church is built with different coloured bricks, creating patterns. It has a traditional Latin Cross shape, which means it looks like a cross from above. A rounded section called a chancel extends from the back (western end). The roof is covered with terracotta tiles. It has a pointed gable roof over the front and side entrances, and a hipped (sloping on all sides) roof over the chancel.
The most striking part of the church is its copper-covered dome. This dome rises about 100 feet (30 meters) above the ground, where the main parts of the church meet. On top of the dome is an octagonal (eight-sided) tower with a Celtic cross at its very top. The dome sits on an eight-sided base, called a drum, which has three arched windows on each side.
The church's brickwork shows patterns, like a checkerboard design on the gables. It also has bands of darker bricks on the outside columns and dark brick corners, called quoining. The outside walls are supported by shallow brick supports called buttresses or piers.
The main entrance at the front (eastern side) has an open doorway with a curved roof, supported by columns. This leads to an arched entrance porch with more columns. Inside the porch, a wooden staircase leads up to a gallery. Large wooden doors open from this area into the main church. Above the main entrance are three round-topped windows with leadlight glass.
The entrances on the north and south sides of the church are similar to the main one, but their curved roofs are supported by decorative brackets called corbels. The back (western side) has a brick arched porch that matches the rounded shape of the chancel.
Inside the Church
Inside, the most impressive feature is the coffered (decorated with sunken panels) ceiling of the dome. This is located where the main aisle (nave) and the side sections (transepts) meet. The dome is held up by four wide arches. One of these arches forms the chancel arch, which leads to the chancel.
The chancel has a beautiful marble altar and a large Italian painting. On either side of the chancel are two smaller side chapels with religious statues. Unusually, the church still has its original marble altar rail. There are also two confessional rooms built into the north and south walls. A gallery is located at the front (eastern end) of the church, holding a large Whitehouse Brothers pipe organ. The floor is carpeted, and the walls are plastered brick with a timber ceiling.
Why is Corpus Christi Church a Heritage Site?
Corpus Christi Church was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 6 July 1995 for several important reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history developed.
The church was built when the Catholic Church in Queensland was growing rapidly under Archbishop Duhig. It shows how the church wanted to create a strong presence, especially in areas where other religions were more common. Its design was also similar to the planned Holy Name Cathedral, making it a key example of Duhig's vision.
- It is beautiful and well-designed.
The church is a great example of an "inter-war" church, meaning it was built between World War I and World War II. Its Romanesque Revival style, with its impressive dome, striking shape, and colourful brickwork, was very popular at the time and favoured by Archbishop Duhig.
- It is important to the community.
The church holds special meaning for the Catholic community in Nundah for its social, cultural, and spiritual importance.
- It is connected to important people in Queensland's history.
The church has a special link to Archbishop James Duhig and the architects Hennessey and Hennessey, who played a big role in Queensland's history.
