First St Mary's Church, Warwick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids First St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Warwick |
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| St Mary of the Assumption Church | |
First St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 2015
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| 28°13′09″S 152°01′53″E / 28.2191°S 152.0314°E | |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status |
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| Dedication | St Mary of the Assumption |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Community meeting hall |
| Architect(s) | Benjamin Joseph Backhouse |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Years built | 1863–1865 |
| Closed | 1926 (as a church) |
The First St Mary's Roman Catholic Church is an old stone church building in Warwick, Queensland, Australia. It's special because it's listed as a heritage site, meaning it's an important part of history. A famous architect named Benjamin Backhouse designed it, and it was built between 1863 and 1865. It was known as St Mary of the Assumption Church. After a new, bigger church was built in 1926, this first church stopped being used for church services. Now, it's used for community events and as a hall.
Contents
History of the First St Mary's Church
The first St Mary's Church in Warwick is a strong building made of sandstone. It was built between 1863 and 1865. The plans for the church were drawn by a well-known architect from Brisbane, Benjamin Backhouse.
Before this church was built, Catholic services in Warwick were held in different places. Priests would visit from Sydney, Ipswich, and Brisbane. The first recorded church service was in 1854. It took place at the Horse and Jockey Inn on Palmerin Street.
In 1862, Warwick became its own separate parish for the Catholic Church. A parish is an area looked after by a priest. This happened just one year after Warwick became a town in 1861. The first priest was Dr John Cani. He later became the first Bishop of Rockhampton in 1882.
By 1863, people started talking about building a church on Palmerin Street. They needed money to buy the land. Many people donated to help buy the land for the church.
The architect, Benjamin Backhouse, arrived in Brisbane in 1861. He designed many important buildings in Queensland. He was known for designing churches, including a cathedral in Brisbane. He designed St Mary's Church to be simple but beautiful, in the Gothic style, and made of stone or brick.
The church was officially opened on August 23, 1865. Bishop Quinn, the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Brisbane, opened it. The church was named St. Mary of the Assumption, but people usually call it St Mary's.
When it first opened, the church only had the main part, called the nave. The entrances were on the sides. The roof was made of slate or shingles. The building cost about £1500. The stone used to build the church came from local quarries in Warwick.
Over the years, different priests looked after the church. In 1867, a Catholic school started inside the church. The church was divided with screens to create teaching areas.
Father James Horan became the priest in 1876 and stayed until 1905. He was responsible for finishing the church. By 1894, the side sections, called transepts, and the area around the altar, called the chancel, were added. Porches were also built over the side entrances.
Later, Monsignor Michael Potter decided that the original St Mary's Church was too small. So, he planned to build a second, larger church. This new church would be built further north on the same block of land. Local architects designed the new church. It was built between 1920 and 1926.
After the new church opened, the original St Mary's building was changed. It was divided into rooms and used for the Catholic primary school. It has been used as a community hall and storage ever since.
What the Church Looks Like
The former St Mary's Church is located within the grounds of the local Catholic primary school. It's on Palmerin Street in Warwick.
The church is built from strong, finely cut sandstone. It has a cruciform plan, which means it's shaped like a cross from above. The main part, the nave, extends to the east. The side sections, called transepts, are to the north and south. The area near the altar, the chancel, is to the west. The sandstone blocks are laid in even rows. Larger blocks are used at the corners, which is called quoining.
The church sits on a slightly raised base, called a plinth. The roof is gabled, meaning it has two sloping sides that meet at a ridge. It's covered with corrugated iron. The roof edges hang over the walls.
The front entrance on the east side has a small gabled porch. It has a pointed arch opening made of smooth sandstone. Strong supports, called buttresses, extend from the walls. These supports are also on the transepts and the back of the building.
Above the porch, there's a beautiful rose window. This is a round window with stone patterns, called tracery, and some old glass panels. Above that, there's a cross-shaped opening for air. At the very top of the gable, there's a carved stone cross.
The north and south sides of the church have projecting side entrances and transepts. There are also single, tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. The side entrances have pointed arched doorways. The transepts have large rose windows in their gables.
The western side of the church, where the chancel is, has a large window with geometric patterns. It includes four lancet openings, two four-leaf clover shapes called quatrefoils, and a rose window design.
Inside, the building doesn't look much like a church anymore. The walls are plastered, the floor is carpeted, and a new ceiling has been put in. The space is divided into several smaller rooms. The sandstone walls have some issues with rising damp, which means moisture is coming up from the ground.
Why St Mary's Church is Important
The first St Mary's Church was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's recognized as an important historical site. Here's why:
- It shows how Queensland's history developed.
The church helps us understand how Warwick grew in the 1860s. It became an important farming area. The church also shows how the Catholic Church spread into regional areas. Many strong buildings were built in the mid-1800s. The church is also connected to Benjamin Backhouse, a famous early Brisbane architect.
- It's a rare and special part of Queensland's history.
This church is one of the oldest sandstone buildings still standing in Warwick. It's also the earliest sandstone church in the area.
- It shows what a typical church from that time looked like.
The building is a good example of how masonry churches were designed in Queensland in the mid-1800s. Its style was influenced by the English Gothic Revival movement.
- It's beautiful to look at.
It's a well-designed and well-built stone building. It has beautiful stone patterns in its windows.
- It has a strong connection to the community.
The building is very important to the Roman Catholic community in Warwick. It was their main church for many years. It has also been the center of the Catholic primary school since it was built in 1863-1865.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Santa María (Warwick, 1894) para niños
