Ravenswood Community Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ravenswood Community Church |
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Ravenswood Community Church, 2011
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| 20°06′00″S 146°53′33″E / 20.1001°S 146.8924°E | |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Union Church (since c. 1985) |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic (1871–c. 1985) |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St Patrick's Catholic Church |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 21 October 1871 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1871 |
The Ravenswood Community Church is a historic building in Ravenswood, Queensland, Australia. It used to be a Roman Catholic church called St Patrick's. Now, it is a union church, meaning different Christian groups can use it. It was built in 1871 by Ross & O'Reilly. This church is so important that it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.
Contents
How the Church Began
The Ravenswood Community Church, first known as St Patrick's Catholic Church, opened on October 21, 1871. Over the years, new parts were added to the church. Big additions were likely made in the early 1900s.
Gold Rush and Town Growth
Gold was found near Ravenswood in 1868. This brought many people hoping to find riches. At first, miners found gold in riverbeds and some in rock veins. But they needed machines to crush the gold-rich rocks.
In 1869, a special machine called a five-head stamp battery arrived. This machine helped miners get more gold from the rocks. With better gold returns, people decided to build a more lasting town. By the mid-1870s, Ravenswood had many businesses. These included hotels, shops, and services like blacksmiths and bakers.
Building the First Church
Around March 1871, local people formed a group to plan a Catholic church. Many people from different faiths helped by donating money or their time. This shows how the community worked together. A small school also opened in the church soon after it was built.
Ross & O'Reilly, who were likely local builders, constructed the church. Hugh Ross, one of the builders, also built other churches in Charters Towers. These churches look similar to the one in Ravenswood.
Challenges and Repairs
In 1873, a strong storm damaged the church. Some people say the back of the building had to be rebuilt. Others believe the whole church was destroyed and needed to be rebuilt.
The Catholic community in Ravenswood grew strong. They had the church, a boarding school, and a convent. Priests from Italy and France visited before Ravenswood became its own parish.
In 1885, Father Flood, the first parish priest, worked to bring the Sisters of Mercy to open a school. The community again showed their support by helping Father Flood raise money. The nuns arrived in 1886. They first taught in the church. Later, a school for girls, including boarders, opened in 1890.
During World War II, students from St Patrick's College, Townsville moved to the Ravenswood boarding school for safety. After the war, they returned to Townsville. The boarding school and convent closed in 1948. The school building was moved away. The convent stayed until a storm damaged it, and locals used its timber.
Community Efforts to Save the Church
In 1905, Rooney & Company, builders from Townsville, are thought to have extended the church. The church continued to be used, but it slowly fell into disrepair. In 1957, the community raised money for repairs. Volunteers fixed the wall behind the altar, replaced parts of the roof, and rebuilt a damaged room. They also painted the church.
Even after these repairs, the building was not used much. Then, in the mid-1970s, a local couple wanted to get married there. Once again, the community helped. They fixed windows, painted the church, repaired fittings, and laid carpet.
In the mid-1980s, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Townsville gave the church to the local council. Since then, the Ravenswood community, with help from a local mining company, has looked after the church. It is now used as a community church. Special events, like carols by candlelight, are also held there. Recently, the church was repainted, and the stairs to the choir loft were rebuilt.
What the Church Looks Like
The Ravenswood Community Church is a rectangular building with a pointed roof made of corrugated iron. It sits on a clear hill facing Chapel Street, southeast of the town.
On the west side, you can still see old plants and building pieces from the Mercy Convent that used to be next door. A brick entrance is located down the slope from Chapel Street.
The front part of the church has smooth wooden boards on the outside. The back part has a single layer of boards with the wooden frame showing. A small entrance porch sticks out from the front, facing Chapel Street. There are narrow windows on both sides of the porch and on its front wall. Similar windows are along both sides of the church.
At the back of the building, a curved section marks the sanctuary, which is a sacred area. A sacristy (a room for priests' robes and church items) and another similar extension are on either side of the sanctuary.
Inside, you can find original items like wooden pews (benches), a timber and marble altar, a baptismal font (for baptisms), and a confessional (for confessions). The inside has been painted, and the fittings are repaired. A new staircase to the choir loft was recently built. The windows have new frames.
Why This Church is Important
The Ravenswood Community Church was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on September 24, 1999. It is important for several reasons:
A Link to Queensland's Past
The church was built in stages starting in 1871. It shows how the Ravenswood gold fields grew and became prosperous. It also shows how the Catholic faith spread in regional Queensland, especially in North Queensland.
Beautiful and Recognizable
This simple timber church stands out in Ravenswood. It is a landmark that can be seen from afar, making it important for its beauty.
A Special Place for the Community
The local community has always had a strong connection to this church. Many times, the church survived because the people of Ravenswood cared for it and helped fix it. They have looked after the building since the 1950s. As a community church, it continues to be a place for gatherings, church services, and celebrations.
