Sacred Heart Church, St Kilda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sacred Heart Church, St Kilda |
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Exterior on Grey Street, St Kilda
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| 37°51′46″S 144°58′48″E / 37.862691°S 144.979888°E | |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 13 July 1884 |
| Founder(s) | Archbishop Goold |
| Dedicated | 7 December 1884 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Reed, Henderson & Smart |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Italian Renaissance and Baroque |
| Years built | 1884 – 1922 |
| Groundbreaking | 13 July 1884 |
| Construction cost | £3,300 |
The Sacred Heart Church is a beautiful Catholic church in St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. It's a really important building because of its amazing design, how it looks, and its long history. The church was built in different stages over many years. Today, it stands as one of the most famous landmarks in St Kilda.
The church, along with its hall and the priest's house (called a presbytery), was added to the Victorian Heritage Register on November 19, 1998. This means they are officially protected because of their special historical value.
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Where to Find the Church
The Sacred Heart Church is in a very easy-to-spot place. It sits right in the middle of St Kilda.
It is just northeast of Luna Park, a famous amusement park, and the Palais Theatre. North of the church is Albert Park. This park has been the home of the exciting Australian Grand Prix car race since 1996.
A Look at Its History
In the 1880s, more and more people wanted to attend St Mary's Church. So, land was bought to build a new Catholic church on Grey Street in St Kilda.
The first stone for the church was laid on July 13, 1884, by Archbishop Goold. The church was officially opened on December 7, 1884. Reverend William Henry Quick, who came to Melbourne in 1872, was the first priest. He was born in England and studied in Spain. When Father Quick passed away in 1899, Father William Ganly took his place.
In 1922, the church got a big makeover. Architects Kempson and Conolly, along with contractor Brady, worked on it. The bell tower at the front was changed, and another one was added at the back. This new tower was 36 meters tall and had a copper dome with a statue of Christ on top. During the work, a fire broke out. It damaged one of the altars and burned all the special clothes worn by priests (vestments). In November 1922, Archbishop Mannix opened the newly updated church. The renovations cost £18,000, which was a lot more than the original building cost.
Church Design and Style
The Sacred Heart Church is famous for its design. It uses the Italian Renaissance and Baroque styles. This was a new choice because most Catholic churches in Victoria before this used the Gothic Revival style. The three architects who first designed the church were Reed, Henderson & Smart.
Just a few years later, similar churches started appearing in cities like London, Paris, and Dublin. The Sacred Heart Church helped set a new trend for Catholic churches in Victoria. They began using Renaissance and Baroque designs, often with red bricks, cement decorations, and slate roofs.
Even though the church was opened in 1884, it wasn't fully finished until 1922. In 1890, side aisles and the bell tower were added. Architects Kempson and Conolly helped complete the church's final look.
The church has many beautiful decorations and features inside. The curved ceiling, the special area around the altar (sanctuary), and the main part of the church (nave) have lots of painted designs. Gold leaf is used to show how holy the space is, following an old Italian Catholic tradition. The main altar is made from white Carrara marble. It's a great example of the Romanesque Revival style and was designed by Kempson and Connolly. The stained glass windows are also very special. They were some of the first to bring a Classical style into Catholic churches.
The Church's Music
Music is a very important part of the services at Sacred Heart Church.
The church has a large pipe organ built in 1910 by George Fincham & Son. This organ has two keyboards and eleven stops (which control different sounds). Only small changes have been made to its air system. Everything else is still the same as when it was first built. The organ is placed in the back gallery, keeping its original sound, mechanics, pipes, and unique design.
Sacred Heart Mission
In 1984, the church started a separate group called the Sacred Heart Mission. This group helps people in need. It has many community programs that support different people.
Their main goals are to help people who don't have jobs, find affordable homes, assist older people, and support women who are struggling. They also have an "outreach program" that visits people who live alone and feel isolated. Some of these people might have agoraphobia (fear of open spaces). Another program arranges visits to older people in nursing homes. The Sacred Heart Mission also helps people who die alone by arranging funerals and burials for them. They even try to find the lost families of these individuals. Most of these helpful actions are supported by donations from the community. Because of this mission, more people have started attending Sacred Heart Church.
See Also
Images for kids
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The bell tower
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High Altar made of white Carrara marble
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Stained glass window
