St Brigid's Roman Catholic Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Brigid's Roman Catholic Church |
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St Brigid's Roman Catholic Church, and former school in 2012
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 St Brigid's Roman Catholic Church
Location in Sydney
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| 33°51′31″S 151°12′14″E / 33.8587°S 151.2038°E | |
| Location | 14, 16 Kent Street, Millers Point, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founder(s) | Bishop Dr William Bernard Ullathorne OSB |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Church |
| Architect(s) | Ambrose Hallen |
| Years built | 1834–1835 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Sydney |
| Archdiocese | Sydney |
St Brigid's Roman Catholic Church is a very old and important Catholic church building in Millers Point, Sydney, Australia. It's located on Kent Street. People also call it St. Brigid's Roman Catholic Church & School, St Brigid's, or St Bridget's. This special building is owned by the church itself. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, which means it's a protected historical site. St Brigid's Church is actually the oldest Catholic church still standing and used in Australia!
Contents
History of St Brigid's Church
The Catholic Church was officially recognized in Australia in 1820. This happened when Fathers Connolly and Therry arrived. Before that, some unofficial churches and schools were already operating. St Brigid's is a great example of how schools started in New South Wales. Many early schools were run by private groups or churches. Government-run schools didn't begin until the 1840s. St Brigid's is thought to be the oldest church-run school still around in New South Wales. It's even five years older than the Catholic school in Camperdown.
Building the First Church
The first design for St Brigid's was called St Bridget's. It was created by Bishop Dr William Bernard Ullathorne. He planned a single-story building made of sandstone. It would have one classroom and a separate chapel. Construction started in 1834, using stone found nearby. The building was finished in April 1835. It was ready for use in May 1835. Inside, folding doors divided the space into two classrooms. One was for boys and the other for girls. On Sundays, the school building became a chapel for Mass.
School and Church Changes
At first, the Christian Brothers looked after the students. But by the 1870s, the Sisters of Mercy took over the school. In the early 1930s, Father Daniel Hurley, the local priest, got permission to add another story. This new level was built on top of the original classroom and chapel. The old sandstone part then became the church and its special area (apse) you see today. The expanded school opened on August 31, 1933.
In 1933, when the upper story was added, the church's name changed. It went from "St Bridget's" to the current "St Brigid's." The new upper floor meant the ground floor could be used only as a church. The school closed in 1992 because fewer students were attending. From 2002 to 2003, the church underwent restoration work. This helped to preserve the historic chapel's inside and outside.
About the Church Building
The church is located on the western side of Observatory Hill. This hill is a sandstone cliff between Sydney Cove and Darling Harbour.
Building Condition and History
In 2003, a detailed report was made about the site's history. Until 1833, the entire area was a large sandstone quarry. Then, in May 1835, the church building was finished. It opened as a school right away. It's possible that items from the school were left in the southern yard.
Around 1935, the second story was added to the church. This new part was used as the school. The ground floor room then became a church only. During these building changes, the level of the southern yard was raised. A new bitumen surface was added. This would have covered any old items from when the area was used as a schoolyard or church. The report concluded that the southern yard does not have high archaeological importance.
Why St Brigid's is Important
St Brigid's Church and School is very important to the history of New South Wales. Here's why:
- It's the oldest building in Australia and New Zealand that has been continuously used for Catholic religious services. The ground floor, made of sandstone, has been a church since 1835. This makes it exceptionally significant.
- The site is strongly connected to Bishop Ullathorne. He was the first senior Catholic church leader in Australia. He helped set up the Catholic Church formally in New South Wales. This connection is also exceptionally significant.
- The building is one of the few remaining works by Ambrose Hallen. He was the Colonial Architect at the time. This makes the building highly important.
- The church adds to the look of the historic area around it. This area is recognized as being nationally important. This visual contribution is also highly important.
St Brigid's Church and School helps us understand the religious and educational life of the community. It shows how things have changed over a very long time. It holds special meaning for the history of the Catholic community in Australia.
St Brigid's Roman Catholic Church & School was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
See also
- Roman Catholicism in Australia
