St John's Pro-Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's Pro-Cathedral |
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St John's Pro-Cathedral, Perth (2006)
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| General information | |
| Type | Roman Catholic church |
| Location | Perth, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°57′23″S 115°51′58″E / 31.9563°S 115.8662°E |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 10 October 1995 |
| Reference no. | 2130 |
St John's Pro-Cathedral is a very old and important church building. You can find it at 18 Victoria Avenue in Perth, Western Australia. It was the very first Roman Catholic church ever built in Western Australia!
Contents
What the Church Looks Like
The church is made of brick. It is covered with a special paint that makes it look like the original building. The roof has a pointed shape, called a gable roof. It is covered with shingles.
The sides of the church have arched windows. Strong supports called buttresses are placed along the walls. These help the building stand tall. At the front, there is a special entrance area called a portico. This part was rebuilt in 1881. The front wall has four arched windows. Two are above the portico, and one is on each side.
There is also a smaller section at the back of the church. Its windows are square with four glass panes. The main church windows have clear glass.
History of St John's Pro-Cathedral
St John's Pro-Cathedral is a very important building for the Catholic Church in Western Australia. It was the first Catholic church. It also became the first main church, or "Cathedral." For about 20 years, it was the center of Catholic life in the Swan River Colony. This was before the first St Mary's Cathedral was finished in 1865.
In 1843, the Vatican said yes to a request to build a church. Soon after, Father John Brady, Father John Joostens, and Patrick O'Reilly arrived. They came to Fremantle on a ship called the Water Witch. Father Brady only stayed in Perth for two months. But he was able to get land for the church on Victoria Avenue. This was where St John's Pro-Cathedral would be built.
Building started on December 27, 1843. The first stone was placed on January 16, 1844. In 1844, Father Brady went to Rome. He asked for help and for a new church area, called a diocese, for the Swan River Colony.
Becoming a Cathedral
Father Brady came back to Perth in January 1846. He was now a Bishop. Because he was a Bishop, the Church of St John the Apostle and Evangelist became a Cathedral. This meant it was the main church for the Bishop. The special chair that Bishop Brady brought from Europe is still in the Pro-Cathedral today.
Bishop Brady left Perth in 1852. This was after some disagreements with Joseph Serra. In 1850, Serra became the new Bishop of Perth. In 1855, he made the church bigger. He added more brick to make it twice its original size. The church was then given a new name: the Immaculate Conception. In 1856, a brick portico was added to the front.
St John's Pro-Cathedral was the main church for Catholics in Perth from 1844 to 1865. When the Gothic-style St Mary's Cathedral was finished in 1865, it took over as Perth's main Catholic Cathedral. St John's then became known as St John's Pro-Cathedral. It was used by the Christian Brothers as a school.
Later Uses and Restoration
In 1881, St John's Pro-Cathedral was updated. It was then used by the Sisters of Mercy. They called it St John's Chapel. It became the school chapel for Mercedes College. In 1965, the building was "modernised." It was used as a classroom for students.
From 1979 to 1980, work was done to fix up the building. They removed parts that did not fit the original design. The building was then turned into a museum for the Catholic Church.
Why This Building is Important
St John's Pro-Cathedral is very important for its history and culture. It is listed on several important registers:
- The National Trust
- The State Register of Heritage Places
- The Register of the National Estate
- The City of Perth's Municipal Heritage Inventory
The Heritage Council of Western Australia says the Cathedral is important for these reasons:
- It is the first and oldest Roman Catholic church in Western Australia.
- It is connected to the start of the Roman Catholic Church in the State. It is also linked to the first religious groups there.
- Many Catholics today still think very highly of this place.
See also
In Spanish: Procatedral de San Juan (Perth) para niños
