St John's Pro-Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's Pro-Cathedral |
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| Church of St John the Apostle and Evangelist | |
St John's Pro-Cathedral, Perth in 2024
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| 31°57′23″S 115°51′58″E / 31.9563°S 115.8662°E | |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | |
| Founded | 16 January 1844 |
| Founder(s) | Father John Brady |
| Consecrated | January 1846 as a Cathedral |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Gothic Revival |
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 St John's Pro-Cathedral Looks Like
This historic church is made of brick. The bricks are covered with a special plaster called lime render. This plaster is painted a warm yellow-brown color. It makes the building look like its original design.
The roof is shaped like a triangle (a gable roof) and covered with shingles. On the north and south sides, you'll see arched windows. Strong supports called buttresses are placed along these walls.
At the front, on the western side, there's a portico. This is like a porch with columns. It was removed a long time ago but has been rebuilt. The western wall has four arched windows. Two are above the portico, and one is on each side.
There's also a smaller section at the eastern end of the south side. It has an arched door on its north side. The church windows have clear glass with wooden frames called mullions. The windows in the smaller section are square with four panes of glass.
The History of St John's Pro-Cathedral
St John's Pro-Cathedral has a rich history for the Catholic Church in Western Australia. It was the first Catholic church and later became the first Cathedral. For about 20 years, it was the main place for Catholic life in the early Swan River Colony. This was before the first St Mary's Cathedral was finished in 1865.
How the Church Began
In 1843, the Vatican approved a request to start a Catholic mission. Soon after, Father John Brady, Father John Joostens, and Patrick O'Reilly arrived in Fremantle.
Father Brady only stayed in Perth for two months at first. But during that time, he secured land for the church on Victoria Avenue. This land became the spot for the first Catholic cathedral. Its full name was the Church of St John the Apostle and Evangelist.
Building started on December 27, 1843. The first stone was laid on January 16, 1844. Later in 1844, Father Brady traveled to Rome. He asked for help and for a new Catholic area (diocese) to be set up for the Swan River Colony.
Becoming a Cathedral
Father Brady returned to Perth as a Bishop in January 1846. Because he was now a Bishop, the Church of St John the Apostle and Evangelist became a cathedral. A cathedral is the main church for a bishop. The special chair that Bishop Brady brought from Europe is still in the Pro-Cathedral today.
Bishop Brady left Perth in 1852 after some disagreements. In 1850, Joseph Serra became the new Bishop of Perth. In 1855, he made the building twice as big by adding more brick sections. The church was then rededicated with a new name, the Immaculate Conception. In 1856, a brick portico was added to the western side.
Changes Over Time
St John's Pro-Cathedral was the main Catholic church in Perth from 1844 to 1865. When the new Gothic-style St Mary's Cathedral was completed in 1865, it took over as Perth's main Catholic cathedral.
After that, St John's became known as St John's Pro-Cathedral. It was used by the Christian Brothers as a school.
In 1881, the building was updated and used by the Sisters of Mercy. They called it St John's Chapel. It served as the school chapel for Mercedes College. In 1965, the building was changed again. It became a classroom for students from the convent and for others learning English.
Restoration and Museum
Between 1979 and 1980, a big project began to restore the building. Workers removed the changes that didn't fit the original design. After the restoration, the building was turned into a museum by the Catholic Church. It helps people learn about its long and important history.
Why St John's Pro-Cathedral is Important
This building is recognized as a special heritage site. It is listed on the State Register of Heritage Places. This means it has important cultural value for several reasons:
- It is the first and oldest Roman Catholic church in Western Australia.
- It played a key role in starting the Catholic Church and its first religious groups in the state.
- Many Catholics today still hold the place in high regard.
See also
In Spanish: Procatedral de San Juan (Perth) para niños
