St Patrick's Church, Gympie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Patrick's Church, Gympie |
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St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, 2015
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| 26°11′33″S 152°39′57″E / 26.1926°S 152.6657°E | |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 28 January 1883 |
| Founder(s) | Bishop Robert Dunne |
| Dedication | Saint Patrick |
| Consecrated | 17 July 1887 by Archbishop Robert Dunne |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Francis Drummond Greville Stanley |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1883–1935 |
| Construction cost | c. A£10,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone; timber; terracotta tiles |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Patrick's Parish, Gympie |
| Archdiocese | Brisbane |
St Patrick's Church is a beautiful old Roman Catholic church located on Church Street in Gympie, Australia. It's a special building because it's "heritage-listed," meaning it's protected for its history and importance. The church was designed by a famous architect named Francis Drummond Greville Stanley. It was built over many years, starting in 1883 and finishing in 1935. The church was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on February 20, 1995.
Contents
History of St Patrick's Church
St Patrick's Church was built on Calton Hill in Gympie between 1883 and 1887. This was the third church built for the Catholic community in the town, showing how much the church grew. The building was designed by a well-known architect from Brisbane, FDG Stanley.
Early Days of the Church
The very first Catholic church service in Gympie happened in February 1868. It was held in the Brisbane Hotel. The next month, Father Matthew Horan arrived and became the local priest. He stayed until he passed away in 1923. When he first arrived, Father Horan even used a tent on Calton Hill for services. This hill became a very important spot for the Catholic community.
A timber church was built by the end of 1868. However, it only lasted four years because of bad weather and white ants. Some land on Calton Hill was given to the church by local people, and more land was bought.
Building the Second Church
In 1872, a second church was built using strong hardwood. It was opened by Bishop James O'Quinn. Even with extra sections added later, this church wasn't big enough for the growing number of Catholic families. So, plans for an even bigger church began. In 1879, a Catholic school was also started nearby when the Sisters of Mercy came to Gympie.
Famous Brisbane architect FDG Stanley drew up plans for the new church. He made plans for both a stone church and a brick church. Bishop Robert Dunne chose the stone church.
Construction of the Current Church
Bishop Dunne held a special ceremony on January 28, 1883, to lay the foundation stone for St Patrick's. People donated a lot of money, raising £1200 on that first day. On September 19, 1883, a company called J Smith and Co was chosen to build the church for £3591.
Building St Patrick's took four years. The southern wall of the church even collapsed once during a strong wind! Local carpenter William Condon did all the detailed wood work and made the seats. The new church also got a beautiful organ and a marble altar, which was a gift from a successful mining pioneer named James Fitzpatrick.
Opening and Growth
On July 17, 1887, St Patrick's Church officially opened. Bishop Robert Dunne, who had become the first Archbishop of Queensland, led the ceremony. The church cost about £10,000 to build. It was designed to hold 950 people, but 1400 people came to the opening service!
St Patrick's Church quickly became a landmark in Gympie. Its high position on the hill, its tall size, and its white stone walls made it easy to see from far away. It was built in a rectangular shape, with plans to add more sections later. The roof was originally made of corrugated iron.
Under Father Horan's care, St Patrick's Church continued to grow. An organ gallery, designed by Hugo Durietz, was added in 1896.
Later Additions and Improvements
After Father Horan passed away in 1923, Dean Michael O'Flynn became the new priest. He immediately started plans to finish the back part of the church. Brisbane architects Cavanagh and Cavanagh designed the extension. This new part included a rounded chancel and two smaller rooms for the vestry and sanctuary. This work was finished in 1925. The next year, a new brick house for the priest was also completed.
On April 14, 1929, Archbishop James Duhig dedicated new stained glass windows. These windows were placed where other parts of the church were meant to be built. They honored the Catholic Emancipation and a key figure named Daniel O'Connell. Duhig also laid the foundation stone for a new convent, celebrating the Sisters of Mercy's 100th anniversary and their 50 years in Gympie.
Father O'Flynn stayed at St Patrick's until he passed away in 1935. Monsignor Timothy Malony took over and made many improvements to the church grounds. He added paving, lawns, and wide steps leading up to the church.
Description of St Patrick's Church
St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church is a large building made of sandstone. It stands on Calton Hill, a very noticeable spot in Gympie. The church is surrounded by concrete paths, green lawns, and gardens. There is also a timber bell tower on the grass to the east of the church.
Church Design and Materials
The church has a rectangular shape. It features a main area called a nave with tall windows (a clerestory) and side aisles. It also has a rounded chancel at the southern end, with two smaller rounded rooms used as a vestry and a sanctuary.
The building is made of rough-cut sandstone blocks, laid in rows. Smoother, cut stone is used for details like corners (quoining) and decorative lines. The base of the building is made of larger, rough sandstone blocks. The angled supports (buttressing) are also sandstone with smooth edges. The southern end of the church, including the chancel and vestry/sanctuary, is made of bricks that are covered to look like stone.
Windows and Roof
The church has tall, pointed arch windows with detailed stone patterns (tracery). The roof is very steep and covered with red terracotta tiles. Large, pointed arch stained glass windows are found on the southern end of the east and west walls. These windows have many smaller sections with geometric patterns.
The western wall has a main entrance (portal) with a ribbed pointed archway. Windows with hood mouldings are on either side of this entrance. Above the entrance is a large window with three arches and four tall, narrow lights. The highest point of the gable has a small, round window. The windows in the clerestory (the upper part of the nave) use a four-leaf clover design (quatrefoil) to frame colorful stained glass.
Inside the Church
Inside, round sandstone pillars support pointed arches, creating arcades that separate the main nave from the side aisles. Slender columns extend up from the pillars to support the timber roof trusses. The ceiling is made of wooden boards laid diagonally.
A pointed arch opens into the chancel, which has a dome-shaped ceiling painted with religious scenes. The chancel features a marble altar, reached by two marble stairs. It also has a small stained glass rose window showing the Holy Family.
The organ gallery at the west end of the church is supported by slender round columns. The organ itself has an inscription that says "Richard Heslop 16 Burma Rd London." Wooden-framed Stations of the Cross are placed along the walls of the side aisles. Many of the stained glass windows have small plaques telling who donated them.
Why St Patrick's Church is Important
St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on February 20, 1995. This means it's recognized as a very important historical place.
Historical Significance
St Patrick's Church, built from 1883 to 1887, is a large sandstone building. It shows how quickly Gympie grew in the 1880s because of the successful gold fields.
Architectural Importance
St Patrick's is a great example of church architecture from the 1880s. It was influenced by the Gothic Revival style and shows the excellent work of architect FDG Stanley. The church has many parts that show high-quality craftsmanship. These include the marble altar, the organ, the detailed wood work, the stone masonry, and the beautiful stained glass windows.
The church has been a major landmark in Gympie since it opened in 1887. It's a large, impressive building on a very visible site. It was the first big stone church in Gympie and set an example for other churches built in the town later.
Community Connection
The church also shows how the Catholic Church spread in regional Queensland. It has a long and strong connection with the Catholic community in Gympie. It reflects how Catholicism developed in the area over many years.
