St Mary's Church, Williamstown

St Mary's Catholic Church is located in Melbourne's first seaport of Williamstown, Melbourne, Australia. Originally constructed in the early 19th century, St Mary's was only the second Catholic Church to be constructed in the Port Phillip District of New South Wales (which would later become the colony of Victoria),[1] after St. Francis Catholic Church, in Melbourne.

St Mary's of the Immaculate Conception
Religion
AffiliationRoman Catholic
DistrictArchdiocese of Melbourne
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusChurch
Year consecrated1842
Location
LocationWilliamstown, Victoria
Architecture
Architect(s)W.P. Connolly
TypeChurch
StyleGothic Revival
Spire(s)1
Website

There have been a total of three structures located on the site, the first being a timber chapel, later being replaced by an earlier stone structure c.1870.[2] Later, a larger stone structure was built, which still stands on the site today.

The second structure on the site of St Mary's Church. This was the first stone structure, which replaced the former timber chapel.

Originally designed to incorporate a steeple, this was modified by the Archdiocese at the time, allowing for the construction of St Patrick's Cathedral, in Melbourne.

The third structure on the site of St Mary's Church. This shows the structure before later additions of the spire and other sections in 1933.

In 1933, the spire, transepts, sanctuary, side chapels and sacristy were added, in accordance to the original design of W.P. Connolly.[3]

Parish Priests

Below are listed the Parish Priests of St Mary's Church and the dates served, as determined by their first and last Baptism, listed in the Parish Baptismal Register.

Priest's Name Years Served at St. Mary's Church
Rev. Gerald Ward March 1853 - August 1853
Rev. Patrick Geoghegan October 1853 - January 1860
Rev. Patrick Verling February 1860 - April 1861
Rev. Matthew Downing May 1861 - August 1864
Rev. Thomas Lenchan September 1864 - August 1866
Rev. Patrick Riordan October 1866 - December 1867
Rev. Thomas Neville December 1867 - February 1870
Rev. James McGillicuddy March 1870 - June 1877
Rev. Matthew Hayes June 1877 - February 1882
Rev. Patrick Walshe February 1882 - April 1891
Rev. Gerald Byrne (Sr.) April 1891 - November 1898
Rev. Patrick Fallon December 1898 - January 1900
Rev. Thomas Brazil March 1900 - July 1924
Rev. Michael Flannery May 1925 - June 1949
Rev. John Cassidy June 1951 - December 1974
Rev. James Shorten August 1976 - February 1981
Rev. Michael Mifsud February 1981 - January 1986
Rev. Kevin Smith July 1986 - February 1995
Rev. Ron Lowe February 1995 - May 2000
Rev. Barry Robinson October 1998 - April 2004
Rev. Noel Oliver August 2000 - December 2009
Rev. Greg Trythall April 2010 - Present

References

  1. "Advertising". Williamstown Chronicle (Vic. : 1856 - 1954). Vic.: National Library of Australia. 6 December 1856. p. 1. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  2. Rider, Andrew (1940), Roman Catholic Church, retrieved 23 March 2015
  3. http://www.ohta.org.au/organs/organs/WilliamstownRC.html

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