St Denis Church, Joondanna

St Denis Church is a Roman Catholic church in the Perth suburb of Joondanna, Western Australia.[6][7] The building was designed by Ernest Rossen[8][9] and Iris Rossen,[10] and is inspired by the Chapel du Ronchamp.[11] It was built in 1967[1][12] and consecrated in 1968.[1]

St Denis Church, Joondanna
31.9082°S 115.8428°E / -31.9082; 115.8428
LocationJoondanna, Western Australia
CountryAustralia
DenominationRoman Catholic
Websitewww.stdenis.com.au
History
StatusParish church
Dedicated25 August 1968[1]
Relics heldFragment of bone from Saint Peregrine Laziosi[2]
Architecture
Architect(s)Ernest Rossen
Years built1967
Specifications
Capacity500[3]
Administration
ParishSt Denis / Joondanna[lower-alpha 1]
ArchdiocesePerth
Clergy
Priest(s)Anthony Rathinam OSM[6][7]

The church has a pipe organ. The instrument was originally built in 1957 for the chapel at St John of God Subiaco Hospital. That chapel was demolished in 1994 and the organ was removed and rebuilt at St Denis. It was damaged during a severe storm in 2010, but subsequently repaired.[13][14]

In 2010/11 a five-year plan to renovate the church building commenced:[15]

  • The crying room was converted to a gathering space.[15]
  • A new sound system was installed, including hearing units for those hard-of-hearing.[16]
  • Indoor toilets were installed.[17]
  • Reverse-cycle air-conditioning was installed.[18]
  • Solar panels were installed on the roof of the church and presbytery.[18][19]

In 2014 the tabernacle was moved from its original location on the side of the sanctuary to directly behind the altar.[20][lower-alpha 2]

In 2017 a memorial garden was built on the west side, between the church and the presbytery.[22][23]

History of the parish

The parish of St Denis[lower-alpha 1] was created by Archbishop Redmond Prendiville in 1952 by separating it from the larger parish of Osborne Park; responsibility for the new parish was given to the Servite Order, which had recently arrived in Australia.[1][24]:1 The first parish priest was Patrick Nolan.[1][lower-alpha 3] At the time, the new parish's church was a Nissen[25] or Quonset[1] hut on Wanneroo Road in Tuart Hill[26] (now Joondanna[25]) consecrated the previous year,[27] which also acted as a school.[1] In 1964, Nolan as replaced by Christopher Ross, who decided that a "proper" church was required.[9]

The parish was named after the third-century Christian martyr, Saint Denis.[28]

Notes
  1. The Archdiocese of Perth refers to the parish as "Joondanna",[4][5] but most other references call the parish "St Denis".
  2. The tabernacle now behind the altar at the front of the church is not the original. The original 1968 tabernacle[21] is now at the rear of the church in a small memorial area.
  3. Nolan also served as the first principal of St Philip's high school when it was opened by the Servites in 1958.[24]:4

References
  1. Christopher M. Ross OSM (2001-01-12), Servites in Australia - Part One (PDF), retrieved 2014-10-26
  2. Framed relic on display in the church, 2014-11-01
  3. Certificate of Approval issued by City of Stirling 2004-03-15, on display in the church 2014-11-01
  4. "Parishes & Clergy". Archdiocese of Perth. 2008. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  5. Parish Localities E-L, Archdiocese of Perth, retrieved 2014-10-26
  6. "Joondanna". Archdiocese of Perth. Retrieved 2018-05-30.
  7. "Saint Denis Parish". Retrieved 2018-05-30.
  8. Plaque on St Denis Church, Joondanna
  9. Matthew Lau (October 2018). "Joondanna Parish hits half-century in multicultural fashion". Catholic Archdiocese of Perth. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  10. Matthews, Leonie (Spring–Summer 2019). Creagh, Robyn; Giles, Fiona (eds.). "Ires Rosen: An Extraordinary Life" (PDF). The Architect. Australian Institute of Architects WA Chapter: 83. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  11. "44 - St Denis Catholic Church". Open House Perth. 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  12. "St Denis' Church & Parish House". Heritage Council, State Heritage Office. 2015-10-22. Retrieved 2015-11-08.
  13. "Western Australian Pipe Organs: St. Denis's Catholic Church". The Organ Society of Western Australia. 2011-01-28. Archived from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  14. "Western Australian Pipe Organs: St John of God Hospital". The Organ Society of Western Australia. 2009-01-22. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  15. Bridget Spinks (2011-02-02). "Servite overhauls Joondanna parish". The Record. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  16. "New Sound System, Hi-Tech Hearing 'Loop'" (PDF), Voice of St Denis, St Denis Parish, 2013-03-30, archived from the original on 2013-04-10, retrieved 2014-10-26CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  17. "Please Be Careful!" (PDF), Voice of St Denis, St Denis Parish, 2013-05-18, archived from the original on 2013-05-17, retrieved 2014-10-26CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. "Saint Denis Parish". 2013-04-09. Archived from the original on 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2014-11-04.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  19. "St Denis Catholic Parish Joondanna WA". Five Leaf Eco-Awards. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  20. "Placement of Tabernacle" (PDF), Voice of St Denis, St Denis Parish, 2014-10-18, archived from the original on 2014-10-26, retrieved 2014-11-02CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  21. "St Denis Catholic church, Roberts Street, Joondanna [picture] - 340427PD: Vestry, 1968". State Library of Western Australia. Retrieved 2014-11-23.
  22. "Saint Denis Parish". March 2018. News. Retrieved 2018-05-30. Update March-2018: The memorial garden has been officially opened for several months
  23. "Westside Development". Saint Denis Parish. Retrieved 2018-05-30.
  24. Of Dreams and Realities, A history of the origins and development of Servite College (1958-1983).
  25. "School history". St Denis School. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  26. "Cully-Stephenson Wedding". South Western Advertiser. 1953-09-17. p. 6. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  27. "Church Built From A Nissen Hut". The West Australian. 1951-12-19. p. 12. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  28. "Parishes turn to saints for inspiration". The Record. 2008-11-05. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
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