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 | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| District | Archdiocese of Melbourne |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Church |
| Year consecrated | 1842 |
| Location | |
| Location | Williamstown, Victoria |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | W.P. Connolly |
| Type | Church |
| Style | Gothic 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.
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.
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
- "Advertising". Williamstown Chronicle (Vic. : 1856 - 1954). Vic.: National Library of Australia. 6 December 1856. p. 1. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- Rider, Andrew (1940), Roman Catholic Church, retrieved 23 March 2015
- http://www.ohta.org.au/organs/organs/WilliamstownRC.html
