Perhaps you’ve passed by St. Clement’s without realizing its unique story. St. Clement’s Melkite Catholic Church stands as Queensland’s first Lebanese church. It has served generations of Melkite Catholics since 1936.
Let’s step back in time to understand St. Clement’s origins. The Melkites are Catholics from the Middle East especially Lebanon. Before World War II, Melkite migrants in Australia often worshipped in existing Catholic churches. However, this led to a loss of Arabic language and customs.
Brisbane’s Lebanese Melkite community wanted to preserve their traditions. Very reverend Archimandrite Sophronus Khoury led the fundraising. He had come to Sydney from Beirut in 1908. In 1928, he got permission to start a Melkite church in Brisbane. He would minister to the city’s Lebanese migrants.
Father Khoury initially held mass at St Mary’s Catholic Church in South Brisbane. He started a fundraising campaign. By 1929, the community had enough money to buy land for their church. The land already had a small timber house.
Amy Perry and her husband Stephen Dudley likely built the house around 1918. The Perry family had owned the land since 1859.
Archbishop James Duhig, Bishop Malouf, and Father Khoury laid St. Clement’s foundation stone on March 7, 1929. But the 1930s Depression hit. Fundraising suffered. Despite this, the Lebanese community kept raising money. Finally, in 1936, they had enough to open St. Clement’s for worship. Lebanese families donated furnishings.
Soon after completion, the weatherboard house was modernized with brick. It matched St. Clement’s style. This became a presbytery that was the center for social gatherings.
South Brisbane became a hub for migrants. Cheap housing close to transport and jobs attracted newcomers. Migrant communities left a legacy of diverse buildings. Greek, Serbian, Lebanese, Russian, and Islamic communities built places of worship. These stood alongside Irish and Anglo churches.
St. Clement’s architecture features an Interwar Romanesque style. The face brick walls and terracotta tile roof give it a distinct look. Decorative brickwork enlivens the front. A wide front stair leads to an arch-headed door. Tall windows flank the doorway. Stepped corner buttresses add detail. The gable apex is crowned with a cross.
The presbytery next to St. Clement’s has a hipped roof and a front room gable. It is clad in facebrick to match the church. A cross also crowns the front room projection.
Today, St Clement’s continues to serve Brisbane’s Lebanese community. It remains a place of worship. It is a place of fellowship. St Clement’s helps maintain traditional customs and language. As you stand here, remember the determination and faith that built this special place.