Imagine this church whispers tales of resilience. This is St Monica’s Catholic Church. It is more than bricks and mortar. It is a testament to faith and community.
St Monica’s Parish has a rich history. Its origins trace back to Keilor in 1854. Father Matthew Downing OSA was the first Priest.
The present St Monica’s Church stands on sacred ground. A stone church once stood here. It was started in 1884 and completed in 1910. It was demolished in 1934. This made way for the larger building we see today.
Demolition and construction took only twelve months. The nave, lady chapel, entrances, and baptistry opened on December 16, 1934. The cost was 25000 pounds. The sanctuary and sacristies were completed in 1941.
Thomas Payne of Payne and Dale was the architect. He also designed the chapel at Newman College. Local builders Simmie Sons did the construction. Lodge Bros handled the stonework. They had just finished work on the Shrine of Remembrance.
Notice the unbuilt tower on the northwest corner. A proposed tower never came to fruition. Stained glass windows tell stories of the past. They were incorporated from the old church. These windows add character. Other windows were added in the 1940s and 1950s.
Internal rearranging occurred in 1972. A new sanctuary area was created. The new altar was made from the former altar rails’ stone.
The choir loft offers ample space. The building can comfortably hold over 1000 people.
The windows in the Lady Chapel are special. They came from the older church. Some date back to 1910 or 1912. John Hardman Studios in Birmingham created them. Their tones are subdued for the Australian sun. Some windows are older and from an Australian artist.
The main church windows are from Hardman of Birmingham. They were installed in the late 1940s and 1950s. The east-end windows show scenes from Jesus’ birth and resurrection. The great west window shows heaven with God surrounded by saints. The south wall has windows showing Jesus’ passion. The northeast door has windows about St Monica and St Augustine’s life. The stairwell window shows St Monica from the older church.
St Monica’s style is unique. It reflects Spanish Gothic influence. The Caralan School adapted it to modern conditions. The Cathedrals of Barcelona and Palma are similar examples.
The front entrance leads to the Narthex. The uncompleted tower flanks it. The baptistery is on the ground floor. The stair hall provides access to the Choir Gallery.
The Nave extends 120 feet to the Sanctuary Arch. It is 30 feet wide. Aisles are on each side of the nave arcade. The north aisle opens to the Lady Chapel.
The front porch has wide steps. The doorways are recessed under the archway. Hawkesbury stone makes up the archway. Carved spandrels above the doorways depict the four evangelists.
The Narthex, baptistry, and stair hall have tiled floors. The walls are silver-grey sand finished plaster. The Narthex ceiling has oak panelling.
The stair hall encloses a tile-paved staircase. It leads to the choir gallery. The organ chamber adjoins the choir gallery. Carved wood grilles open into the nave and aisle.
The Nave arcades have pointed arches. They rise from concrete columns. All doors are Queensland walnut. The Choir Gallery front is walnut.
St Monica’s Parish was the parent parish of several others. These include Flemington, Ascot Vale, Sunbury, and Essendon. It’s grandchildren include Kensington, Strathmore, Niddrie, West Essendon and Avondale Heights.
St Augustine’s Keilor is the ancestor of them all. The transformation from St Augustine’s Keilor to St Monica’s Moonee Ponds is interesting.
Today, St Monica’s Parish covers 7 square kilometers. It houses over 6000 Catholics. Italians make up about 40% of the families. Other ethnic groups are also present.
St Monica’s Catholic Church stands as a beacon. It shines for the Moonee Ponds community and beyond. Its history is etched in its walls. Its spirit lives on in its people.