Consider this. St Brigid’s Church stands as the oldest surviving Catholic place of worship in Australia. It resides in the inner city suburb of Millers Point. But its story began long before its current form.
In 1833 Governor Richard Bourke approved a plan. It was for a Roman Catholic School House. It would occasionally serve as a chapel. Reverend William B. Ullathorne sought the land grant. He represented the Catholic community. This was before Australia had its first bishop.
Construction of St Brigid’s Church started in 1834. Workers used stone found nearby. The single-story building was done in April 1835. The completed building opened in May 1835. A partition divided the interior. It created separate classrooms for boys and girls. On Sundays the school became a chapel for Mass.
Initially Christian Brothers oversaw the pupils. But by the 1870s the Sisters of Mercy took over. Then in the early 1930s Father Daniel Hurley sought permission. He wanted to add another story. He got the go-ahead. The original sandstone classroom and chapel then became the church and apse we see today. The extended school opened in August 1933.
In 1933, with the addition of the upper story, the spelling changed. St Bridget’s became St Brigid’s. The ground floor became exclusively a chapel. Sadly, the school closed in 1992. This was due to falling enrollment numbers. Restoration work occurred in 2002 and 2003. This maintained the historic chapel.
The site itself rests on Observatory Hill’s west-facing slope. This sandstone bluff separates Sydney Cove from Darling Harbour. Archaeological findings suggest the site was once a quarry. Then it became the school. Artifacts may lie buried in the southern yard.
St Brigid’s holds exceptional significance. It is the oldest building in continuous use for Catholic religious services in Australia. Bishop Ullathorne played a vital role in establishing the Church in New South Wales. The church is also one of the few surviving works by Colonial Architect Ambrose Hallen. St Brigid’s contributes to the local historic precinct. This precinct is nationally significant.
Salviati & Co created a mosaic altar reredos for the original church. Father Bertrand Mangan commissioned it. The 13th Station of the Cross is a mosaic scene. Salviati created it depicting Christ’s Passion.
So as you stand here consider the layers of history within St Brigid’s Church. It is a testament to faith education and community. Its walls have witnessed births deaths and countless acts of devotion. It continues to stand. It is a beacon of hope. It is a reminder of the enduring power of the human spirit.