The soaring spire of St Francis of Assisi’s Catholic Church pierces the Sydney sky. Its story begins not with a single brick but with a dream. A dream shared by thousands. A dream of a grand church dedicated to St Francis.
In 1889 Cardinal Francis Moran blessed the foundation stone. Around 1000 people attended this momentous occasion. The initial construction was ambitious. The style was described as Italian or Tuscan Gothic. Coloured marble adorned the sandstone and brick. Venetian glass mosaics filled the spaces around the rose window. These depicted the four Evangelists and the Franciscan coat of arms. Sadly these beautiful mosaics are gone. Victims of time and pollution.
The church was intended to be one of Sydney’s largest. However the initial nave was soon overcrowded. Five masses were celebrated each Sunday. Canon law then forbade masses after midday. This limited the number of people they could accommodate.
By 1915 Archbishop Kelly decided to complete the building. Even a completed Barlow design would be too small. So a new church was commissioned. Bart Moriarty designed this expansion. It was to be built in two phases. Phase one included the sanctuary sacristies and transepts. Phase two would involve demolishing the 1890 structure. A far grander nave was planned. The foundation stone for this expansion was laid in July 1917.
The cost of immediate completion was too high. The existing 1890 structure became the temporary nave. The new additions were blessed in June 1918. Phase two never happened. The parish couldn’t afford it.
The church today is a blend of Barlow’s 1890 nave and Moriarty’s 1918 additions. Interestingly Moriarty’s design closely mirrored the Sacred Heart Basilica in Timaru New Zealand. Francis Petre designed that basilica. Bart Moriarty oversaw its construction.
After Vatican II renovations modernized the church. A new altar and lectern were created. They used marble from the original pulpit. The church was repainted. A new lighting system was installed. The old baptismal font became the pedestal for a new one. A stained glass window depicting Christ’s baptism was added. Original pews were restored and rearranged. The cost of these renovations was approximately $60000. More money was spent on repainting and structural repairs.
St Francis of Assisi’s Catholic Church stands as a testament to faith perseverance and architectural evolution. Its history is woven into the very stones of its walls. It continues to serve its community a living embodiment of its patron saint’s spirit.