A question hangs in the air like incense: What makes St Francis of Assisi Church in Paddington so special? This Roman Catholic church on Oxford Street holds a fascinating history. It is a story of ambition, adaptation, and perhaps a touch of architectural mimicry.
St Francis of Assisi Church’s story begins in 1866. Paddington and Double Bay needed their own place of worship. Irish domestic servants found it difficult to travel to Darlinghurst or Waverley for Mass. So, they built a school-church of Australian hardwood.
In 1879, the Franciscans took over the pastoral care. Fr Martin Augustine Holohan was the first friar in charge. Fr Leonard Dunne secured Glammis Hall as a temporary church. It was made of galvanised iron. Glammis Hall was originally a church in Scotland. It was re-erected in Australia as a Congregational Church. Later, it was used for dances. Fr Dunne bought it and named it St Leonard’s Church.
Paddington became its own parish in 1887. Fr Bernadine Lawler became the first parish priest. By 1890, a quarter of Paddington’s residents were Catholic. St Leonard’s was too small. Fr Lawler began planning a larger church. This new church was dedicated to St Francis of Assisi.
The foundation stone was laid on March 23, 1889. About 1,000 people attended the ceremony. Cardinal Francis Moran opened the new St Francis church on June 22, 1890. However, only the nave was complete at the time.
The new church boasted an Italian or Tuscan Gothic style. Its facade on Oxford Street was impressive. Colored marble and Venetian glass mosaics adorned the structure. The mosaics depicted symbols of the Evangelists and the Franciscan coat of arms. Sadly, these mosaics are now gone due to time and pollution.
The Freeman’s Journal predicted St Francis would be one of Sydney’s largest churches once finished. Yet, the original design was never fully realized. The incomplete church became overcrowded. So, Archbishop Kelly decided to expand it in 1915.
Bart Moriarty designed a new church. The plan involved two phases. Phase 1 included the sanctuary, sacristies, and transepts. Phase 2 would have demolished the 1890 church for a grander nave. The foundation stone for this expansion was laid in 1917.
Completing the entire project at once was too expensive. They decided to use the existing nave as a temporary measure. The new sanctuary, transepts, and sacristies opened on June 16, 1918. Phase 2 never happened.
The present St Francis of Assisi Church is a blend of two designs. John Barlow designed the nave from 1890. Bart Moriarty designed the transepts, sanctuary, and sacristies from 1918.
Interestingly, Moriarty’s design closely resembled the Sacred Heart Basilica in Timaru, New Zealand. Francis Petre designed that basilica. Bart Moriarty supervised its construction. Some say that the line of succession includes Reno’s St Thomas Aquinas Cathedral, Timaru’s Sacred Heart Basilica, and Paddington’s St Francis of Assisi Church.
After the Second Vatican Council, St Francis underwent renovations. A timber platform was built in the crossing in the mid-1970s. Fr Nick Lucas initiated further renovations in consultation with architect John O’Brien. These were completed in 1990. The sanctuary was updated with a terrazzo extension. A new altar and lectern were built from the original pulpit’s marble.
St Francis of Assisi Church stands as a testament to faith. It also shows community spirit. Its evolution reflects changing needs and architectural influences. The church continues to serve its parish. It offers a beautiful space for worship.