St Mary's Catholic Church - Former

This former St Mary's Catholic Church, Clarendon property is now privately owned. It was opened on 9/11/1871 and closed in 9/3/2014. It was part of the Parish of Ballarat East and the Diocese of Ballarat.

"OPENING OF THE NEW CHURCH AT CLAREDON. On Thursday, November 9th, his Lordship the Bishop, accompanied by various clergymen who assisted at the Mission, left Ballarat early in the morning, and proceeded through Buninyong to open the new church recently erected by the untiring exertions and liberality of the Catholics of Claredon, and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin under the title of 'Auxilium Christianum'. The church, which is composed of stone, with Lal Lal white brick facings, is 43 feet long by 20 feet wide, including a nice chancel, and has cost up to the present about 500 [pounds]. As the Bishop was approaching the locality, a large number of horsemen met and escorted, him to the church, arriving at 11 o'c;ock. Here also were a large number of children, 192, prepared for Confirmation, who were similarly attired as candidates in Ballarat. A procession, headed by the cross bearer and acolytes, was formed of the children and moved around the church, followed by the clergymen and the Bishop, who sprinkled the edifice with holy water. The building having been blessed and consecrated, by High Mass, coram episcopo, was celebrated by the Very Rev Dean Moore, the Rev T O'Donnell acting as deacon, Rev M J Shanahan, as sub-deacon, and Rev J D O'Sullivan, as master of ceremonies. After the Communion the Rev J D O'Sullivan preached an impressive sermon on devotion to the Blessed Virgin. The collection amounted to about 40 [pounds] 9 [shillings]." (Extract Freeman's Journal. 25 Novemnber 1871.)

More historical information/photographs of the former church/congregation are invited. Photographs uploaded 13/3/2017 & 27/12/2021.

 

Note: Photograph attribution/source - By Mattinbgn - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5653136