The Gothic church designed by the architect William Wardell (1823 – 1899) in a manner strongly influenced by the English architect Charles Hansom, but later degraded by the rebuilding of the west end after the collapse of the west wall and turret. The church is a simple form with a five bay gabled nave containing geometric decorated gothic windows and stepped buttressing. The gable roof is covered in slate and the sidewalls constructed of rough-hewn local stone. Originally, the church had a tower in the southwest corner but this was demolished due to earth movement resulting from tunnelling for gold in the town. Originally part of the Melbourne Diocese, St Peter’s Parish Daylesford become part of the Ballarat Diocese February 1992. Priests (from Wikipedia with corrections such as adding Fr Humphrey Moynehan) Years Name Annotation D.o.B D.o.D 1861 - 1862 Father John Galvin Williams 1892 1862 - 1871 Father P. Slattery 1903 1869 - Father Timothy M. O'Callaghan applied for leave 1878 1903 1871 - 1874 Father David Barry 1872 - 1874 Father Nicholas Bassetto Italian Augustine 1884 1875 - 1899 Father M. C. Gough 1845 1923 1877 - 1879 Father P. Quigley 1879 - 1880 Father D. Nelan 1880 - Father D. O'Callaghan 1881 - 1889 Father D. Quilter 1884 - 1884 Father J. V. Grant 1903 1884 - 1885 Father T. J. Egan 1888 1886 - 1888 Father W. Hartnett 1932 1889 - 1890 Father Malone 1890 - 1892 Father Michael P. Curran 1892 - 1893 Father Thomas S. Collins 1924 1893 - 1895 Father James Bryne 1938 1895 - 1896 Father Matthew Brady 1896 - 1899 Father P. M. McGee 1944 1899 - 1899 Father Thomas Considine 1931 1899 - 1900 Father M. Heaney 1900 - 1903 Father W. Hartnett 1932 1900 - 1913 Father James J. Malone 1948 1907 - Father John Joseph Cusack 4 months 1917 1913 - 1917 Father James Byrne 1936 1916-19 - Father Humphrey Moynihan Assistant 1892 - 1967 1918 - Father Michael P. Curran 1933-1967 - Father Humphrey Moynihan Parish Priest 1892 - 1967 1955+ - Father F. Nolan Asst 1961+ - Father T. Murray 1962+ - Father Patrick Maye Asst 1967+ - Father Gregory Patrick Handley Administrator 1996 1968+ - Father Joseph Petrauakas Asst 1968+ - Father T. Murray 1977+ - Father W. O'Halloran Asst 1978+ - Father Clem Cafarella 1987 - 1993 Father Peter Priestley 1993 - 1993 Father Dan Torpy 1994 - 2003 Father John Fitzgerald 1899 2004 - 2012 Father Kevin Maloney 2013 - 2022 Father Gary Jones 2022 - 2024 Father Justin Driscoll 2024 - Father Marcello Colasante Colour photographs of St Peter's Catholic Church, Daylesford. Church plaque: Church of St Peter, Prince of the Apostles The foundation stone was laid on November 29th 1863 and the church was blessed and opened on May 14th 1865 by Most Rev. James Alipius Goold O.S.A., D.D. Bishop of Melbourne This stone was blessed to commemorate the 125th anniversary by Most Rev. Sir Thomas Francis Little, D.D., K.B.E. Archbishop of Melbourne May 20th 1990.catholic church, st peter's church, daylesford, daylesford, john mcmahon, catherine d'alton, avelino morganti, mary hetherington