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Digital photographs, L.J. Gervasoni, St Brigid's Crossley - Christmas Carols - stained glass windows night, 12/2016
... At first it was intended to pull down the old church and erect the new one upon the space occupied by it, but subsequently the land adjoining was purchased, and the sacred edifice built upon it. ...At first it was intended to pull down the old church and erect the new one upon the space occupied by it, but subsequently the land adjoining was purchased, and the sacred edifice built upon it. ...
"NEW CROSSLEY CHURCH.
BLESSING AND OPENING CEREMONY.
A lasting testimony to the faithful generosity of the Catholic community at Crossley was vouchsafed on Sunday last, when the beautiful new church of St. Brigid was formally blessed and opened, in the presence of a particularly large congregation of adherents of the Roman Catholic faith, and many supporters of the doctrines of other churches. The function was further enhanced by the presence of two noted Catholics in Dr. Higgins (Bishop of Ballarat) and Dr. Mannix (Coadjutor Archbishop of Melbourne.)
Upon arrival at the church the prelates were received by a guard of honor formed by the members of the H.A.C.B. Society, and were introduced to the members of the local committee. Then his Lordship the Bishop formally blessed the exterior and interior of the building.
The building is handsome and commo dious, and one that should suffice for the population of the Crossley district for many years to come. Standing upon the highest point in the vicinity it occupies a commanding position and is a prominent landmark for many miles around. At first it was intended to pull down the old church and erect the new one upon the space occupied by it, but subsequently the land adjoining was purchased, and the sacred edifice built upon it. The style of architecture is a free treatment of the Romanesque. In a short space of time the grounds and walks were transformed by working bees and made to conform to the beauty of the building. The interior is most artistic, and would be difficult to improve upon in elegance of design, while the furnishings are most appropriate, and harmonise excellently with the general scheme of decoration. It seats 400 people and in addition there is a choir gallery with a seating capacity of 60. The church is lighted with leaded Cathedral glass windows, and the front presents a pleasing appearance, the entrance porch being surmounted with a semi-Gothic window. The floor is tiled throughout. The ceilings are semi-circular in form, with beautiful designs worked in fibrous plaster. The brickwork of the structure is faced with cement, and it has a slate roof. It is undoubtedly an addition to the ecclesiastical buildings of the district, and was universally admired. The architect was Mr. A. A. Fritsch, of Melbourne, and the contractors Messrs F. and E. Deague, of North Fitzroy.
On the doors being thrown open for the admission of the congregation, the seating accommodation was immediately fully taxed, and the lengthy service and sermon were listened to with the greatest interest and attention. Missa Cantata was sung, the Rev. Father Phelan, Koroit, being the celebrant. The musical arrangements were in the capable hands of Mr. Renwick, of Warrnambool, while Miss Logan presided at the organ. Mrs. Dan. Ryan was the soprano soloist, and sang Gounod's Ave Maria at the offertory very sweetly and expressively. At the consecration Rossi's Tantum Ergo was sung by Messrs Crowley and Renwick; Farmer's Kyrie Gloria and Agnus Dei and Webb's Credo were rendered during mass, and while the collection was being taken additional numbers were sung.
The occasional sermon was preached by the Coadjutor Archbishop (Dr. Mannix), who based his remarks upon the Gospel for the day, St. Luke V., verses I to II, dealing with the miraculous draught of fish. On His return from Galilee Christ found that the fishermen had been toiling all night, and had caught nothing. He entered one of the ships, and addressed the multitude on shore. It was a beautiful picture, and no doubt he spoke to them about the kingdom to be established on earth. When He had finished speaking He told the fishermen to launch out into the deep. Peter said " Master, we have fished all night, and have found nothing." Still, they obeyed His command, and the nets were filled almost to breaking point. Having brought their ships to land they left everything and followed Him. In that lesson they had a symbol of God's dealing with men through the church He has established on earth. Their confidence was richly rewarded, and Christ founded His church upon those twelve Apostles. At that time the world was mostly pagan, steeped in iniquity and sin. The chosen people of God worshipped with their lips, but their hearts were far from it. When Christ wanted to estab lish His church on earth, and leave an organisation to carry on the work, did He select the most intellectual, or the most rich or powerful men? Neither did the time seem propitious. He selected twelve men who from a human point of view were quite incapable of accomplishing anything. What happened when the Jews put Him to death? The chosen twelve left Him at the critical hour, and when He came to die on the cross they were not there, but hid themselves from the hate and fury of the Jews. When the Holy Ghost came down upon them and strengthened them they became courageous and went forth at the bidding of their Master to teach all nations. Their success was not confined to the first meet ing after Pentecost, at which they made 5000 converts, but continued until the whole world had been brought into the net. It was surely a consolation to them as well as to him (the preacher), that they came from a land which of all others had been faithful to the teaching of Jesus Christ. The sons and daughters of St. Patrick had taken a great part in bringing men into the meshes of the church. It was due to the nation they belonged to that the church flourished not only in Ireland, but in England, Scotland, Ame rica, and Australia. It may have seemed hard that in the providence of God so many had to leave their homes and find a home in other lands. They had emi grated to the towns of England and Scotland, and had been the means of keeping the Catholic faith living in those places. In the United States and Canada many had made a home for themselves, and were always found faithful to God and to the true church. If to-day the Irish Catholics and Catholics of Irish des cent were taken out of the English and Scotch population there would be little left of the true Church of God. Perhaps they had not the learning of other nations. Certainly they had not the wealth of other nations, and not the power of the sword, but God was with them, and the faith they took from the old land nourished in the distant places. There was a time in Aus tralia when those opposed to God and God's Church thought they could rule Providence and make Australia a Pro testant land. They had lived to see whe ther God or His enemies are the more powerful, and the names of those who tried to stamp out the Catholic religion were forgotten, or only remembered be cause of their persecution. They had lived to see the glorious success which rested upon the Catholic Church in Aus-tralia, which the Irish people had built up stone by stone. Nowhere was it held in higher esteem than in these islands, and the people would always be faithful to God and His church. It was an inspira tion to go into the glorious church opened that day. It stood for loyalty and faith fulness and was a credit and a consola tion to the Bishop and people of the diocese, to the architect, and to the priests and the honest and zealous administrator of the parish. There was hope and an inspiration in that day's celebrations, and surely the Catholic faith would sink deeper and deeper into the people as time went on, and the progress of the last fifty years would be small as compared to the progress of the future. He congratulated the Bishop and priests who had raised that temple, and the people of Crossley upon their generosity and self-sacrifice. He prayed that the blessing of God and St. Brigid would rest upon them, their children, and their children's children. He hoped that not one of those who had received the sacrament at that church would be missing when called before the Judgment Seat, and that all would be counted into the enjoyment of eternal bliss.
The Rev. Father Kerin then made a statement of the position of the finances, after which a special col lection was made towards the cost of the building. A list of subscribers of £l and upwards was read, to which Bishop Higgins contributed £250, Rev. Father Kerin £20, and the Coadjutor Archbishop £5. The amount totalled £1245 10s 7d. Pre vious donations totalled £1077 3s, and His Lordship gave an additional £250. An indebtedness of £3974 had been reduced by £1245, leaving a debit balance of £2728. The cost ot the church completed was £6250. They had broken the back of the debt, and were not frightened of it. It was also announced that the beautiful Stations of the Cross, which adorn the walls, had been donated by the following: Mr and Mrs. P. Crowe, Mr. and Mrs. T. Bushell, Mr. and Mrs. P. Gorman, Miss M. Dunne, Mr. Mugavin and Miss Mugavin, Mr. and Mrs. C. Conway, Misses A. and F. Broderick, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hennessy, Miss K. A. M'Carthy, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Dalton, Mrs. M. J. Greene, Mrs. and Miss K. Dwyer, Mr. and Mrs. John Mugavin, and the Rev. J. J. Manning. The new Estey organ was contributed by the school children, as the result of an enter tainment. Other donors of furnishings, etc., were Mrs. Brown, senr., (Kirkstall), and Mrs. James Maloney (Killarney), and Mrs. and Miss O'Donohue. The vestments were the gifts of Mr. and Mrs. M. Foley, of Killarney. The furnishings, carpeting, etc., of the sanctuary have been carried out by the Crossley Altar Society, of which Mrs. Jno. O'Brien is president, and Miss Mary Ryan secretary.
In the course of a brief address Dr. Higgins expressed his deep indebtedness to the Coadjutor Archbishop for coming amongst them at a great sacrifice to assist in the ceremonies. He heartily thanked the people for their unbounded generosity, and congratulated priests and people upon the magnificent results of their efforts. They had an able champion in Dr. Mannix, who since coming amongst them had distinguished himself by his zeal for the church in this new land. He hoped he would be spared for many years to come to use his splendid talents in the service of the church. (Koroit Sentinel and Tower Hill Advocate, Saturday 4 July 1914, page 2)Digital images of the cathedral leadlight windowns in St Brigid's catholic Church, Crossley. st brigid's crossley, st brigid's, catholic church, catholic, church, religion, celebrations, christmas, christmas carols, carols, stained glass, window
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