Historical information

This Catholic Church was built between 1872 and 1874. It was the first permanent Catholic Church building in Bacchus Marsh. Catholics had lived in the Bacchus Marsh area since the early 1840s and in this early period religious services had been conducted in a number of different buildings including peoples' homes. This Church still stands and continues to be the main place of worship for Catholics in the Bacchus Marsh area.

Physical description

Small sepia 'carte de viste' style unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the Jeremeas Family Album which contains photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by the photographers Stevenson and McNicoll. The image shows Saint Bernard's Catholic Church in Bacchus Marsh nine years after it was erected in 1874. The view of the Church is looking north from somewhere around the present day location of Manor Street Bacchus Marsh. This image was taken before the Presbytery was built in 1889.

Inscriptions & markings

Printed
On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME.
On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun.
Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE.

References