Mount Barker Our Lady of Mercy Catholic church
Foundation stone 12 Nov 1911 by Rev Fr John Roney, architects Conrad brothers, Albert Selmar & Frank Herbert, nave, tower, porch & turrets opened 4 Aug 1912, extensions (sanctuary, sacristy, and Nuns' chapel) opened 11 Mar 1928, replacing earlier St Francis de Sales church.
“The old Church was dedicated to St. Francis of Sales; but the new Church, as stated last week, will be named ‘The Church of our Lady of Mercy’, in recognition of the fact that Father Landy; the priest in charge, first started his work in the parish on the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy in 1885.” Southern Cross 17 Nov 1911]
“The walling is executed in local freestone flanked with massive buttresses in Littlehampton bricks relieved with cement dressings.” [Mount Barker Courier 9 Aug 1912]
MOUNT BARKER ST FRANCIS DE SALES CATHOLIC CHURCH
Foundation stone 14 Feb 1850 by Bishop Murphy, consecrated 28 Dec 1851, used as school when new church built in town, demolished 1941.
“When Fathers Watkins and Luigi arrived in Mount Barker [in 1848] there were only a few Catholics in the locality, and they erected a long slab hut for the priests. This was divided into two portions, one of which served as an oratory and church and the other as sleeping apartments.” [Southern Cross 9Aug 1912]
“For 60 years the old church of St. Francis de Sales has been doing good service, but it has been recognised for a long time that it was not large enough for the requirements besides which it is built on the hill to the east of the railway practically out of the town, and therefore is not conveniently situated for the congregation.” [Mount Barker Courier 17 Nov 1911]
“The old church will in future be used as a school and hall.” [Southern Cross 9Aug 1912]
“The hand of the demolisher is at work on an old building at Mount Barker that is somewhat historical — the Roman Catholic church of St. Francis de Sales, situate over the railway line, on the hillside overlooking the town. . . The old building did service until August, 1912, when the Church of Our Lady of Mercy was opened in Gilles street. . . The old building, which had. also been used as a school, was at this time converted to use as a primary school for St. Scholastica's college, and did duty as such until about six years ago. It has gradually fallen into disrepair, and now, bereft of its roof and with walls partly dismantled. [Mount Barker Courier 12 Jun 1941]
Mount Barker Our Lady of Mercy Catholic church
Foundation stone 12 Nov 1911 by Rev Fr John Roney, architects Conrad brothers, Albert Selmar & Frank Herbert, nave, tower, porch & turrets opened 4 Aug 1912, extensions (sanctuary, sacristy, and Nuns' chapel) opened 11 Mar 1928, replacing earlier St Francis de Sales church.
“The old Church was dedicated to St. Francis of Sales; but the new Church, as stated last week, will be named ‘The Church of our Lady of Mercy’, in recognition of the fact that Father Landy; the priest in charge, first started his work in the parish on the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy in 1885.” Southern Cross 17 Nov 1911]
“The walling is executed in local freestone flanked with massive buttresses in Littlehampton bricks relieved with cement dressings.” [Mount Barker Courier 9 Aug 1912]
MOUNT BARKER ST FRANCIS DE SALES CATHOLIC CHURCH
Foundation stone 14 Feb 1850 by Bishop Murphy, consecrated 28 Dec 1851, used as school when new church built in town, demolished 1941.
“When Fathers Watkins and Luigi arrived in Mount Barker [in 1848] there were only a few Catholics in the locality, and they erected a long slab hut for the priests. This was divided into two portions, one of which served as an oratory and church and the other as sleeping apartments.” [Southern Cross 9Aug 1912]
“For 60 years the old church of St. Francis de Sales has been doing good service, but it has been recognised for a long time that it was not large enough for the requirements besides which it is built on the hill to the east of the railway practically out of the town, and therefore is not conveniently situated for the congregation.” [Mount Barker Courier 17 Nov 1911]
“The old church will in future be used as a school and hall.” [Southern Cross 9Aug 1912]
“The hand of the demolisher is at work on an old building at Mount Barker that is somewhat historical — the Roman Catholic church of St. Francis de Sales, situate over the railway line, on the hillside overlooking the town. . . The old building did service until August, 1912, when the Church of Our Lady of Mercy was opened in Gilles street. . . The old building, which had. also been used as a school, was at this time converted to use as a primary school for St. Scholastica's college, and did duty as such until about six years ago. It has gradually fallen into disrepair, and now, bereft of its roof and with walls partly dismantled. [Mount Barker Courier 12 Jun 1941]