St John the Baptist Church, Toodyay (1863–1963)

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St John the Baptist Church 1863-1963
St John the Baptist church (1863-1963), Toodyay.jpg
Former St John the Baptist church building
General information
Architectural styleVictorian Free Gothic
Address35 Stirling Terrace
Town or cityToodyay
CountryAustralia
Coordinates31°33′19″S 116°28′28″E / 31.555412°S 116.474528°E / -31.555412; 116.474528Coordinates: 31°33′19″S 116°28′28″E / 31.555412°S 116.474528°E / -31.555412; 116.474528
Groundbreaking1863
Construction started1863–64
Inaugurated1864
Renovated1920
ClientCatholic Church
Ownerprivate
References
Toodyay municipal inventory

St John the Baptist Church is a former Roman Catholic church located on Stirling Terrace in Toodyay, Western Australia, built 1863–64.

History[]

Following the move from Old Toodyay to Newcastle, Father Francis Salvado called for tenders to build a new Catholic chapel to replace the Sancta Maria of Old Toodyay.[1]

The foundation stone of the Catholic Church of St John the Baptist was laid in January 1863 by Father Martin Griver. He was assisted by Fr Francis Salvado, the Parish priest, and Fr Venanzio Garrido from the New Norcia mission.[2] By Christmas 1864 the church was completed and had been blessed.[3][4] The church's transept was used for a time as a school room for Catholic children until 1884 when the Sisters of Mercy came to Toodyay.

In 1920 the west wing was added.[5] In 1963, a new church with the same name was completed, next to St Aloysius (in the Catholic Precinct grounds), and the older church was de-consecrated and sold into private ownership.[3]

This is a rendered brick and corrugated iron building with tall pointed arch lancet windows. It has pointed pinnacles to the entrance porch and main facade. In the gable end a round window has been incorporated into rendered cross.[6]

References[]

  1. ^ Frayne, Beth (2011). the Long Chronology of Toodyay, Part 1 1829-1900 (second ed.). Toodyay: Toodyay Historical Society.
  2. ^ Inquirer. 28 January 1863. p. 2. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ a b Shepherd, Juanita (23 October 2013). "Milestone celebrations for WA country parish". The Record. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  4. ^ Erickson, Rica (1974). Old Toodyay and Newcastle. Toodyay Shire Council. p. 173.
  5. ^ Toodyay Herald. September 1987. p. 8. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ^ Hocking Planning & Architecture (2012), Municipal Inventory and Heritage List (PDF), Shire of Toodyay, pp. 286–287, retrieved 12 April 2018
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