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

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

For the newer St John the Baptist Church in Toodyay, see St John the Baptist Church (Toodyay).

St John the Baptist Church
(former)
Former St John the Baptist church building
31°33′19″S 116°28′28″E
Address35 Stirling Terrace, Toodyay, Western Australia
CountryAustralia
Previous denominationRoman Catholic
History
Status
  • Church (1863 – 1963)
  • Private use (since 1963)
Founded1863 (1863)
Architecture
Architectural typeChurch
StyleGothic Revival
Years built1863 – 1864
Completed1920
Closed1963

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. "No title". Inquirer. 28 January 1863. p. 2.
  3. 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. "No title". Toodyay Herald. September 1987. p. 8.
  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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