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Fr
Patrick Bonaventure Geoghegan OFM (Franciscan Friar) arrived
in Melbourne on the ship Paul Pry following his appointment
to the newly formed parish of Port Phillip.
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19
May 1839
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The
first Catholic Mass was celebrated by Fr
Geoghegan in the unroofed store of Hogue and Campbell on
the corner of Elizabeth St and Little Collins Street. Mrs Coffey,
Melbourne's first Catholic School Teacher who conducted classes
from her own home, provided the altar used for the first mass.
The altar was a simple wooden box mounted on a table. In the
afternoon, Fr Geoghegan baptised the first Catholic child, that
being Catherine Connor.
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24
May 1839
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Fr
Geoghegan launched an appeal for funds towards the building
of a church.
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26
May 1839
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Fr
Geoghegan performed the first Catholic marriage in the Port
Phillip district between George Graham and Catherine Watkins
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2
June 1839
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Fr
Geoghegan read, for the first time in Victoria, the Catholic
burial service for the Mary Ann Coffey, the two-year-old daughter
of Mrs Coffey.
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June
1839
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Captain
Lonsdale, Superintendent of the Port Phillip District, gave
permission to occupy the Government grant site on the corner
of Lonsdale St and Elizabeth St following the relocation of
the temporary chapel to the site
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22
July 1839
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The
land grant was confirmed by letter from Robert Hoddle, Survey
General for the Port Phillip District, to the Board of Trustees.
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28
July 1839
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The
first mass in the temporary chapel was said by Fr Geoghegan
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The
first Catholic school in Melbourne, conducted by Mr John and
Mrs Mary Lynch opened with 40 pupils.
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13
July 1841
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Tenders
were called for the erection of a Roman Catholic Chapel
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4
October 1841
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The
foundation stone for the new church, designed by Architect Samuiel
Jackson, was laid and blessed on the Feast Day of St Francis'
of Assisi by Fr Geoghegan
and assisted by Fr Ryan. In the cavity behind the foundation
stone, a sealed bottle was placed containing gold and silver
coins (which were stolen that evening) together with a parchment
bearing the following inscription in Latin:
Ecclesiae
Sancto Francisco dicatae Lapidem primarium.
Patritius Bonaventure Geoghegan
Presbyter Hibernus O.S.F., primus,
Qui in Australia Felici Sacrum fecit, posuit
Die IV, Octobris, anno Reparatae Salutis MDCCCXLI
Gregorio XVI., Pontifice Maximo,
Joanne Beda Polding,Episcopo, Ecclesiae Australasiae
Vicario-Apostolico
Victoria, felocissime Regnante,
George Gipps, Equite,Vicem Regiam gerente
Carolo Josepho LaTrobe,Privinciae Praefecto,
Samuel Jackson, Architecto.
Patrick Bonaventure Geoghegan
An Irish Priest, O.S.F., the first who
offered thesacrifice in Australia Felix
Laid the foundation-stone of St Francis' Church on
4 October 1841
In the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Gregory XVI.,
John Bede Polding, Bishop , being the Vicar Apostolic
of the Church in Australasia
In the happy reign of Queen Victoria
Sir George Gipps, Governor of the Province
Charles Joseph LaTrobe, Superintendent of the Province
Samuel Jackson, Architect.
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15
January 1842
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28
February 1842
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MacKillop
was baptised at St Francis' Church.
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April
1842
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22
May 1842
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October
1842
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The
first school was established in a timber schoolroom
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17
March 1843
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The
first High Mass in Victoria was celebrated by Fr Daniel MacEvey
OSF with Fr Geoghegan as deacon and Fr Michael Stephens as sub-deacon.
The newly formed St Patrick's Society (open to all Irishmen
of all religious denominations), numbering some three hundred
people walked to St Francis' from the Royal Hotel in Collins
Street. They processed through a number of city streets with
their banners, which once they arrived at St Francis' were placed
near the altar. This was the first St Patrick's Day march.
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January
1844
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The
schoolroom was extended under the direction of Headmaster Mr
James Watkins
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October
1844
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A
choir was formed and was assisted by some members of the local
Philharmonic Society under the direction of local music teacher
Mr William Clarke
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15
October 1844
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Archbishop
Polding arrived at St Francis' with Fr McEnroe from Tasmania.
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20
October 1844
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Mass
was celebrated by Archbishop Polding in the finished portion
of the church together with the first Bishop of Adelaide, Dr
Murphy who was on his way to South Australia. In the afternoon,
the Archbishop together with a number of clergy and members
of the Father Matthew Total Abstinence Society processed to
the blessing of the Catholic portion of the new cemetery, now
the site of the Queen Victoria Market
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21
October 1844
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Dr
Murphy celebrated the first Pontifical High Mass in Melbourne.
After Mass, Confirmation was also administered for the first
time in Victoria.
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23
October 1845
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Fr
Geoghegan blessed the completed church. The St Francis'
Choir performed for the first time.
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5
October 1846
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The
foundation stone for the Father Matthew Society Hall was laid
by Fr Geoghegan. In
the evening, a ball to celebrate the occasion was held in the
store of Messrs Turnbull Brothers. The hall, on the southeast
corner of Elizabeth St and Little Lonsdale St was erected for
the followers of the great Irish Apostle of Temperance, Fr Theobald
Matthew, who formed the Father Matthew Total Abstinence Society.
In a cavity in the stone was placed one of the Society's medals
together with a parchment scroll bearing the following inscription
The Foundation-Stone
of
Father Mathew Branch of the Port Phillip
Total Abstinence Society's Hall
was laid at Melbourne on the fifth
day of October A.D. 1846
by the
Very Reverend Patrick Bonaventure
Geoghegan
In the tenth year of the reign
of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria. Governor
of New South Wales, Sir Charles Fitzroy
Superintendent of Port Phillip, His
Honour C.J. Latrobe Esquire
President, Mr. Daniel Rooney. Secretary
Mr Joseph Pelley Treasurer, Mr Hugh Cain
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25
July 1847
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Melbourne
became a separate diocese
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1848
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The
permanent, brick schoolroom was built on Little Lonsdale St
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6
August 1848
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4
October 1848
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St
Francis' becomes a cathedral on the arrival of Dr Goold to Melbourne
for his installation to the church on 8th October. Seven days
later he preached his first sermon in his new diocese
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1849
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The
original shingle roof of the church was replaced by slate
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28
January 1849
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The
Catholic Association was formed under the leadership of Dr Goold
with its primary purpose being to raise funds for the education
of priests.
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12
March 1849
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The
Father Matthew Society Hall was formally opened
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May
1849
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A
seminary for the higher education of Catholic youth and for
the education of candidates for the priesthood was established
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The
coffered, cedar ceiling, designed by Samuel Jackson, was installed
and the section over the sanctuary was later decorated with
Bishop Goold's Coat of Arms, angels and other motifs. The school
relocated into the Father Matthew Society Hall.
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May
1850
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The
old school building became the temporary seminary
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1850s
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A
second story was added to the four roomed, colonial style presbytery
near the corner of Lonsdale Street and Francis Street
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1851
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Victoria
became an independent Colony with 5,631 Catholics.
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19
January 1851
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Bishop
Goold suggested the purchase of a peal of bells for St Francis'
which he later purchased from the Great Exhibition at London's
Crystal Palace.
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13
April 1851
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Mr
Maurice Stack, who had come out from Ireland was the first recipient
into the priesthood in Victoria
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2
April 1852
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The
sacristy designed by Samuel Jackson was erected
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February
1853
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Extensions
to the nave and a new tower, probably designed by English architect,
Charles Hansom were proposed by Dr Goold but not executed due
to the concern for the stability of the church.
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February
1853
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New
peal of bells arrive for St Francis' from Murphy's, Dublin at
a cost of £700.
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28
July 1853
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The
Bevington (London) organ purchased by Dr Goold and Fr
Fitzpatrick on their
trip through Europe earlier in the year arrives in Melbourne
and is installed by George Fincham.
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22
November 1853
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The
organ was blessed and used for the first time at a concert
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February
1854
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David
Ross erected the galleries in the eastern and western transept
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1855
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David
Ross erected the eastern and southern porches, two niches either
side of the chancel
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July
1855
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The
new Lodge on the south east corner of the church yard is erected
designed by David Ross
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October
1855
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A
new "Early English" style Ladye Chapel designed by George &
Schneider at a cost of £3,000 was commissioned.
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6
January 1856
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The
foundation stone of the Ladye Chapel is laid and blessed by
Dr Goold.
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1857
- 1867
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The
front porch was built.
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31
May 1858
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The
completed Ladye Chapel was blessed by Archbishop Polding and
Bishop Goold in the presence of Fr Geoghegan
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1858
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New
bluestone fence and railing was erected along Lonsdale Street
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8
September 1859
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Fr
Geoghegan is consecrated Bishop of Adelaide at St Francis'
Church
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The
seminary closed
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9
May 1864
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1867
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A
gas pipe cross was erected over the front porch for the visit
of the Duke of Edinburough and again for the jubilee of Queen
Victoria in 1887
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1867
- 1872
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The
high altar with its white paint and gilt was cleaned, repainted
and redecorated and new confessionals were built to replace
the old ones
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1868
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A
new corrugated iron fence was erected along Elizabeth St
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9
November 1868
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18
January 1869
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The
Christian
Brothers took over St Francis' boys school following extensive
negotiations by Dr Goold. The four Irish teaching Christian
Brothers, Treacy (Superior), Bodkin and Lynch together with
Nolan, a lay-brother arrived the previous year.
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Fr
O'Meara purchased a copy of Beltrami's Raphael's Transfiguration
at an auction for £42. Fr O'Meara erected the first crib in
the Ladye Chapel using dressed wax figures that were originally
used at St Patrick's Cathedral the previous year. The stained
glass windows of St Francis' of Assisi and St Francis Xavier
were placed on either side of the sanctuary.
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June
1872
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The
side porches were paved in bluestone, the floor made with timber
from the original chapel was replaced and a new cedar pulpit
placed in the church. The hanging gasoliers were removed and
replaced by standards placed at regular intervals between the
pews and two windows were cut in the ceiling of the sanctuary
to provide additional light.
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29
September 1872
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The
statue of the Sacred Heart, purchased from the House of Meyer
in Munich, was blessed by Dr Goold. The statue first stood in
the western niche now occupied by St Francis' until the altar
of the Sacred Heart was built.
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9
March 1873
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The
foundation stone of St. Anne's school in St Francis' St was
blessed following the arrival of the Sisters
of Mercy from Nicholson St, Fitzroy in January to take over
the running of the girls' school.
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16
July 1876
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Dr
Goold blessed the foundation stone of the extended presbytery.
The old, two storey presbytery was retained and a new Italianate
style, two storey building designed by architect T.A. Kelly
and built by W. Ireland was added to the front.
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27
July 1873
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St
Anne's schoolroom was blessed and opened by Dr Goold
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October
1877
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The
old gum tree on the corner of Lonsdale St and Elizabeth St,
which had served as a belfry, was cut down and a wooden cross
was erected in the churchyard near the entrance to the presbytery
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Late
1877
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£300
was bequeathed to the church from the estate of Mr. Michael
Pender to be used for a new altar
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September
1878
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The
new altar arrives from Rome and the Stations of the Cross from
Milan
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October
1878
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The
painting of the crucifixion hanging in the sanctuary was purchased
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3
November 1878
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Dr
Goold laid the foundation stone for the new Romanesque style
sanctuary, designed by Architects Reed & Barnes and built by
Mr Neil Hutton at a cost of £2,149
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7
June 1879
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The
new altar was consecrated
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8
June 1879
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Dr.
O'Connor, Bishop of Ballarat, blessed the new sanctuary.
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An
offer of £140,000 for the Elizabeth Street frontage was made
but rejected by Fr Heffernan
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1881
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A
group of Munich statuary were purchased at the Melbourne International
Exhibition to replace the was crib figures The old figures were
used to represent the shepherds and kings and ordinary toys
were used to represent the animals.
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1
February 1885
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The
new marble altar rails and iron gates were blessed replacing
the old temporary timber set
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December
1885
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Nellie
Melba joins the choir
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The
spirelets and pinnacles were removed from the transepts and
porches
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1891
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Ulysses
Rizzi repainted areas of the Ladye Chapel and the gas pipe cross
was removed from the front porch
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4
October 1891
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The
church celebrated its Golden Jubilee with a High Mass conducted
by Rev J Manly. The eighty strong choir gave a splendid rendition
of Giorza's Mass with full orchestral accompaniment.
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20
December 1891
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The
church was reopened following the repainting of the interior,
the construction of an external entrance to the southern porch
for the choir and the asphalting of the yard. The painting of
St Anthony by Louriero, a Portuguese artist who was in Melbourne
at the time, was given to St Francis' by Mr Ascuncio de Frietas
and hung in the sanctuary
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1894
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The
New Zealand limestone, altar of the Sacred Heart (later Our
Lady of the Blessed Sacrament), executed by Mr Joseph Epstein
under the direction of Fr Patrick Phelan was erected in the
western transept. The statue of St Patrick that was in the sanctuary
was moved into the niche replacing the statue of the Sacred
Heart.
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1895
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New
marble stoups for holy water were placed in the porches replacing
the crockery basins. The altar to St Joseph was installed in
the eastern transept, the Altar of the Sacred Heart had a number
of colored marble panels added and electricity was installed
in the church. The predella of the high altar was widened and
the altar together with the steps, sanctuary floor and communion
table were polished by Messrs. Jageurs & Son.
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1897
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A
crib was imported from France and located in the western transept
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1898
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The
churchyard was cleared of all trees and shrubs including the
old gum tree and the yard asphalted. The tree was cut down by
the Messrs. Nunan Bros and the wood used to create three episcopal
chairs, two for St Patrick's and one for St Francis'. All three
chairs are now at St Patrick's. The corrugated iron fence along
Elizabeth St was replaced by a bluestone fence and railing and
the old iron railing along Lonsdale Street was replaced due
to the number of ornamental tips that had broken off
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26
February 1899
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New
Stations of the Cross, copies of a Belgian artist, replaced
the earlier set
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16
April 1899
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The
first performance of Amy Castles in the church
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A
new bell from the foundry of Matthew Byrne (the new owner of
the old Murphy bell foundries, Dublin, where the old bell had
been cast) and steel tower were erected by Curry Foundry
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8
October 1905
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The
new marble altar in the Ladye Chapel, designed by Messrs. Jageurs
& Son was blessed by Archbishop Carr
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March
1907
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The
sanctuary was redecorated with marbling designed by D Carson
and C Becker. A Californian red pine dado was erected and the
Crucifixion group was moved from the Ladye Chapel to the eastern
transept. Marble tables listing the benefactors were erected
on the walls under the southern balcony near the baptismal font
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8
December 1907
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The
state of Our Lady, carved by Signor Palla and given by Mr John
Dynan was erected in the Ladye Chapel
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1909
|
The
organ was rebuilt and the interior of the Father Matthew Society
Hall was renovated and a brick wall was erected along Lonsdale
Street, in front of the presbytery.
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The
St Francis' boys' school conducted by the Christian
Brothers closed allowing the Mercy Sisters to move into
the hall and continue educating both girls and boys. The vacated
St Anne's building became a club-room for the boys and girls
of St Francis'. A few years later The Advocate Press took over
the building and used it as a storeroom.
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October
1910
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L.V.H.
Fincham converts the organ to tubular-pneumatic action
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1911
|
Miss
N.M. Kennedy, on a trip to the Redemptorist monastery in Limerick,
Ireland, purchased a picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour,
replacing the earlier one that hung in the Ladye Chapel since
1909
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1
November 1929
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Seven
members of the Blessed
Sacrament Congregation from Canada and the United States
of America arrived at St Francis' at the invitation of Archbishop
Mannix.
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1
December 1929
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The
gasoliers were removed
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1930
|
The
statue of the Sacred Heart was removed to the Ladye Chapel and
the altar was rededicated to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament
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October
1933
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The
St Francis' School conducted by the Sisters
of Mercy closed and the school and seminary were demolished
to make way for the new Advocate Offices. The present tabernacle
was installed replacing the earlier one.
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1934
|
The
organ was electrified
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20
June 1935
|
The
first issue of The Monstrance, edited and published by
the Blessed Sacrament Fathers was released. The magazine continued
until 1971 when the name and format was chaned to Bread and
Wine. The publication ceased in January 1988
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7
August 1935
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Part
of the site was purchased by the Blessed Sacrament Congregation
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7
November 1937
|
The
foundation stone of the new monastery was laid and blessed by
Archbishop Mannix
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1
May 1938
|
Archbishop
Mannix blessed the new monastery, designed by architect E. Jorgensen
in the presence of the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Joseph
Lyons and two of his daughters
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The
sanctuary ceiling collapsed and was reinstated not to its original
design
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1940
|
Architect
Jorgensen drew up plans for a new Romanesque style St Francis'
to be built on the site of the presbytery
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December
1948
|
The
bell and steel tower were removed to St Margaret Mary's Church,
East Brunswick
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1949
|
Mrs
Mariadora Bartels from Caulfield, who prayed at St Francis'
Church, was cured of her life threatening illness through the
intercession of Blessed Peter Julian
Eymard.
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The
presbytery was demolished
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13
December 1955
|
St
Francis' was purchased by the Blessed Sacrament Congregation
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25
December 1955
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The
choir disbanded
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1955
- 1956
|
The
church underwent extensive renovations designed by Cyril Kelly
and executed by the Swanson Brothers for £87,000. New, shorter
windows were installed in the nave to allow for the installation
of the confessionals. A new Queensland maple timber dado was
installed. A new Lonsdale St porch was erected. The marble altar
rails were removed to the West Sunshine Parish and replaced
by timber rails. Choir stalls were installed on both sides of
the sanctuary. The working sacristy was built and the vesting
sacristy replaced the old sacristy.
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11
July 1956
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The
church reopened after the renovations
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13
October 1957
|
A
High Mass at St Francis' was broadcast on ABC television
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The
first performance by the reformed choir under the direction
of Fr Ernest Rayson SSS
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9
December 1962
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1965
|
The
organ is enlarged and converted to electro-pheumatic action
by G.B. Fincham
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1966
|
Ceiling
in the Ladye Chapel was varnished and some details painted over
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1972
- 1973
|
The
altar rails were removed and the sanctuary extended south. The
gallery in the eastern transept was demolished and new Victorian
mountain Ash sanctuary furniture installed designed by Paul
Archibald. The altar, ambo, residential chair and four prie
dieuxs were built by Brian McCarthy & Sons. The four smaller
chairs were made by Nore Furniture. The processional cross was
sculptued by Ernst Fries. The statue of St Patrick in the niche
was given to St Patrick's Church, Mt Macedon and the stained
glass windows of St Francis of Assisi and St Francis' Xavier
were removed from the Sanctuary and installed in the nave.
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18
February 1973
|
G.B.
& D.G. Fincham installed the new mechanical action organ in
the eastern transept and the old organ was moved to St Peter's
Church, Toorak
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21
March 1978
|
St
Francis Church is registered on the National
Estate as a building of National Significance
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|
All
debts were cleared and the final mortgage payment made by the
Blessed Sacrament Congregation
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|
The
Living Stones Festival began, celebrating 150 years since the
foundation of St Francis' Church. The altar rails and votive
candle stands were installed in the Ladye Chapel. The Crucifixion
painting was restored.
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7
February 1993
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23
April 1995
|
An
appeal is launched to restore St Francis' Church
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1996
- 1997
|
The
ceiling, windows, statues, altar in the Ladye Chapel and Stations
of the Cross were restored. A new roof installed and the original
marble sanctuary floor revealed and extended south replacing
the timber sanctuary floor.
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1996
|
The
statues of St Anthony, St Joseph, Our Lady Help of Christians
and St Peter Julian, together with
a number of Stations of the Cross, altars and holy water fonts
were damaged by vandals.
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1998
|
The
Monastery was refurbished
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1999
|
A
new statue of St Peter Julian sculpted
by Tom Bass and a new statues of St Joseph & St Anthony, sculpted
by Pauline Clayton were blessed
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September
- December 2000
|
The
old organ was removed and the new Casavent Feres organ from
Canada was installed
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9
December 2000
|
Dedication
of the new sanctuary furniture designed by Prism Studios (timber
work by Neville Selleck and marble work by Andrew Patience of
Ruben Studios) & organ by Bishop Denis Hart.
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February
2001
|
The
Ladye Chapel was restored by Mulholland Decorating and the two
altars in the transepts were moved under the windows and restored.
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28
September 2001
|
The
statue of Mary MacKillop, crafted by
Andrew Patience, was blessed and unveiled
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