Church of the Holy Rosary (RC)

Child Places

• 13099 Holy Rosary Parish Centre

Statement of Significance

The Church of the Holy Rosary has aesthetic, historic, representative and social cultural heritage significance. It is a fine representative of a Gothic Revival Church built between 1930-1937. For over sixty years it has been the centre of the Catholic faith in Nedlands.

Physical Description

This is a large brick and tile Church in Gothic revival style with buttresses to the main nave ~~\I projecting aisles. Small stained glass windows are to the east end, on either side of the altar. The foundation stone is dated 25 October, 1936. There is a horizontal string course wilh quoins and moulding around the window heads, as well as the other rendered moulding to cappings and pinnacle. They are all rendered grey to match the stonework. The window mullions and window frames surrounding the steel opening casements and leadlights are in stone, can·ed in Gothic style. The stained glass is simple rectangular leadlight for the majority of the windows with a cross in the top portion of the window head. The OYerall appearance of the Church is Gothic with pinnacles on either side of the west end and south transits. The windows appear larger as a result of the quoin rendering. The brick plinths steps in two places to the main body of the brickwork and continues around the whole building. The buttresses at the east end and sides of the building are stepped in with concrete rendered detailing.

History

From I 918 to l 930 Nedi ands formed part of St Joseph's Parish, Subiaco and for the first five years Mass was celcbrntcd on special festival days. like Christmas, at the home of Mr and Mrs Thomas Fitzpatrick in Cook Street Ncdlands. The first Sunday School in Nedlands was also held at the Fitzpatrick home. Instruction was gh·cn by Sister Mary Bernadene who had to traYel by trnm from Perth. In 1922 an old limber church on the corner of Edward Street and Broadway (now the site of Robert Muir's Old and Rare Books) was purchased and served for the purpose of celebration of Sunday Mass for some lime. The building was eventually sold. Mass was celebrated for a short while in the Broadway Picture Theatre {situated where Broadway Fair is now located). It then moved to the Church of the Holy Rosary which was built in 1930. The name was chosen by Father O'Brien and the design completed by architect Edgar Le B Henderson. The opening mass performed by Father O'Brien, took place on the first Sunday in October. In 1936 a meeting of parishioners was called owing to the pressing need to enlarge the Church. A foundation stone to mark the beginning of this work was blessed and laid on 25 October 1936 by Archbishop Prendiville. The opening of the completed Church took place on the last Sunday in May, 1937. Mass was again led by Archbishop Prendiville. In 1952 a Shrine to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour was erected. Further additions included the bell which was first rung on 13 October 1952, the extension of the porch in 1955 and the Chapel of St Joseph in 1956. The Holy Rosary Parish is still very active today (1998). Events, reflections and reminiscences are printed in the Church's Monthly Newsletter, Beads.

Integrity/Authenticity

Good

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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