2005
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MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE
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HOLY TRINITY PARISH BLACKBUTT NORTH |
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FOUNDED 2005 |
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DIOCESE MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE |
| PARISH | PARISH CHURCHES | OTHER BUILDINGS | RELIGIOUS ORDERS | PARISH DIRECTORY |
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PARISH OF THE HOLY TRINITY | ||
| THE PARISH OF THE HOLY TRINITY WAS FORMED IN 2003 BY COMBINING THE THREE FORMER PARISHES OF LAMBTON ( FORMED 1873), NEW LAMBTON (1954) AND WARATAH (1917). PRIOR TO 1873 NEWCASTLE MADE UP A SINGLE PARISH UNDER THE ARCHBISHOP OF SYDNEY. WHEN THE PARISH REVERTED TO MAITLAND IN THAT YEAR DR MURRAY, THE BISHOP, IMMEDIATELY TOOK STEPS TO CREATE A NEW PARISH TO COVER THE MINING CENTRES TO THE WEST OF NEWCASTLE. AS A RESULT LAMBTON BECAME THE FIRST NEW PARISH ERECTED IN THE DIOCESE OF MAITLAND |  | WITH THE GROWTH IN POPULATION IN THE NEWCASTLE REGION NEW PARISHES WERE CREATED FROM LAMBTON AFTER WORLD WAR I (WARATAH) AND WORLD WAR II (NEW LAMBTON) TO SERVE THE AREA'S CATHOLIC POPULATION. BY THE LATE 1990's HOWEVER THE DECLINE IN PRIESTLY VOCATIONS HAD CREATED A MAJOR CRISIS IN THE STAFFING OF PARISHES. IT WAS THERFORE DECIDED IN 2005 TO SUPPRESS THE PARISHES AND CREATE A NEW PARISH COMBINING THE AREA OF ALL THREE. THE PARISH SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK THE NAME OF THE HOLY TRINITY. |
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| PARISH CHURCHES | ||
| LAMBTON | NEW LAMBTON | WARATAH |
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| PARISH CHURCH OF OUR LADY IMMACULATE AND ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST, LAMBTON | ||
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| PARISH | HISTORY | CHURCH |
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| THE SUBURB OF LAMBTON OWES ITS EXISTANCE TO THE SCOTTISH-AUSTRALIAN MINING COMPANY AND THOMAS CROUDACE, A YOUNG ENGINEER WHO CLEARED THE BUSHLAND IN 1861 AND BEGAN MINING THE WALLSEND SEAM ON THIS SPOT. THE SUBURB GREW QUICKLY AS MINERS CAME TO THE AREA. tODAY LITTLE OF TTHAT MINING PAST IS TO BE SEEN AND LAMBTON IS AN ATTRACTIVE RESIDENTIAL SUBURB. THE PARISH OF LAMBTON WAS THE SECOND TO BE FORMED IN WHAT WAS TO BECOME THE CITY OF NEWCASTLE, AND THE FIRST TO BE FORMED BY THE NEWLY INSTALLED BISHOP MURRAY. ORIGINALLY IT EXTENDED AS FAR SOUTH AS LAKE MACQUARIE AND AS FAR WEST AS WEST WALLSEND. ALL THE PARISHES OF WEST AND SOUTH WEST NEWCASTLE CAN THEREFORE CLAIM DESCENT FROM LAMBTON. BY THE 1950's HOWEVER IT HAD BEEN RESTRICTED TO THE SUBURBS OF LAMBTON PROPER AND IN DUE COURSE IT WAS CLUSTERED WITH WARATAH IN 2001 AND THEN JOINED IN THE NEW PARISH OF THE HOLY TRINITY IN 2005. FIRST CHURCH |
| FIRST CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST |  |
| THE FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LAMBTON WAS BUILT AS A CHURCH/SCHOOL IN 1871, TWO YEARS BEFORE THE PARISH WAS ESTABLISHED. THE CHURCH ( LEFT ) WAS OF TIMBER CONSTRUCTION AND STOOD IN THE GROUNDS OF WHAT IS NOW ST JOHN'S SCHOOL FACING ONTO DE VITRE ST. THE NAVE WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO CLASS ROOMS BY A MOVEABLE PARTITION DURING THE WEEK WHILE THE CHANCEL, RAISED A METRE ABOVE THE NAVE FLOOR, WAS CLOSED EXCEPT ON SUNDAYS. A SOUTH WEST PORCH PROVIDED ENTRY TO THE CHURCH, WHICH WAS LARGE FOR ITS TYPE WITH SEVERAL MOCK GOTHIC WINDOWS PER SIDE AND A LOVELY THREE LIGHT WEST WINDOW GIVING IT A "CHURCHY" LOOK. FOLLOWING THE BUILDING OF THE NEW CHURCH IN 1921 THE OLD WAS USED AS CLASS ROOMS BEFORE IT WAS DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE SCHOOL. SECOND CHURCH |
 | REV JOHN FLYNN MEMORIAL CHURCH OF OUR LADY IMMACULATE & ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST |
| IN 1892 LAND WAS PURCHASED IN DICKSON ST FOR A NEW CHURCH BUT IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1920 THAT THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE SECOND CHURCH OF ST JOHN, BUILT AS A MEMORIAL TO THE REV JOHN FLYNN, WAS LAID (BELOW). THE CHURCH WAS OPENED IN 1921. NEXT | |
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| THE CHURCH IS BUILT IN PLAIN ROMANESQUE STYLE AND CONSISTS OF A NAVE AND CHANCEL WITH A SHALLOW EASTERN TRANSEPT. TWO TALL FINIALS SURMOUNTED BY UNUSUAL CROSSES DECORATE THE WEST END, THE TWO CROSSES FORMING WITH THE CENTRAL GABLE CROSS A MINI CALVARY. ITS MOST INTERESTING FEATURE IS THE ROSE WINDOW IN PLACE OF THE TRADITIONAL EAST WINDOW. A LOVELY STATUE OF OUR LADY ( FROM THE GROTTO OF THE OLD CONVENT) AND AN OPEN COVERED PORCH ARE RECENT ADDITIONS. THE EAST END PRESENTS A STARK UNCOMPOMISING FACE TO THE MAIN ROAD WHICH NOW RUNS PAST THE CHURCH. IN EFFECT IT IS MORE SEVERE THAN THE USUAL APSIDAL EAST ENDS PREFERRED BY CATHOLIC CHURCH BUILDERS OF THE TIME AND IN CONTRAST TO THE WEST END IT BEARS LITTLE DECORATION ASIDE FROM THE BRICK WORK ON THE GABLE. ESSENTIALLY THIS IS A HALL CHURCH SUCH AS CAN BE FOUND IN MANY PLACES IN NORTHERN EUROPE AND SHOWS THE DIFFICULT FINANCIAL SITUATION FOLLOWING WORLD WAR I. NEXT |  |
 | THE BEAUTIFULLY PROPORTIONED INTERIOR WAS EXTENSIVELY REMODELLED FOLLOWING VATICAN II. THIS RENOVATION RESULTED IN THE REMOVAL OF MUCH OF THE CLUTTER AND A RETURN TO THE SIMPLE LINES OF THE ORIGINAL CHURCH. THE INTERIOR HAS SINCE BEEN FURTHER BEAUTIFIED BY THE ADDITION OF THREE NEW WORKS OF ART. BY COMPARISON BELOW IS THE SANCTUARY ca 1968 SHOWING A TYPICAL PRE-VATICAN II CATHOLIC CHURCH PRIOR TO THE REMODELLING. NEXT |
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| FROM 1972 MAJOR CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE CHANCEL AREA TO CONFORM TO THE NEW LITURGY. IN THE PROCESS THE FORMER SANCTUARY WAS GREATLY SIMPLIFIED, THE TWO SIDE ALTARS AND THE HIGH ALTAR REMOVED AND THE TABERNACLE RELOCATED. IN PLACE OF THE ORNATE HIGH ALTAR, A PLAIN TABLE ALTAR WAS INSTALLED ALONG WITH A MODERN 'RISEN CHRIST' IN PLACE OF THE TRADITIONAL CRUCIFIX. THE REMODELLING ALSO EXPOSED THE LOVELY ROSE WINDOW (BELOW) WITH ITS ORIGINAL STAINED GLASS. NEXT |  |
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| (LEFT TO RIGHT) THE NEW TABLE ALTAR INSTALLED IN 1993, THE ATTRACTIVE PROCESSIONAL CROSS AND THE 'RISEN CHRIST' CRUCIFIX. NEXT | ||
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 | AS WITH ALL PARISHES SERVED BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY THERE WAS A NUN'S CHANCEL FOR THE SISTERS. AFTER VATICAN II THE SISTERS JOINED THE BODY OF FAITHFUL AND THE CHANCEL WAS USED, FIRST FOR EXTRA SEATING AND TODAY AS THE BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL (LEFT) HOUSING THE TABERNACLE (BELOW). NEXT |
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| IN SEPTEMBER 1998, THIS ORIGINAL ICON OF ST JOHN THE BELOVED BY MICHAEL GALOVIC WAS INSTALLED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CHANCEL. | LOCATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CHANCEL IS THE FONT PRESERVED FROM THE PRE-VATICAN II CHURCH. | THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP INSTALLED ON JULY 27 1993 HOUSES AN EXACT COPY OF THE ORIGINAL ICON FOUND IN ROME. |
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 | AT THE REAR OF THE CHURCH ARE THESE BEAUTIFUL MODERN STAINED GLASS DOORS (LEFT) RECENTLY INSTALLED AS PART OF A PLAN TO REPLACE ALL THE GLASS IN THE CHURCH WITH BRIGHT VIBRANT COLOURS. (BELOW) THE EXISTING STAINED GLASS WINDOWS WERE ALSO RESTORED AND WERE BLESSED IN 2001. | |
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| ^^ ONE OF THE LOVELY STATIONS ^^. NEXT | ||
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| AN ATTRACTIVE CARVING OF OUR LADY. | |
| TOP PARISH CHURCHES NEW LAMBTON | |
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| PARISH CHURCH OF ST THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS, NEW LAMBTON | ||
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| PARISH | HISTORY | CHURCH |
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| THE SUBURB OF NEW LAMBTON GREW UP IN THE POST WORLD WAR 1 PERIOD AS NEWCASTLE EXPANDED IN POPULATION AND THE COAL MINES CLOSE TO NEWCASTLE CLOSED DOWN. BUILT OVER MANY OF THE ORIGINAL MINES IT IS TODAY A PLEASANT RESIDENTIAL AREA NOTED FOR ITS QUIET TREE-LINED STREETS. NEW LAMBTON BEGAN LIFE AS A STATION OF LAMBTON IN 1926 WHEN A CHURCH / SCHOOL WAS OPENED. IN EARLY 1954 IT BECAME A PARISH COVERING NEW LAMBTON AND KOTARA SOUTH. IN 2002 IT WAS JOINED TO WARATAH-LAMBTON AND IN 2005 IT BECAME PART OF THE NEWLY FORMED PARISH OF BLACKBUTT NORTH. FIRST CHURCH |
| FIRST CHURCH OF ST THERESE |  |
| IN 1926 THE CHURCH / SCHOOL OF ST THERESE WAS BUILT IN ROYAL ST NEW LAMBTON SOME 200 YARDS FROM THE PRESENT CHURCH. AS WAS COMMON AT THE TIME, IT WAS A DUAL PURPOSE BUILDING BEING USED FOR MASS ON SUNDAYS AND FOR CLASSES DURING THE WEEK. IN STYLE IT WAS SIMILAR TO MANY OTHERS OF ITS TYPE BEING A SIMPLE HALL CAPABLE OF BEING PARTITIONED INTO SEPARATE ROOMS WITH A CHANCEL AND SACRISTY, CLOSED OFF EXCEPT DURING MASS. A SMALL PORCH WAS ATTACHED WHILE GABLE CROSSES PROCLAIMED THIS TO BE A HOUSE OF GOD. IT SERVED AS THE PARISH CHURCH FROM 1954 UNTIL 1956, WHEN IT WAS CONVERTED TO SERVE, AS IT STILL DOES TODAY, AS A HALL FOR THE PARISH AND SCHOOL. NEXT |
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| SECOND CHURCH | |
 | SECOND CHURCH OF ST THERESE | |
| THE PRESENT PARISH CHURCH OF ST THERESE WAS BUILT IN 1956, JUST TWO YEARS AFTER NEW LAMBTON BECAME A PARISH. IT WAS FROM THE BEGINNING MEANT TO BE, AND WAS, A MAJOR STATEMENT OF CONFIDENCE IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH AND REFLECTED THE GREAT OPTIMISM OF AUSTRALIAN CATHOLICS AFTER WORLD WAR II. THE SITE CHOSEN FOR THE NEW CHURCH WAS ON THE CORNER OF ROYAL ST AND VICTORIA ST JUST DOWN FROM THE OLD CHURCH. BECAUSE OF THE IMPRESSVE SIZE AND WEIGHT OF THE BUILDING AND THE HONEYCOMB OF OLD MINE WORKINGS BENEATH THE SUBURB PYLONS WERE SUNK MANY FEET DOWN TO REACH BEDROCK. THE PROVISION OF SUCH STRONG FOUNDATIONS HAS SAVED THE CHURCH FROM THE EFFECTS OF SUBSIDENCE WHICH TODAY PLAGUES MANY OF THE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS IN NEW LAMBTON. NEXT | ||
| DESPITE ITS CRAMPED SITE THE CHURCH IS BIG, BOTH IN HEIGHT AND LENGTH AND DOMINATES THE SURROUNDING NARROW STREETS EVEN WITH THE EXTENSIVE TREE PLANTINGS WHICH SOFTEN AND HIDE THE CHURCH'S BULK. IN MANY WAYS IT IS A TYPICAL 1950's CHURCH WITH ITS MINIMALIST DECORATION, STRAIGHT LINES AND USE OF MODERN MATERIALS WHILE BEING NONETHELESS TRADITIONAL IN ITS LITURGICAL LAYOUT. THE CHURCH IS COMPRISED OF THE STANDARD DIVISIONS OF A NARTHEX, AN AISLED NAVE AND A SANCTUARY FORMING A PROGRESS WITH ITS END AND FOCUS IN THE ALTAR. AN ATTRACTIVE MODERN ROSE WINDOW, ANOTHER NOD TO TRADITION, ADORNS THE WEST END TOGETHER WITH A SHALLOW SANDSTONE PORCH WHILE AT THE EAST END ARE A PAIR OF TWIN SACRISTIES. THE SIDES ARE MARKED BY LOW AISLES AND SACRISTIES WHICH ONLY SERVE TO EMPHASISE THE GREAT HEIGHT OF THE CENTRAL NAVE MARKED BY HIGH ROOF CROSSES AT EACH END. VIEWED FROM ANY ANGLE THE CHURCH HAS A CATHEDRAL-LIKE LOOK WHICH IS UNUSUAL IN ITS QUIET TREE-LINED SUBURBAN SETTING. NEXT |  | |
 | THE BEAUTIFUL PROPORTIONS OF THE CHURCH INTERIOR RETAIN THE FUCTIONALITY OF THE EXTERIOR. THE NAVE IS DOMINATED BY THE POWERFUL CRUCIFIX AND A FREE-STANDING ALTAR. NO DIVERSIONS ARE ALLOWED FROM THESE TWO CENTRAL FOCUS POINTS. A LOVELY PLAIN SANDSTONE REREDOS PROVIDES A BACKING FOR THE CROSS. AT THE END OF THE AISLES IN PLACE OF THE TRADITIONAL ALTARS TO OUR LADY AND THE SACRED HEART ARE LOCATED THE BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL AND THE BAPTISTRY. THE LOWNESS OF THE AISLES IN RELATION TO THE HEIGHT OF THE NAVE IS A PARTICULAR FEATURE OF THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE CHURCH. IN OPPOSITION TO THE RECTILINEAR LINES OF THE CHURCH, THE CHANCEL IS FORMED AS A HIGH FLATTENED ARCH. THIS SLIGHT CURVE MARKS THE HOLY OF HOLIES AND PREVENTS THE DESIGN FROM DESCENDING INTO AN ARID AND UNVARYING GEOMETRIC STERILITY. NEXT |
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 | THE ELEGANT SANCTUARY WITH ITS SIMPLE GOSFORD SANDSTONE REREDOS, MATCHING ALTAR AND IMPOSING CRUCIFIX (LEFT) ACTS AS THE CENTRAL FOCUS OF THE CHURCH. ABOVE THE CRUCIFIX IS A LOVELY TESTER PAINTED GREEN AND DECORATED WITH A VARIETY OF CROSSES. THE ALTAR, ALSO OF GOSFORD SANDSTONE, IS ENGRAVED WITH A ROYAL CROWN OVER THE IHS MONOGRAM. ORIGINALLY ALL OF THE WINDOWS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE WEST WINDOW WERE FILLED WITH PLAIN GLASS. IN 2006 A MAJOR BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT TO FILL THESE WINDOWS WITH MODERN STAINED GLASS COMMENCED. THE THEME OF THE WINDOWS IS BASED ON HANDEL'S ORATORIO THE MESSIAH. SO FAR THE SANCTUARY WINDOWS (ABOVE AND RIGHT) AND TWO OF THE HIGH NAVE WINDOWS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. NEXT |  |
 | IN THE 1970'S THE TRADITIONAL LADY AND SACRED HEART ALTARS WERE REPLACED BY THE BAPTISTRY WITH ITS SANDSTONE FONT (LEFT) AND THE LOVELY BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL (BELOW). NEXT |
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| THE LOVELY WEST WINDOW IN HONOUR OF THE CHURCH PATRON ST THERESE OF LISIEUX (BELOW) WAS THE ORIGINAL STAINED GLASS WINDOW IN THE CHURCH. NEXT |  |
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| TOP PARISH CHURCHES WARATAH |
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| PARISH CHURCH OF CORPUS CHRISTI, WARATAH | ||
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| PARISH | HISTORY | CHURCH |
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| THE DISTRICT OF WARATAH, LIKE MUCH OF NEWCASTLE, OWED ITS EXISTANCE TO COAL. THE RICH "BOREHOLE" SEAM RAN FROM HAMILTON TO WALLSEND AND ALONG ITS PATH GREW UP A SERIES OF SETTLEMENTS FOR THE MINERS. WARATAH WAS ONE SUCH SETTLEMENT. TODAY WARATAH IS A RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT AS WELL AS A CENTRE FOR SEVERAL MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITIES AND COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES. IT IS THUS AN IMPORTANT HUB IN TODAY'S CITY. WARATAH WAS ORIGINALLY A PART OF LAMBTON PARISH AND EARLY RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE WALKED TO THAT CHURCH OR UP TO THE REDEMPTORIST MONASTERY AT MAYFIELD FOR MASS. IN 1886 THE DOMINICAN SISTERS ESTABLISHED A CONVENT IN WARATAH AND LATER A SCHOOL. BY 1913 THERE WERE SUFFICIENT LOCAL CATHOLICS TO WARRANT A LOCAL MASS STATION. IN 1917 THE PAROCHIAL DISTRICT OF WARATAH INCLUDING MAYFIELD AND BROADMEADOW WAS CUT OFF FROM LAMBTON. THESE LATER WERE DETACHED TO FORM THEIR OWN PARISHES. WITH THE DECLINE IN PRIESTLY NUMBERS MAKING STAFFING OF PARISHES MORE DIFFICULT, WARATAH WAS JOINED IN A TWINNING ARRANGEMENT WITH ITS FORMER MOTHER PARISH IN 2001. IN 2005 WARATAH AMALGAMATED WITH LAMBTON AND NEW LAMBTON IN THE NEW HOLY TRINITY PARISH. NEXT |
 | AS A RESULT OF THE CONJUNCTION OF A NUMBER OF HISTORICAL EVENTS THE WARATAH AREA BECAME ONE OF THE MAJOR CATHOLIC CENTRES WITHIN THE DIOCESE OF MAITLAND. THE VIEW TO THE LEFT SHOWS THE LARGE COMPLEX OF CATHOLIC BUILDINGS AS THEY EXISTED IN WARATAH IN THE YEAR 1974. DOMINATING THE FOREGROUND IS THE MATER MISERICORDIAE HOSPITAL AND CONVENT OPENED BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY IN THE 1920's. BEYOND IT LIES THE IMPOSING BULK OF THE DOMINICAN CONVENT OF THE HOLY ROSARY AND THE SCHOOL FOR DEAF GIRLS. IT WAS OPENED BY THE SISTERS IN 1888 AND WAS THE ORIGINAL CATHOLIC SITE. TO THE RIGHT OF THE CONVENT LIES THE PARISH CHURCH AND ACROSS THE ROAD FROM IT THE 1930's SCHOOL AND PRESBYTERY. BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND THE CONVENT LIES THE JOHN XXIII CLOSE. AT THE TIME THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN THE ST MARTIN DE PORRES AGED CARE HOSTEL IN FRONT OF THE CONVENT, HAD NOT YET BEEN BUILT. CHURCH |
| CHURCH | |
| FROM ITS FOUNDATION IN 1917 UNTIL 1932 THE PARISH RELIED ON THE CHAPEL OF THE CONVENT FOR ITS MASS CENTRE, HOWEVER THIS WAS CLEARLY UNSATISFACTORY AS A PERMANENT HOME FOR THE PARISH AND ALTHOUGH THOUGHTS TURNED EARLY TO THE ERECTION OF A PROPER PARISH CHURCH IT WAS TO BE FIFTEEN YEARS BEFORE THE FIRST STAGE OF CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1932 AND A FURTHER TWENTY-TWO YEARS BEFORE THE CHURCH WAS FINISHED. IT WAS THUS NOT UNTIL 1954 THAT THE CHURCH WAS FINALLY BLESSED BY BISHOP GLEESON WHO HAD OPENED THE PARTIAL CHURCH IN 1932. WHEN THE INTERIM CHURCH WAS FINALLY COMPLETED IN 1954 IT HAD BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY MODIFIED FROM THE ORIGINAL DESIGN AS CAN BE SEEN IN THE SKETCH ON THE RIGHT COMPARED TO THE PRESENT-DAY PHOTOGRAPH BELOW. NEXT |  |
 | THE FINAL APPEARANCE OF THE PARISH CHURCH OF CORPUS CHRISTI WAS A VERY IMPRESSIVE ONE. THE HIGH WEST FACADE WITH ITS LARGE FOUR LIGHT WINDOW MAKES A STRONG IMPRESSION ON THE VIEWER. ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE CHURCH IS THE OLD BAPTISTRY BUILT SEPARATELY FROM THE CHURCH AND JOINED TO IT BY AN ENTRY PORCH. IN FORM IT IS A TYPICAL ROMANESQUE CRUCIFORM CHURCH COMPOSED OF AN AISLELESS NAVE, TRANSEPTS AND AN APSIDAL CHANCEL. A NUN'S CHANCEL WAS LOCATED OFF THE SANCTUARY ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND THE SACRISTY ON THE NORTH SIDE. CONFESSIONALS AND A NORTH-EAST PORCH ABUTT THE MAIN BODY. A POWERFUL GABLE CROSS SITS ATOP THE WEST END DECLARING THE CHURCH'S FAITH. OVERALL THE CHURCH IS A TESTAMENT TO THE COMMITMENT OF THE PRE-VATICAN II ERA CHURCH. NEXT |
| THE SPACIOUS CHURCH INTERIOR WAS EXTENSIVELY REMODELLED AFTER 1975. THE ALTAR RAILS WERE REMOVED AND THE NUN'S CHANCEL CONVERTED INTO A SECOND SACRISTY. A PLAIN FREE-STANDING ALTAR WAS INSTALLED ALONG WITH A PULPIT-LIKE AMBO TO THE RIGHT FOR THE PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD. THE TABERNACLE AND THE CELEBRANT'S CHAIR ARE BEHIND THE ALTAR AND THE FONT ON THE LEFT. IN THE SANCTUARY ARE TWO STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS, SADLY DARKENED BY THE BUSHES GROWING OUTSIDE. THEY PROVIDE A GREAT CONTRAST TO THE MODERN STAINED-GLASS OF THE WEST WINDOW AND THE FORMER BAPTISTRY, WHICH HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A SMALL SHRINE. A CRUCIFIX SURMOUNTS THE TABERNACLE AND THE SANCTUARY HAS BEEN EXTENDED INTO THE CROSSING TO ENABLE ALL-ROUND VISIBILITY. OVERALL THE INTERIOR IMPRESSES AS DOES THE EXTERIOR AS A SYMBOL OF THE TRUE FAITH OF THE PARISHIONERS. NEXT |  |
 | TWO VIEWS OF THE ELEGANTLY SIMPLE SANCTUARY AND (BELOW) THE EARLY STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS AND THE CENTRALLY PLACED TABERNACLE AND CROSS IN DETAIL. NEXT |
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| THE NAVE WHICH IS NOTEABLE FOR ITS BARREL VAULTING SOMEWHAT OF A RARITY AMONG AUSTRALIAN CHURCHES. NEXT |
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| (LEFT TO RIGHT) THE FATIMA STATUE, THE MARBLE FONT AND THE PULPIT-LIKE AMBO. (FAR RIGHT) THE BRILLIANTLY COLOURED JUBILEE WEST WINDOW INSTALLED IN 2002. NEXT | |||
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| THE FORMER BAPTISTRY HAS BEEN CONVERTED INTO A SHRINE TO BLESSED MARY MACKILLOP, AUSTRALIA'S FIRST SAINT.(ABOVE). OF SPECIAL NOTE ARE THE FOUR MODERN STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS SHOWING TYPICAL AUSTRALIAN FLORA AND SCENERY (BELOW). NEXT | ||
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| TOP PARISH CHURCHES OTHER BUILDINGS | |||
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| OTHER BUILDINGS | |||
| AS AN AMALGAM OF THREE PARISHES HOLY TRINITY POSSESSES A WIDE RANGE OF CATHOLIC PAROCHIAL BUILDINGS IN ADDITION TO ITS CHURCHES. FIRST AND FOREMOST THERE WERE SEVERAL PRESBYTERIES OVER THE YEARS WITH THREE AT LAMBTON, TWO AT WARATAH AND ONE AT NEW LAMBTON, OF WHICH ONE REMAINS AT EACH LOCATION. AT LAMBTON THERE IS ALSO A PARISH CENTRE FORMERLY THE SCHOOL KINDERGARTEN AND AT NEW LAMBTON A PARISH HOUSE. RECENTLY THE NEED FOR AGED CARE FACILITIES HAS SEEN NEW INSTITUTIONS ERECTED IN EACH AREA FOR THIS PURPOSE. THESE ARE THE EPHESUS AGED RETIREMENT UNITS IN LAMBTON, THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL HOME IN NEW LAMBTON AND THE COMPLEX IN WARATAH THAT INCLUDES JOHN XXIII CLOSE (ESTABLISHED BY THE DOMINICAN SISTERS), THE ST CATHERINE OF SIENA NURSING HOME (THE FORMER DOMINCAN CONVENT, NOW THE PRIVATELY OWNED BETHANY NURSING HOME) AND THE ST MARTIN DE PORRES HOSTEL. ADDITIONALLY THE AREA WAS RICH IN RELIGIOUS FOUNDATIONS FROM ITS BEGINNINGS. THE SISTERS OF MERCY ESTABLISHED THEIR FIRST CONVENT IN NEWCASTLE AT LAMBTON WHILE THE DOMINICAN SISTERS ESTABLISHED A CONVENT AND SCHOOL IN WARATAH ALONG WITH A SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF. THE SISTERS OF MERCY ALSO ESTABLISHED A CONVENT AT NEW LAMBTON. THERE ARE PARISH SCHOOLS AT LAMBTON AND AT NEW LAMBTON (SISTERS OF MERCY) AND AT WARATAH (DOMINICAN SISTERS). IN 1921 THE SISTERS OF MERCY ESTABLISHED A CONVENT AND THE MATER MISERICORDIAE HOSPITAL AT WARATAH AND MOST RECENTLY THEY HAVE OPENED THE VILLA UNITS AND THE MERCY HOSPICE AS A CONTINUATION OF THEIR HEALTH APOSTOLATE. | |||
| LAMBTON PRESBYTERIES |
NEW LAMBTON PRESBYTERY |
WARATAH PRESBYTERIES |
NEW LAMBTON PARISH HOUSE |
| LAMBTON EPHESUS RETIREMENT UNITS | NEW LAMBTON ST VINCENT DE PAUL HOME | WARATAH ST MARTIN DE PORRES HOSTEL | |
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| PRESBYTERIES, LAMBTON | |
 | IN 1874 LAND WAS PURCHASED IN HIGH ST NORTH LAMBTON (THEN GROVETOWN) AND IT WAS HERE THAT THE FIRST PRESBYTERY WAS BUILT OUT OF LOCAL STONE. THIS BUILDING WAS TO REMAIN THE PRESBYTERY UNTIL AT LEAST 1910. SOMETIME BETWEEN 1910 AND 1933 THE OLD PRESBYTERY WAS SOLD AND A NEW ONE BOUGHT, POSSIBLY AN OLD HOUSE NEXT TO THE CHURCH WHERE THE EPHESUS AGED RETIREMENT UNITS NOW STAND. BY 1933 THE EXISTING ACCOMODATION WAS PROVING INADEQUATE FOR THE NUMBER OF PRIESTS STATIONED AT LAMBTON AND IT WAS DECIDED TO BUILD A NEW HOUSE FOR THEM. LOCATED IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE NEWLY BUILT CHURCH, THE PRESBYTERY (LEFT) WAS AN IMPOSING TWO-STORY BRICK BUILDING WITH A LOVELY WIDE VERANDAH AND UPSTAIRS BALCONY. TODAY THE PRESBYTERY, SURROUNDED BY A LOVELY GARDEN AND SEVERAL MATURE PALM TREES GIVING IT A SOUTH-SEAS LOOK, PROVIDES ACCOMODATION FOR A RESIDENT PRIEST. |
| TOP OTHER BUILDINGS NEW LAMBTON PRESBYTERY | |
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| PRESBYTERY, NEW LAMBTON | |
 | WHEN THE PARISH OF NEW LAMBTON WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1954 THE ONLY PAROCHIAL BUILDING WAS THE CHURCH/SCHOOL. AMONG THE FIRST REQUIREMENTS OF THE PARISH WAS A PRESBYTERY FOR THE PARISH PRIEST. ACCORDINGLY LAND WAS OBTAINED ON THE CORNER OF ROYAL AND VICTORIA STS DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE THE FUTURE PARISH CHURCH AND A SIMPLE BRICK VENEER HOUSE WAS ERECTED TO PROVIDE THIS ACCOMODATION. THIS DOMESTIC STYLE BUILDING WAS TYPICAL OF THE CHANGE IN APPROACHES EVIDENT FROM THE 1950's ONWARD WHICH SAW PRESBYTERIES REGARDED MORE AS HOMES FOR THE PRIEST THAN OFFICES FOR THE PARISH. TO CATER FOR THIS A PARISH HOUSE WAS BUILT NEXT DOOR. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS WARATAH PRESBYTERY |
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| PRESBYTERIES, WARATAH | |
 | THE ORIGINAL PRESBYTERY AT WARATAH WAS AN OLD BRICK HOUSE ON THE CORNER OF BRIDGE AND PLATT STS WHERE TODAY'S PRESBYTERY STILL STANDS. IT HAD BEEN PURCHASED AT THE TIME THE PARISH WAS FOUNDED AND SERVED FOR CLOSE ON 50 YEARS AS THE HOME OF THE PARISH PRIEST OF WARATAH. FINALLY THE STATE OF DECAY OF THE OLD BUILDING CREATED A NEED FOR A NEW PRESBYTERY TO BE BUILT. A NOTEABLE FEATURE OF THIS BUILDING WAS THE INCLUSION OF STAINED GLASS WINDOWS AS CAN BE SEEN IN THE TWO VISIBLE WINDOWS IN THE PHOTO ON THE LEFT. TODAY THIS SIMPLE DOMESTIC BUILDING STILL SERVES AS THE PRESBYTERY AND THE PARISH OFFICE FOR HOLY TRINITY PARISH. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS NEW LAMBTON PARISH HOUSE |
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| PARISH HOUSE, NEW LAMBTON | |
 | IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AN AREA FOR PARISH ADMINISTRATION DISTINCT FROM THE PRIEST'S RESIDENCE AS WELL AS FOR PARISH MEETINGS, ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING VATICAN II AND THE MOVE TOWARDS PARISH COUNCILS, A SECOND DOMESTIC-STYLE BUILDING NEXT DOOR TO THE PRESBYTERY IN VICTORIA ST WAS SPECIFICALLY CONVERTED TO SERVE THIS PURPOSE. ORIGINALLY THIS BUILDING ALSO HOUSED THE GARAGES FOR THE PRESBYTERY BUT THESE WERE LATER FILLED IN TO CREATE MORE SPACE. TODAY THIS BUILDING HAS TAKEN ON AN INCREASED ROLE. WITH NO RESIDENT PARISH PRIEST A LOCAL OFFICE IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A FIRST POINT OF PASTORAL CONTACT FOR MANY PARISHIONERS. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS EPHESUS |
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| EPHESUS AGED RETIREMENT UNITS, LAMBTON | |
 | THE AREA ON THE CORNER OF DICKSON ST AND CROUDACE RD WAS FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE "PADDOCK" AND FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY IT SERVED AS THE PLAYGROUND FOR ST JOHN'S PARISH SCHOOL. IN 1995 HOWEVER, A MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SCHOOL WAS UNDERTAKEN AS A RESULT OF THE DECISION OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY TO GIVE UP THEIR CONVENT FOR SCHOOL USE. AS PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE PARISH, THE SCHOOL, THE SISTERS AND THE CATHOLIC EDUCATION OFFICE THE SCHOOL AGREED TO HAND THE FORMER PLAYGROUND OVER TO THE PARISH TO USE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN AGED RETIREMENT COMPLEX. COMPOSED OF SEVERAL INDEPENDANT-LIVING UNITS, THE THE EPHESUS AGED RETIREMENT UNITS WERE OPENED IN 1996. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS ST VINCENT DE PAUL HOME |
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| ST VINCENT DE PAUL HOME, NEW LAMBTON |
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| ONE OF THE PRESSING NEEDS OF THE LATE 20th CENTURY HAS BEEN THE PROVISON OF AGED CARE FACILITIES FOR THE GROWING NUMBER OF AGED PERSONS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE DIOCESE OF MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE HAS RESPONDED TO THIS NEED THROUGH CATHOLIC CARE FOR THE AGED AND THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH SEVERAL ORDERS AND CATHOLIC SOCIETIES. ONE SUCH PARTNERSHIP IS THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL HOME FOR SINGLE MEN AND WOMEN IN NEED OF QUALITY CARE. THE BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE 1990's IN A QUIET CUL DE SAC IN NEW LAMBTON AND PROVIDES ACCOMODATION IN INDIVIDUAL ROOMS WITH ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY MEDICAL SERVICES, COMMUNAL DINING AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR AGED PERSONS WHO ARE NO LONGER CAPABLE OF INDEPENDANT LIVING. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS ST MARTIN DE PORRES HOSTEL |
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| ST MARTIN DE PORRES HOSTEL, WARATAH | |
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| AS MENTIONED ABOVE, AGED CARE HAS BEEN A MAJOR CONCERN OF THE CHURCH IN THE LATE 20th CENTURY. WITH THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE DOMINICAN SISTERS FROM THEIR EDUCATIONAL WORK AND THE DECLINE IN VOCATIONS THE LARGE SITE ON WHICH THE CONVENT WAS LOCATED BECAME SUPERFLUOUS TO NEEDS AND ACCORDINGLY THE DIOCESE OBTAINED A PORTION OF THIS LAND TO USE AS AN AGED CARE HOSTEL. BUILT IN THE LATER 20th CENTURY THE HOSTEL IS DEDICATED TO ST MARTIN DE PORRES THE SAINT OF THE POOR AND NEEDY AND PROVIDES ACCOMODATION FOR 40 SINGLE RESIDENTS WHO REQUIRE LOW LEVEL ACCESS TO TRAINED NURSING CARE. NEXT | |
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| TOP OTHER BUILDINGS RELIGIOUS ORDERS PARISH DIRECTORY |
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| RELIGIOUS ORDERS | |
| SISTERS OF MERCY SINGLETON CONGREGATION | DOMINICAN SISTERS OF EASTERN AUSTRALIA |
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| PARISH DIRECTORY | |
| PARISH CHURCHES PARISH OFFICE 70 PLATT ST WARATAH 2298 PHONE: (02) 4968 1891 FAX: (02) 4960 0345 EMAIL: triparish@mn.catholic.org.au WEBSITE: www.holytrinityparish.catholicau.com PARISH HOUSE NEW LAMBTON VICTORIA ST NEW LAMBTON 2305 PHONE: (02) ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST LAMBTON DICKSON ST LAMBTON 2299 ST THERESE NEW LAMBTON VICTORIA ST NEW LAMBTON 2305 CORPUS CHRISTI WARATAH PLATT ST WARATAH 2298 | PRIMARY SCHOOLS ST JOHN'S PRIMARY SCHOOL DICKSON ST LAMBTON 2299 MAIL: PO BOX 111 LAMBTON 2299 PHONE: (02) 44952 1423 FAX: (02) 4952 1015 EMAIL: admin@lmbtn.mn.catholic.edu.au WEBSITE: http://lmbtn.mn.catholic.edu.au/ ST THERESE'S PRIMARY SCHOOL BURKE ST NEW LAMBTON 2305 MAIL: PO BOX 621 NEW LAMBTON 2305 PHONE: (02) 4957 4922 FAX: (02) 4952 1637 EMAIL: admin@newlmbtn.mn.catholic.edu.au WEBSITE: http://newlmbtn.mn.catholic.edu.au/ CORPUS CHRISTI PRIMARY SCHOOL PLATT ST WARATAH 2298 MAIL: PO BOX 63 WARATAH 2298 PHONE: (02) 4968 3220 FAX: (02) 4968 3833 EMAIL: admin@wrtah.mn.catholic.edu.au WEBSITE: http://wrtah.mn.catholic.edu.au/ |
| AGED CARE SERVICES EPHESUS AGED RETIREMENT UNITS 86 DICKSON ST LAMBTON 2299 PHONE: (02) 4979 1120 FAX: (02) 4979 1131 EMAIL: judi.mclean@mn.catholic.org.au WEBSITE: Ephesus Units ST VINCENT DE PAUL'S HOME FOR THE AGED 222 KINGS RD NEW LAMBTON 2305 PHONE: (02) 4952 9311 FAX: (02) 4952 9889 EMAIL: vinnieshome@hunterlink.net.au ST MARTIN DE PORRES HOSTEL 26 LORNA ST WARATAH 2298 PHONE: (02) 4968 2244 FAX: (02) 4960 2702 EMAIL: leah.sattler-ling@mn.catholic.org.au WEBSITE: St Martin de Porres Hostel | HOSPITAL MATER MISERICORDIAE HOSPITAL EDITH ST WARATAH 2298 POST: LOCKED BAG 7 HUNTER REGION MAIL CENTRE 2310 PHONE: (02) 4921 1211 FAX: (02) 4921 2673 WEBSITE: Mater Hospital MERCY HOSPICE PHONE: (02) 4921 1900 |
| RELIGIOUS ORDERS SISTERS OF MERCY CONVENT OF MERCY 121 DE VITRE ST LAMBTON 2299 PHONE: (02) 4965 5287 | |
