1846
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MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE
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PARISH OF ST PATRICK SINGLETON |
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FOUNDED 1846 |
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DIOCESE MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE |
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PARISH CHURCH OF ST PATRICK |
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| PARISH | CHURCH |
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 | PARISH |
| THE SINGLETON AREA WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED UP FOR SETTLEMENT IN 1823 AND BOTH GRAZING AND AGRICULTURE SOON COMMENCED WITH WHEAT AND TOBACCO PROVING EARLY STAPLES. BENJAMIN SINGLETON ESTABLISHED A PUNT SERVICE ACROSS THE RIVER AND THE FORD BECAME A FAVOURITE RIVER CROSSING FOR THOSE HEADED NORTH. PROPER ROADS WERE IN PLACE BY 1831. THE DEPRESSION OF THE EARLY 1840S NEARLY BROUGHT THE TOWN TO A STANDSTILL BUT IT RECOVERED AND WHEN THE RAILWAY ARRIVED IN 1863 SINGLETON'S ECONOMY BOOMED. IT SOON BECAME THE MAJOR COMMERCIAL CENTRE, WHICH IT REMAINS TODAY. THE LOCAL ECONOMY IS DIVERSE AND HEALTHY RELYING ON AGRICULTURE, COAL AND WINE. SINGLETON'S SUCCESS HAS SEEN THE POPULATION INCREASE FROM 9572 IN 1981 TO ABOUT 20500 IN 1997 AND IT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE HANDFUL OF LARGE RURAL TOWNS IN NSW. IN APPRECIATION OF THE TOWNSHOP'S SIGNIFICANT POSITION THE PARISH OF SINGLETON WAS FOUNDED IN 1846 JUST TEN YEARS AFTER THE TOWN WAS SUBDIVIDED. IT IS THUS ONE OF THE OLDEST PARISHES IN THE DIOCESE. MANY OF THE UPPER HUNTER PARISHES DERIVE THEIR ORIGIN FROM IT. THE SINGLETON CONGREGATION OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY ESTABLISHED THEIR FIRST CONVENT ( LATER THE CONGREGATIONAL HEADQUARTERS) AND SCHOOL HERE. THE REDEMPTORISTS ALSO ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES HERE BEFORE MOVING TO MAYFIELD. TODAY THE PARISH COVERS SINGLETON, BROKE, GLENDONBROOK AND JERRYS PLAINS. NEXT |
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| THE ORIGINAL CHURCH WAS A SIMPLE BUILDING OF SLAB CONSTRUCTION BUILT IN 1845, BUT THIS WAS QUICKLY REPLACED WITH THE PRESENT NAVE CONSTRUCTED IN 1860. A SIMPLE AISLESS NAVE BUILT OF SANDSTONE THIS SECTION OF THE CHURCH HAS CHANGED LITTLE OVER THE YEARS. IN 1881 A CHANCEL WAS ADDED WITH A NORTH-EASTERN TRANSEPT (EXTENDED IN 1894) TO SERVE AS THE NUN'S CHAPEL. THE LAST MAJOR CHANGE WAS THE ADDITION IN 1920 OF THE TWO MASSIVE TOWERS AND THE WEST FRONT. THIS SECTION OF THE CHURCH LACKS HARMONY WITH THE REST AND TENDS TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION OF AN OVERSIZED HEAD ON A PUNY BODY, YET NO-ONE CAN DENY THAT FROM THE FRONT THE CHURCH IS AN IMPRESSIVE AND DOMINATING SIGHT. NEXT |
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<<< THIS MONUMENT TO FORMER PREISTS OF THE PARISH STANDS BEFORE THE CEMENT RENDERED WEST FRONT. THE ORIGINAL NUN'S CHAPEL WAS BUILT IN 1881 AS AN EXTENSION OF THE CHANCEL. IN 1894 IT WAS EXTENDED AND A MOSAIC WALKWAY BUILT TO THE CONVENT. vvv NEXT |
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 | UNLIKE MANY PRE-VATICAN II CHURCHES, CHANGES TO THE INTERIOR HAVE BEEN KEPT TO TH ABSOLUTE MINIMUM TO COMPLY WTH THE NEW LITURGY. THE NARROWNESS OF THE ORIGINAL BUILDING IS OBVIOUS HERE WITH ITS SINGLE CENTRAL AISLE. THE BAPTISMAL FONT HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE CENTRAL CROSS AISLE AS THERE IS MINIMAL ROOM AT THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH TO PLACE IT. A LADY SHRINE IS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE SANCTUARY AND A STATUE OF ST JOSEPH ON THE SOUTH SIDE. THE CHURCH CONTAINS SOME MAGNIFCENT 19th CENTURY STAINED GLASS WINDOWS. THE DARK WOODEN BEAM ROOF WITH ITS SIMPLE WOODEN VAULTING IS TYPICAL OF AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY CHURCHES. THE OVERALL IMPRESSION IS ONE OF MYSTERY. HARMONIOUS LIGHTING ALONG THE WALLS GIVES A LIGHT AND AIRY FEEL DESPITE ITS TRADITIONAL CONSTRUCTION. BEYOND THE CHANCEL ARCH WITH ITS PLAIN CORBELS, IS THE SIMPLE SNACTUARY. THE ORIGINAL WOODEN ALTAR PIECE WITH ITS EMBEDDED TABERNACLE HAS BEEN RETAINED. THE MENSA HAS BEEN MOVED FORWARD TO ACCOMODATE THE NEW LITURGY. ABOVE THE THREE LANCET WINDOWS IS AN ATTRACTIVE ROSE WINDOW, MIRRORED IN THE NUN'S CHAPEL. THE NUN'S CHAPEL WAS ORIGINALLY SMALLER THAN IT IS TODAY BUT IN 1894 AN ORGAN GALLERY WITH ITS LOVELY ROSE WINDOW WAS ADDED BY FREDERICK MENKEN WHO BUILT THE CONVENT. TODAY THE CHAPEL IS USED FOR ADDITIONAL CHURCH SEATING WHILE THE NUN'S HAVE THEIR OWN CHAPEL WITHIN THE CONVENT. OF INTEREST ARE ALSO THE 19th CENTURY PAINTED STATIONS OF THE CROSS ALONG THE WALLS. NEXT |
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 | <<<< THE SIMPLE YET ELEGANT WOODEN ALTAR IS PART OF THE ORIGINAL FURNISHINGS OF THE CHURCH. A TRADITIONAL ALTAR PIECE WITH PINNACLES AND NICHES RISING AROUND THE WINDOW SERVES AS A THRONE FOR THE TABERNACLE. THE CENTRAL NICHE FOR THE CRUCIFIX CLEVERLY FRAMES THE WINDOW BEHIND IT. NEXT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE NAVE JUST OUTSIDE THE SANCTUARY IS THE LOVELY LADY SHRINE TO OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP. BUILT OF POLISHED DARK WOOD IN A TRADITIONAL STYLE IT GLOWS IN THE LATE AFTERNOON SUN WITH A POWERFUL SENSE OF AWE AND MYSTERY. >>>> |
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| AMONG THE TREASURES OF THE CHURCH IS THE STATUE OF THE HOLY INFANT OF PRAGUE DRESSED IN GORGEOUS HAND MADE ROBES. | THE ATTRACTIVE MEMORIAL TABLET TO THE RIGHT REV MGR PETER MEACHER, 31 YEARS PARISH PRIEST, WHO DIED IN 1924. | AT THE REAR OF THE CHURCH IS THIS LOVELY 19th CENTURY CRUCIFIX, A REMINDER OF THE REASON WE COME TO MASS TO CELEBRATE. |
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| TOP STATION CHURCHES | ||
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| STATION CHURCHES | ||
| BROKE | GLENDONBROOK | SINGLETON SOUTH |
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| CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, BROKE | |
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STATION |
| THE LITTLE VILLAGE OF BROKE LIES ABOUT 10 MINUTES SOUTH OF SINGLETON IN THE HEART OF THE HUNTER VALLEY VINEYARDS. IN FACT BROKE IS ONE OF THE OLDEST WINE-GROWING AREAS IN THE HUNTER ALTHOUGH IT IS ONLY RECENTLY ACHIEVED FAME. BROKE IS AN HISTORIC VILLAGE ON THE ORIGINAL CONVICT BUILT NORTHERN ROAD BUT LIKE MANY OF THE VILLAGES ESTABLISHED ALONG THAT ROAD IT SUFFERED DECLINE WITH THE SHIFTING OF THE MAIN ROUTE EAST TOWARDS THE COAST. TODAY IT IS AN ATTRACTIVE VILLAGE THRIVING ON TOURISM AND WINE. BROKE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A STATION OF SINGLETON AND HAS A CATHOLIC HISTORY DATING BACK TO THE LATE 1800's. TODAY ITS ATTRACTIVE LITTLE CHURCH STILL SERVES THE LOCAL POPULATION AS IT HAS FOR OVER 100 YEARS. NEXT | |
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| THE ATTRACTIVE LITTLE BRICK CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, ALSO CALLED MARY IMMACULATE, WITH ITS CONTRASTING CREAM FACINGS WAS BUILT IN 1904. IT COMPRISES A NAVE, SACRISTY AND A PORCH AND IS BUILT IN THE RURAL GOTHIC STYLE CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE FOR CHURCHES AT THE TIME. IT HAS POINTED WINDOWS AND MOCK BUTTRESSES AND SOME VERY ATTRACTIVE WOODWORK AROUND THE EAVES. THE CROSSES ARE PARTICULARLY LOVELY. THE CHURCH STANDING PROMINENTLY ON THE MAIN ROAD HAS BEEN KEPT IN IMMACULATE CONDITION AND IS A TESTAMENT TO THE LOVE OF THE VILLAGE FOR ITS CHURCH. NEXT |
 | THE LOVELY AIRY AND LIGHT INTERIOR HAS CHANGED LITTLE SINCE IT WAS FIRST CONSECRATED. THE ORIGINAL ALTAR PIECE AND ALTAR WITH ITS EMBEDDED TABERNACLE REMAIN AND A SIMPLE TABLE HAS BEEN PLACED IN THE SANCTUARY TO SERVE AS THE ALTAR FOR THE NEW LITURGY. TRADITIONAL STATUES OF THE SACRED HEART AND OUR LADY ADORN THE EAST WALL AND ANOTHER OF ST JOSEPH CAN BE SEEN TO THE RIGHT. THE PLAIN COLOURED GLASS ROUNDEL TAKES THE PLACE OF THE TRADITIONAL EAST WINDOW. TOP STATION CHURCHES NEXT |
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| CHURCH OF ST PAUL, GLENDONBROOK | |
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STATION |
| MORE LOCALITY THAN VILLAGE, GLENDONBROOK IS A STRAGGLING LINE OF FARMS AND HOMES STRETCHING FOR SOME 20KM ALONG THE ROAD FROM GRESFORD TO SINGLETON. MIDWAY ALONG THE ROAD LIES WEBBERS CREEK AND IT IS HERE THE VILLAGE CENTRE, IF IT COULD BE CALLED SUCH, LIES. A FARMING AREA SINCE THE MID 1800's GLENDONBROOK HAS BEGUN TO DEVELOP AS A WINE GROWING AREA IN RECENT YEARS BRINGING NEW WEALTH TO THE LOCALITY. A STATION HAS EXISTED AT GLENDONBROOK SINCE THE 1870's WHEN THE FIRST CHURCH WAS BUILT ON THE BANKS OF THE CREEK ABOUT 110M NORTH OF THE PRESENT LOCATION. IT HAS RECENTLY RETURNED TO SINGLETON AFTER BEING PART OF GRESFORD FOR SOME YEARS. NEXT | |
| SECOND CHURCH OF ST PAUL, GLENDONBROOK |  |
| THE ORIGINAL CHURCH WAS A SIMPLE SLAB BUILDING AND WAS REPLACED BY THE PRESENT WEATHERBOARD CHURCH WHICH WAS BUILT AND CONSECRATED IN 1889 BY FR HEGARTY CSsR. OF SIMPLE GODBOX DESIGN COMMON IN MANY RURAL LOCALITIES IN THE LATER 1800's IT CONSISTS OF A NAVE, A CHANCEL, A PORCH AND A SACRISTY. PLAIN LANCET WINDOWS HELP TO GIVE AN ECCLESIASTICAL TOUCH AS DOES THE CROSS ON THE FRONT GABLE. INTERESTINGLY, THERE IS ONLY ONE SUCH CROSS CONTRARY TO THE USUAL PRACTICE OF PLACING CROSSES ON EVERY GABLE. THE MAJOR INTEREST OF THE CHURCH IS THE HISTORIC CEMETERY BEHIND THE CHURCH WHICH CONTAINS THE GRAVES OF PIONEERS AS WELL AS MORE RECENT BURIALS. NEXT |
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| CHURCH OF ST AUGUSTINE, SINGLETON SOUTH | |
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STATION |
| WITH THE POST WAR EXPANSION OF SINGLETON AND THE GROWTH IN CATHOLIC CONGREGATIONS TYPICAL OF THE TIME, THERE CAME A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL MASS CENTRES WITHING THE TOWN ITSELF. SOUTH SINGLETON WAS A LARGELY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT WITH AN OLDER POPULATION FOR WHOM TRANSPORT TO THE PARISH CHURCH WAS NOT ALWAYS CONVENIENT. TODAY THE STATION CHURCH OF ST AUGUSTINE SITS IN A BACK STREET NEXT DOOR TO A CATHOLIC AGED CARE FACILITY FOR WHICH IT SERVES AS THE CHURCH. THE STATION HAS BEEN MAINTAINED FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS SINCE ITS FOUNDATION. AT A TIME WHEN CHURCHES ARE CLOSING DOWN CONVENIENCE HAS KEPT IT ALIVE TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF THE AREA. NEXT | |
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| BUILT IN 1957 IN BLONDE BRICK, THE CHURCH IS A SIMPLE HALL CHURCH WITH A WIDE NAVE WITH A SHALLOW NARTHEX. SOME ATTRACTIVE BRICKWORK DECORATES THE GABLE AND A LARGE CROSS PROCLAIMS THE CHURCH'S MISSION. THE STYLING IS KEPT PLAIN IN KEEPING WITH THE TIMES, STRAIGHT LINES AND MINIMAL ADORNMENT AND LARGE RECTANGULAR WINDOWS OF TINTED GLASS, BUT AS IF TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS PLAINNESS, THE SURROUNDING GARDENS AND HEDGES, IMMACULATELY KEPT, PROVIDE A SUPERB SETTING FOR THE CHURCH. A SLOPING APPROACH PATH LEADS UP TO THE FRONT DOOR FLANKED BY A WELL-KEPT HEDGE ON BOTH SIDES. TOP STATION CHURCHES HISTORIC CHURCHES |
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| HISTORIC CHURCHES | |||
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| JERRYS PLAINS | |||
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| CHURCH OF ST MATTHEW, JERRYS PLAINS | |
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| JERRYS PLAINS WAS FIRST EXPLORED IN 1819 AND THE VILLAGE ITSELF BEGAN IN THE LATE 1820'S. THE PRESENT SITE WAS SURVEYED IN 1840 SLIGHTLY TO THE WEST OF THE ORIGINAL VILLAGE. THE LAST REMNANTS OF THE OLD TOWNSITE WERE WASHED AWAY IN THE 1955 FLOODS. TODAY JERRYS PLAINS IS AN AREA NOTED FOR ITS WINERIES AND STUD FARMS. JERRYS PLAINS WAS AN EARLY STATION OF SINGLETON AND REMAINED SO FOR OVER 150 YEARS. BY THE EARLY 21st CENTURY HOWEVER, THE DECLINE IN CONGREGATIONS AND PROXIMITY TO SINGLETON LED TO ITS CLOSURE. NEXT | |
| THIRD CHURCH OF ST MATTHEW, JERRYS PLAINS |  |
| BETWEEN 1840 AND 1900 TWO PREVIOUS CHURCHES WERE BUILT TO SERVE THE LOCAL CATHOLICS. IN 1900 THE THIRD AND LAST CHURCH WAS BUILT. CONSTRUCTED OF BRICK IN A SIMPLIFIED GOTHIC WITH ARCHED WINDOWS, A LARGE ENTRANCE ARCHWAY AND AN UNUSUAL WEST SACRISTY IT STANDS ON A SMALL EMINENCE BESIDE THE MAIN ROAD. WITH THE CLOSURE OF THE PARISH THE CHURCH WAS SOLD IN 2004 AND IS TODAY BEING TURNED INTO A PRIVATE RESIDENCE. TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES STATION CHURCHES OTHER BUILDINGS |
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| OTHER BUILDINGS | |
| SINGLETON MERCY CONVENT |
SINGLETON ST CATHERINE'S COLLEGE |
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| CONVENT OF ST PATRICK, SINGLETON | |
 | IN 1875 A GROUP OF MERCY SISTERS ARRIVD FROM ENNIS IN IRELAND AT THE INVITATION OF BISHOP MURRAY TO ESTABLISH A CONVENT AND SCHOOL AT SINGLETON. WITHIN A SHORT SPACE OF TIME THAT HAD SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES AND IN DUE COURSE BECAME AN INDEPENDANT CONGREGATION. IN THE LATER 20th CENTURY THE HEADQUARTERS WAS MOVED TO HAMILTON BUT SINGLETON REMAINS THE FOUNDATION HOUSE AND THE HOME OF THE CONGREGATIONAL ARCHIVES. BETWEEN 1843 AND 1909 THE MAGNIFICENT CONVENT DESIGNED BY FREDERICK MENCKENS WAS BUILT BEHIND THE PARISH CHURCH. DESIGNED IN A RENAISSANCE STYLE WITH A CENTRAL CAMPANILE AND TWO WINGS AROUND A LOVELY FLOWER FILLED PIAZZA IT IS ONE OF THE GEMS OF SINGLETON. IN 1940, BRICK ARCHES REPLACED THE ORIGINAL IRONWORK. NEXT |
| >>>> THE ELEGANT CAMPANILE WITH ITS STATUE OF OUR LADY NEXT THE CALVARY LOCATED IN THE GARDENS OF THE CONVENT vvvv |  |
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| AMONG THE TREASURES OF THE CONVENT ARE THREE GLORIOUS STAINED GLASS WINDOWS. HERE IS PORTRAYED OUR LADY OF MERCY. | THE SECOND WINDOW SHOWS THE VISION OF OUR LADY OF RANSOME. NEXT | THE FINAL WINDOW SHOWS THE FOUNDRESS OF THE MERCY SISTERS, MOTHER CATHERINE MACAULEY. |
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 | CHAPEL |
| THE SISTERS FIRST CHAPEL WAS A TRANSEPT ATTACHED TO THE CHANCEL OF THE CHURCH. IT WAS CONSTRUCTED BY FREDERICK MENCKENS AT THE SAME TIME AS HE BUILT THE CONVENT. HE INCLUDED A PAVED WALKWAY JOINING THE VERANDAH TO THE CHAPEL. THIS CHAPEL IS STILL USED BY THE CHURCH FOR ADDITIONAL SEATING. WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE CONVENT THE SISTERS NATURALL GAVE SOME THOUGHT TO A DEDICATED CHAPEL WITHIN THE CONVENT GROUNDS. IN DUE COURSE A CHAPEL WAS BUILT AT THE REAR OF THE EXISTING CONVENT IN 1925. IT IS A SPACIOUS BUILDING AS BEFITS THE CHAPEL OF THE MOTHER HOUSE AND GENERATIONS OF SISTERS HAVE WORSHIPPED HERE. NEXT |
| THE CHAPEL IS CONSTRUCTED OF BRICK IN RENAISSANCE STYLE WHICH WAS ENJOYING SOMETHING OF A COMEBACK AFTER THE DOMINANCE OF GOTHIC AS THE ONLY STYLE FOR ECCLESIASTICAL BUILDINGS IN THE 19th CENTURY. THE DOORWAY CONSISTS OF THREE LARGE ROMAN ARCHES SURMOUNTED BY ROUND-HEADED WINDOWS AND A STATUE. THE NAVE IS WIDE AND TWIN TRANSEPTS ARE LOCATED JUST PAST THE MIDPOINT ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO CROSSING AS SUCH. THE TRANSEPTS EACH TERMINATE WITH TRIPLE LIGHT LANCETS. TWO SMALL SACRISTIES ARE LOCATED IN THE ANGLES BETWEEN THE TRANSEPTS AND THE EASTERN PART OF THE NAVE. THE EAST END IS WINDOWLESS AND DECORATED WITH CROSS MOTIFS, THE MOST INTERESTING OF WHICH IS THE MALTESE CROSS LOCATED IN THE CENTRE. A PURELY PRACTICAL NOTE IS STRUCK BY THE LINE OF VENTS ALONG THE ROOF RIDGE, TESTAMENT TO THE HIGH SUMMER TEMPERATURES EXPERIENCED IN SINGLETON. NEXT |  |
 | WITHIN THE SPACIOUS INTERIOR THE RENAISSANCE ASPECT BECOMES MORE PROUNOUNCED.WITH DECORATIVE CEILINGS, STAINED GLASS, MOSAIC TILED FLOOR AND ROMAN ARCHES MARKING THE CHANCEL AND TRANSEPTS. THE MAGNIFICENT MARBLE ALTAR IS BACKED BY THREE ITALIAN MURALS, REPRESENTING THE EPIPHANY (LEFT), THE ASCENDING CHRIST (CENTRE) AND THE WASHING OF THE DISCIPLES FEET (RIGHT). TO EITHER SIDE OF THE CHANCEL ARCH ARE THE SHRINES OF THE SACRED HEART AND OUR LADY. THE CHAPEL ALSO CONTAINS A LOVELY 19th CENTURY PIPE ORGAN. NEXT |
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| THE SHRINE OF THE SACRED HEART WITH CORINTHIAN CAPITALS AND DEMI-DOME. TOP | THE MURAL REPRESENTING THE VISIT OF THE THREE WISE MEN. NEXT | THE MATCHING SHRINE OF OUR LADY BUT WITH THE ADDITION OF THE URNS. OTHER BUILDINGS |
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| ST CATHERINE'S COLLEGE, SINGLETON | |
 | ONE OF THE FIRST DUTIES OF THE SISTERS WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SCHOOL FOR GIRLS. ST CATHERINE'S COLLEGE, THE SCHOOL THEY ESTABLISHED, PROVED SO SUCCESSFUL THAT IT SOON REQUIRED EXPANSION. IN 1910 MENCKENS' PARTNER F.G. CASTLEDEN DESIGNED THE SUPERB COLLEGE BUILDING WHICH STANDS NEXT TO THE CONVENT ACROSS THE GARDEN FROM THE CHURCH. IT WAS COMPLETED IN 1911. WITH BUTRESSES, COLONNADES AND A BATTLEMENTED PARAPET IT IS MORE IN KEEPING WITH THE GOTHIC STYLE OF THE LATTER BUILDING THAN THE CONVENT. TOP STATION CHURCHES HISTORIC CHURCHES OTHER BUILDINGS |
