1918
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BROKEN BAY
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PARISH OF ST THOMAS WILLOUGHBY |
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FOUNDED 1918 |
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DIOCESE BROKEN BAY |
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PARISH CHURCH OF ST THOMAS |
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| PARISH | HISTORY | CHURCH |
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 | PARISH |
| THE PARISH OF WILLOUGHBY, ESTABLISHED IN 1928, GREW OUT OF CHATSWOOD PARISH WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NORTH SHORE IN THE EARLY 1900's. TODAY IT IS A THRIVING SUBURB AND AN AREA OF GROWING POPULATION AS YOUNG FAMILIES MOVE INTO THE AREA. NEXT | |
| FIRST CHURCH OF ST THOMAS, WILLOUGHBY |  |
| THE ORIGINAL MASS CENTRE WAS BUILT IN 1928 AS A CHURCH/SCHOOL AS WAS COMMON AT THE TIME. THAT BUILDING STILL STANDS AS THE CHURCH HALL. NEXT |
 | SECOND CHURCH OF ST THOMAS, WILLOUGHBY |
| THE PRESENT CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1961, JUST PRIOR TO THE CHANGES IN THE LITURGY RESULTING FROM THE PROMULGATION OF THE NOVUS ORDO, A FACT REFLECTED IN THE DESIGN OF THE CHURCH. THE CHURCH WAS ALSO A CHILD OF ITS TIME IN BEING BUILT AS A "WAR MEMORIAL CHURCH". THE YEAR OF ITS CONSTRUCTION IS REFLECTED IN THE COMBINATION OF TRADITIONAL STRUCTURE AND MODERN MATERIALS. BUILT OF BLONDE BRICK, THE CHURCH HAS THE LONG NAVE ASSOCIATED WITH THE OLDER LATIN MASS AND THE WEST TOWER PROCLAIMING THE PRESENCE OF THE CHURCH. NEXT |
| IN PLACE OF THE TRADITIONAL WEST WINDOW IS A GLASS PANED WALL. THE TOWER IS OBLONG IN SHAPE RISING TO A MODERN BELL LOFT WITH THE CROSS MOUNTED ON THE WALL RATHER THAN ON THE ROOF. IN PLACE OF A DARK, NARROW PORCH, THERE IS A WIDE COVERED PORTICO LEADING TO ANOTHER GLASSED WALL GIVING VISUAL ACCESS INTO THE CHURCH. THE GLASS ENTRANCE DOORS FORM PART OF THIS WALL. LIGHTING IS PROVIDED BY THE HIGH CELESTORY WINDOWS ALONG THE NAVE.THE FRONT ENTRANCE TO THE CHURCH GIVES STRAIGHT ONTO THE STREET, A RESULT OF BOTH THE POSITION OF THE CHURCH IN A HEAVILY BUILT-UP AREA AND OF THE TIME OF ITS CONSTRUCTION. THE MODERN STYLING OF THE CHURCH IS EVIDENT IN THE SLIM METAL COLUMNS SUPPORTING THE AWNING AND THE OPEN FRAME CONCRETE TRELLIS AT THE FAR END OF THE PORTICO. A SMALL GARDEN GROTTO OF THE SACRED HEART ENHANCES THE PORTICO AND SOFTENS THE "CONCRETE JUNGLE". AN OPENING IN HTE AWNING PROVIDES SUNLIGHT DIRECTLY ONTO THE GROTTO. NEXT |  |
 | THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH SHOWS THE SAME COMBINATION OF TRADITION AND MODERNITY. THE SLIM AISLE COLUMNS, FLAT ROOF AND STRAIGHT LINES OF THE CHURCH ARE ALL MODERN WHILE THE FOCUSSING OF THE NAVE AND AISLES TOWARDS THE DISTINCT CHANCEL IS TRADITIONAL. CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE SANCTUARY TO BRING IT INTO HARMONY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NOVUS ORDO MASS. THE ALTAR HAS BEEN MOVED FORWARD BUT REMAINS DISTINCTLY PART OF THE CHANCEL. BEHIND THE ALTAR IS THE REREDOS WITH THE CRUCIFIX AND SYMPBOLS OF CHRIST. OVERHEAD IS A LOVELY WOODEN BALDACHINO. THE TABERNACLE HOLDS PLACE OF HONOUR BENEATH THE CROSS. TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT ARE SIDE CHAPELS AND ALONG THE AISLE ARCHITRAVES ARE THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS. TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES |
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| HISTORIC CHURCHES | |
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