IN 1883 BISHOP MATTHEW QUINN TRAVELLED TO EUROPE AND IN PARIS HE MET WITH FR FIAT, SUPERIOR-GENERAL OF THE VINCENTIANS. THE LATTER AGREED TO THE ORDER TAKING ON ST STANISLAUS' COLLEGE AND ST CHARLES BORROMEO SEMINARY IN BATHURST AND PASSED THE REQUEST TO FR DUFF, PROVINCIAL OF THE IRISH PROVINCE. FOR REASONS OF CHURCH POLITICS THE OFFER WAS HELD IN ABEYANCE FOR SOME YEARS WHILE THE QUESTION OF A PROVINCIAL SEMINARY WAS THRASHED OUT. FINALLY IN 1889 THREE VINCENTIAN FATHERS, THREE BROTHERS AND A STUDENT ARRIVED IN BATHURST TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE COLLEGE AND SEMINARY. ALTHOUGH THE SEMINARY CLOSED JUST THREE YEARS AFTERWARD THE COLLEGE WENT FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AND TO THIS DAY REMAINS A JEWEL IN THE CROWN OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION. THE VINCENTIAN CHARISM REMAINS THE DRIVING FORCE OF THE COLLEGE ALTHOUGH THE DAY TO DAY RUNNING OF THE SCHOOL IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF LAY STAFF. A STRONG VINCENTIAN COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO RESIDE IN AND WORK AT THE COLLEGE TODAY. IN RECENT YEARS A RESIDENCE WAS ALSO OPENED FOR A SMALL COMMUNITY WHICH HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED IN SOUTH BATHURST.

THERE ARE FEW SIGHTS IN BATHURST MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN THE OUTLINE OF ST STANISLAUS' COLLEGE ON ITS EMINENCE OVERLOOKING THE CITY. ESTABLISHED BY BISHOP QUINN IN 1867 ONE YEAR AFTER HIS ARRIVAL AS BISHOP AND MOVED TO ITS PRESENT SITE IN 1873 IT WAS RUN ORIGINALLY BY DIOCESAN CLERGY UNTIL TAKEN OVER BY THE VINCENTIANS IN 1889. INTENDED TO SERVE A DUAL PURPOSE AS A BOY'S SECONDARY SCHOOL AND AS A MEANS TO ENCOURAGE VOCATIONS FOR AN AUSTRALIAN PRIESTHOOD (BISHOP BYRNE REFERRED TO IT AS A 'MINOR SEMINARY') THE COLLEGE IS AN OUTSTANDING TRIBUTE TO ONE MAN'S DREAM FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG MEN AND ALTHOUGH THE SEMINARY WAS TO FAIL IN ITS REALISATION IT LEFT BEHIND ONE OF THE FINEST CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

A MAJOR CONCERN OF THE AUSTRALIAN BISHOPS WAS THE NEED FOR CLERGY AND THIS COULD ONLY BE ACHIEVED THROUGH THE ERECTION OF SEMINARIES. AS THIS PRESUPPOSED A PROFICIENCY IN SECONDARY STUDIES A SECONDARY COLLEGE WAS A NECESSARY FIRST STEP. IT WAS FOR THIS REASON THAT BISHOP QUINN ON HIS ARRIVAL SET ABOUT ESTABLISHING ST STANISLAUS' COLLEGE AS HIS FIRST PRIORITY. FROM 1867 TO 1873 STUDENTS WERE TAUGHT IN PART OF THE OLD DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOL. IN THE LATTER YEAR HOWEVER BISHOP QUINN WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN LAND ON THE LOWER SLOPES OF MOUNT PANORAMA AND ASKED EDWARD GELL TO DESIGN A COLLEGE FOR THE SITE. GELL'S DESIGN (ABOVE LEFT) WAS AN IMPRESSIVE STRUCTURE CONSTRUCTED AROUND A CENTRAL CHAPEL BUT LACK OF FINANCE SLOWED CONSTRUCTION AND ONLY THE LEFT WING WAS BUILT. IT WAS ENOUGH THOUGH FOR THE COLLEGE TO COMMENCE CLASSES. IN 1878 THE CENTRAL CORE OF THE BUILDING WAS COMPLETED ENABLING THE RELOCATION OF ST CHARLES SEMINARY TO THE COLLEGE (ABOVE RIGHT).

WITH THE FINISHING OF THE FIRST STAGE OF THE COLLEGE THE BOARDERS WHO SINCE 1867 HAD BEEN HOUSED IN SEVERAL VENUES AROUND THE CATHEDRAL INCLUDING TWO COTTAGES IN UPPER GEORGE STREET (ABOVE LEFT), THE FORMER ORPHANAGE BUILDING AND THE SECOND BISHOP'S RESIDENCE COULD NOW BE ACCOMODATED IN THE COLLEGE ITSELF. IN 1907 GELL'S ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS FINALLY REALISED WHEN THE RIGHT WING TOGETHER WITH THE CENTRAL TOWER AND THE REAR PORTIONS OF THE COLLEGE WERE AT LAST FINISHED (ABOVE RIGHT).

FOLLOWING THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THE COLLEGE FURTHER ADDITIONS WERE MADE IN 1942 WITH THE OPENING OF A DORMITORY AND CLASSROOM WING (ABOVE LEFT) FOLLOWED BY A MATCHING RIGHT WING IN 1962 (BELOW LEFT). IN 1954 THE CHAPEL WAS ENLARGED AND A NEW ENTRANCE CONSTRUCTED (ABOVE RIGHT). A SCIENCE LABORATORY WAS COMPLETED IN 1965 AND IN 2006 A MAGNIFICENT NEW BUILDING CONTAINING AN ASSEMBLY HALL AND STATE OF THE ART SPORTING FACILITIES AND CLASSROOMS WAS CONSTRUCTED ENSURING THAT ST STANISLAUS' (BELOW RIGHT) WOULD BE ABLE TO RETAIN ITS POSITION AS NEW SOUTH WALES' PREMIER COUNTRY CATHOLIC BOYS SCHOOL.

ABOVE IS SEEN THE FACADE OF ST STANISLAUS' COLLEGE WITH THE CHAPEL (CENTRE) AND BELOW VARIOUS VIEWS AROUND THE COLLEGE.

THE PRINCIPAL COLLEGE GATES (ABOVE LEFT) AND THE ORIGINAL WING, CHAPEL AND ENTRANCE AS THEY APPEAR TODAY (ABOVE RIGHT).

THE COLLEGE BUILDINGS SEEN FROM THE EAST (ABOVE LEFT) AND SOUTH (ABOVE RIGHT) SHOWING THE MASSING OF ROOVES AND TOWERS.

THE NEW BUILDING CONTAINING THE ASSEMBLY HALL (ABOVE LEFT) AND THE NEAT ENTRANCE GATES TO THE EASTERN OVAL (ABOVE RIGHT).

(LEFT & RIGHT) THE TWO MARBLE STATUES WHICH FLANK THE STEPS LEADING UP FROM THE NEW OVAL CONSTRUCTED IN THE EARLY 1960's AND (CENTRE) OUR LADY OF THE ELMS WHICH WAS MOVED TO ST STANISLAUS' FROM ST MARY'S COLLEGE WHEN IT WAS DEMOLISHED IN 1983.

THE MARBLE ENTRANCE HALL (CENTRE) CONTAINING INTER ALIA A PAINTING OF ST STANISLAUS (<<<) AND THE ARMS OF BISHOP QUINN (>>>).

THE VIEW ABOVE TAKEN FROM THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE COLLEGE SHOWS A MAGNIFICENT PANORAMA OF THE COLLEGE AND ITS GROUNDS.

THE CHAPEL OF STS STANISLAUS AND CHARLES BORROMEO IS LOCATED ON THE TOP FLOOR OF THE CENTRAL WING AND WAS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE COLLEGE BUILDING ACCORDING TO THE ORIGINAL EDWARD GELL DESIGN. THIS CHAPEL WAS OF COURSE MUCH SMALLER AND LACKED THE STUPENDOUS EAST WINDOW DONATED BY REG FAGAN AND INSTALLED IN 1915 (ALTHOUGH A 'WINDOW' HAD EXISTED BEFORE THAT). IN 1954 THE CHAPEL WAS EXTENDED BY A FURTHER THREE BAYS TO THE NORTH AND A COLUMNED PORCH WAS BUILT UNDERNEATH TO SUPPORT IT. TWO LOW AISLES WERE ADDED EACH WITH THREE STAINED GLASS SIDE WINDOWS. AT THE END OF EITHER AISLE WAS A SIDE CHAPEL WITH MARBLE ALTARS AND A PAIR OF STAINED GLASS WINDOWS. THE CHAPEL, WHICH IS HOME TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT, HAS NOW SERVED THE COLLEGE FOR 130 YEARS AND REMAINS ITS RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL HEART TO THIS DAY.

OVER THE YEARS THE INTERIOR OF THE CHAPEL HAS UNDERGONE SEVERAL CHANGES IN LINE WITH CIRCUMSTANCES AND CHURCH LITURGIES. BELOW CAN BE SEEN THREE VIEWS REFLECTING THESE CHANGES - (CENTRE) THE ORIGINAL COLLEGE CHAPEL, (LEFT) THE CHAPEL PRIOR TO 1954 AND (RIGHT) THE EXTENDED CHAPEL POST 1954. ABOVE CAN BE SEEN THE CHAPEL TODAY REORDERED FOR THE NOVUS ORDO LITURGY.

UNDOUBTEDLY THE MOST MAGNIFICENT FEATURE OF THE CHAPEL IS THE GREAT EAST WINDOW DONATED BY REG FAGAN AT A COST OF £300 IN 1915 (CENTRE). THE LOWER HALF OF THE WINDOW SHOWS MARY THE MOTHER, THE CRUCIFIXION AND OUR LORD'S NATIVITY. EACH GLASS PANEL THUS REFLECTS AN ASPECT OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF MARY AND HER DIVINE SON.

THE UPPER WINDOW CONTINUES THE THEME OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN'S RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR LORD. IT REPRESENTS THE CROWNING OF OUR LADY QUEEN OF HEAVEN WHILE OUR LORD AND HIS HEAVENLY FATHER LOOK ON FROM EITHER SIDE. CHERUBIM HOLD THE CROWN ABOVE MARY'S HEAD WHILE THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE FORM OF A FLAMING DOVE DESCENDS ON HER.

ABOVE ARE THE TWO SIDE CHAPELS OF THE SACRED HEART (LEFT) AND OUR LADY (RIGHT) WHILE BELOW ARE DETAILED VIEWS OF EACH.
THE WINDOWS REPRESENT (FROM L. TO R.) ST MARGARET MARY, ST CATHERINE LABOURE, THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION AND OUR LADY.

ALONG EACH AISLE WALL ARE A SERIES OF WINDOWS REPRESENTING THE PATRONS OF EACH OF THE COLLEGE HOUSES. AT THE WEST END OF THE AISLES ARE THE FOUR EVANGELIST WINDOWS REPRESENTING MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN. THE WINDOWS SHOWN ABOVE ARE INSTALLED IN THE WESTERN (LITURGICAL NORTH) AISLE WHILE THOSE VIEWED BELOW ARE FROM THE EASTERN (LITURGICAL SOUTH) AISLE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL STATUES WITHIN AND JUST OUTSIDE THE CHAPEL. ABOVE CAN BE SEEN ST CHARLES BORROMEO (FAR LEFT) AND ST ANTHONY (RIGHT) BOTH OF WHICH USED TO STAND IN THE SANCTUARY. THE CRUCIFIX (LEFT) IS IN THE GALLERY AND BELOW LEFT IS ONE OF THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS. A PIETA (FAR RIGHT) AND ST VINCENT DE PAUL (BELOW RIGHT) ARE LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE THE DOOR.

INTIMATELY ENTWINED WITH THE STORY OF THE COLLEGE IS THAT OF THE SEMINARY OF ST CHARLES BORROMEO BISHOP QUINN RETURNED FROM EUROPE IN 1875 AND BROUGHT WITH HIM NINE IRISH SEMINARIANS. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THEIR PRIESTLY TRAINING BISHOP QUINN TOOK OVER 'REDRUTH VILLA' (BELOW LEFT) IN GEORGE STREET AND COMMENCED ST CHARLES SEMINARY UNDER FR J RYAN. IN 1878 THE SEMINARY WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE NEWLY COMPLETED COLLEGE CENTRAL WING (BELOW RIGHT). DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE VINCENTIANS QUINN MADE IT QUITE CLEAR THAT HE EXPECTED THEM TO STAFF THE SEMINARY AS WELL. THE NUMBERS THOUGH STEADY WERE NEVER LARGE AND JUST TWO YEARS AFTER THE VINCENTIANS ARRIVED IT WAS DECIDED TO CLOSE THE SEMINARY DESPITE HAVING PRODUCED 27 PRIESTS OVER 17 YEARS. AT THE END OF 1891 THE SEMINARY CEASED ALTHOUGH TWO STUDENTS IN 'MORAL PHILOSOPHY' CONTINUED FOR ANOTHER YEAR. SO ENDED BISHOP QUINN'S BRAVE VISION OF A HOUSE OF PRIESTLY FORMATION FOR HIS RURAL DIOCESE.

IN LINE WITH A TREND AMONG ORDERS TO MOVE AWAY FROM LIVING WITHIN A FORMAL MONASTIC HOUSE TOWARDS LIVING AMONG THE GENERAL POPULATION A SMALL GROUP OF VINCENTIANS NOW LIVES IN AN ATTRACTIVE HOME IN SOUTH BATHURST. THIS RESIDENCE LETS THE VINCENTIAN COMMUNITY AT BATHURST MEET TO THE CHANGING SITUATIONS AT ST STANISLAUS' COLLEGE WHILE ALSO PROVIDING A SUITABLE BASE FOR CARRYING OUT PARISH SUPPLIES IN THE REGION.

TOP	CONGREGATIONAL INFORMATION

INFORMATION AND PHOTOS FOR THIS PAGE WERE TAKEN FROM VINCENTIAN FATHERS IN AUSTRALIA BY FATHER D. F. BOURKE cm. SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON AND HISTORICAL PHOTOS RELATING TO ST STANISLAUS' COLLEGE AND ST CHARLES SEMINARY WERE TAKEN FROM THE HISTORY OF ST STANISLAUS' COLLEGE BATHURST including ST CHARLES SEMINARY BY FR JOHN HALL cm. BOTH ARE HERE ACKNOWLEDGED WITH GRATITUDE. ANYONE WISHING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION IS REFERRED TO THESE SOURCES.