Wooden Catholic Church, Gulgong, 1872
Includes: Father John O'Donovan and James Dillon, teacher
Source: SLNSW
Old Catholic Church
Source: SLNSW
Old Church at Gulgong. A MEMORY OF FIFTY YEARS.
Sir,—The date of the foundation-stone laying of Narromine Church nearly coincides with the destruction, by cyclone, fifty years ago, of the church at Gulgong, N.S.W. Just previous to this calamity, the Sisters of St. Joseph opened their first convent there, and are, therefore, celebrating this month their golden jubilee. The first community consisted of Sister De Pazzi (in charge), Sister M. Bernard (afterwards Mother Joseph, at Westbury and Port Cygnet, Tasmania), Sisters M. Leo, M. Sebastian, M. Pius, and, if I remember rightly, Sister M. Brigid. What great changes have taken place since this little band arrived at their fourroomed cottage, and the ant-eaten old shed that was to be used as a schoolroom! These are, long since, replaced by handsome and up-to-date buildings. In the accompanying photo graph of the old church, the late Monsignor (then Father) Donovan, of Mudgee, may be seen, second from left. — Yours, &c, "1883."
approx at cnr of Medley and Bayly Streets
A wider view of the context of the Catholic Church building can be seen in this panoramic photo.
1870-75 Interior Catholic Church Gulgong
Source: SLNSW
Detail of students. Click to enlarge.
1871 - GULGONG CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Last Saturday's Guardian states: The handsome Catholic Church now being erected in Medley-street is being rapidly completed. In order to help to clear off the debt upon the Church, a grand tea party and musical soiree will be held on Thursday evening next, at the school room. As the previous social gathering held there was a great success, we feel sure that this will be a greater; and as the object is one that should merit the support of all, we hope to see a crowded attendance. Tickets can be procured at all the principal hotels and stores.
1872 - MAY
As to the public buildings— so to call the churches, schools, &c, — the only one which has any pretensions to architectural elegance and suitability to the purpose for which it was erected, is the Roman Catholic Church. Though entirely composed of wood, it has a very graceful exterior, together with an appear ance of strength and permanence, which is seldom exhibited by structures of the same material. It stands in the centre of a large allotment which is enclosed with a somewhat rough/pailing fence. At the time I passed it, a large number of children, who attend the Roman Catholic School, were at play within this enclosure.
All the principal denominations have churches and schools here, I am informed, which are well attended —the schools particularly. Religion and education, therefore, appear to maintain their ground though entirely self-supported. The Public School system has not as yet obtained a footing. Children of all ages are numerous throughout the whole settlement, but especially so in the poorer-looking quarters of it. They are, generally speaking, I am happy to say, decently dressed, and healthy looking.
1876 - [FUNDS]
A tea party and réunion is announced to take place upon the occasion of Queen's Birthday, at Powell's, Star Hotel, the proceeds to be devoted to paying off the debt and repairing the Roman Catholic School. This was the first school established in Gulgong, and has always held a leading position, having among its scholars children of all denominations, and I think the affair will be a great success.
1880 - BISHOP'S VISIT
Gulgong—His Lordship arrived at Gulgong on Friday, the 13th ult., and was met some distance from town by a very numerous body of persons of every rank of society. Within a mile of the town, a very large procession, comprising the school children carrying beautiful banners, and their parents, with many others of the general public, was awaiting his arrival. No sooner did his Lordship appear in sight than cheer upon cheer burst forth, in merry tones, bidding him in the real old style a “cead mille failthe.” The procession made its way to the Catholic Church where an address of welcome was presented, to which his Lordship returned a suitable and most appropriate reply, which was listened to with very marked attention. He spoke highly on the education question, alluded to in the address, and assured his hearers that the idea of making it the rallying cry at the forthcoming general elections, as was stated a few days since by the premier of this colony, was but a false alarm, which no doubt might suit him very well for electioneering purposes; but not so with Catholics, who prefer to abide their time and lay the stress of their claims before their fellow-colonists in a more perfect system of education with which he hoped they would be blessed before many years. Before pronouncing the blessing he cordially thanked them for the grand reception given him which was an additional proof, if such weie wanting, of the unity that so generally prevails between the faithful and their prelates. Later on in the evening the famous temperance-lecturer, Father Hennebery, addressed an unusually large congregation on the evils of intemperance, and concluded a forcible appeal to rally round the temperance banner as their forefathers did around the standard of the cross. It is unnecessary to mention that the vast audience gave strong evidence of their belief in total abstinence by rising “en masse” and repeating the words of the pledge, and furthermore giving public expression of their adherence to the cause by a public procession on the Sunday following in which his Lordship with Fathers Hennebery, O’Donovan, and McNab took part. On the Sunday ninety (90) received the sacrament of Confirmation and previous to its administration his Lordship addressed the candidates in impressive language as to the dispositions requisite to qualify them for the reception of the seven-fold gifts of the Holy Ghost—at the same time pointing out its origin in apostolic terms, and its wondrous efficacy in assisting the children of God to pass unscathed through a world full of danger to their eternal welfare. The ceremony being over, parents and children were admonished in a telling discourse which lasted close upon an hour in delivery as to their mutual obligations. The attention of parents in particular was called in emphatic terms to the many dangerous occasions of sin, to which they but too frequently submit their children in allowing them to ape the fashions of the day, often, alas ! to such an extravagent extent as to suffer privations themselves, rather than that they should fail in being decked but in the gaudiest dress of the period. Young and old were earnestly entreated to be punctual in their observance of the Commandments of God and his Church, and upon no consideration to suffer any day pass without fulfilling the holy duty of prayer, so much neglected amidst the thousand distracting cares of a busy world. On a matter of such vital importance, continued his Lordship, as that of prayer, he felt deeply impressed with the distinct and unvaried teaching of the fathers of the Church as to the great difficulty of salvation without recommending one's sell frequently to God and asking the graces necessary for its attainment. To convey anything like an adequate idea of this sermon is far beyond my humble capacity. Suffice it, however, to say that it was productive of very beneficial results, whilst it was a matter of the deepest congratulation to the whole Catholic body to see their much esteemed Bishop once again among them in excellent health —faithfully attending the confessional until late at night, and otherwise discharging the duties of the humblest of his clergy. His Lordship after having left many pleasing recollections of his visit to Gulgong behind, started early on Monday morning accompanied by the pastor of the district for Wellington.—(Correspondent.)
NEW BRICK CHURCH
Caption: Foundation Stone was laid in 1885
Photo date unknown
Source: All Hallows Golden Years, 1929-1979
St John the Baptist Catholic Church, Gulgong, 1892
Source: Trove
All Hallows Convent and John the Baptist Church, Bayly Street, Gulgong
Source: Unknown "Gulgong Sights"
Source: Unknown "Gulgong Sights"
Gulgong Church Committee with Bishop Dunne, Monsignor O'Donovan and Father O'Donnell
Front row, far left: Eugene O'Connell
Front row, far left: Eugene O'Connell
NEWS ITEMS
1900 - First Ringing of the New Bell at St. John's, Gulgong.
On Sunday, November 25, an interesting ceremony took place, when the tenth anniversary of the opening of the beautiful little church of St. John the Baptist, at Gulgong, was celebrated by the official ringing of a magnificent new bell.
The bell, which cost £146, was the donation of five persons, and it would be very hard to find its superior in any country town in the colony. It is hung in the tower of the church, which is situated on a hill commanding an excellent view of the little township.
The ceremony was made the occasion of the opening of a week's mission by the Rev. Father Giulsty, of St. Patrick's, Sydney, and he preached an excellent sermon. The church was beautifully decorated, and was thronged by an immense congregation of all creeds, including many persons from Mudgee and the surrounding district.
One special feature was the excellent music by the choir. Parts from Mozart's 12th and Haydn's No. 1 masses were sung, the soloists being Miss Sara Hazeltine (the Mudgee soprano), Miss Spies, and Mr. E. J. Redmond. Miss Hazeltine gave a delightful readering of 'O Divine Redeemer' (Gounod), and Mr. J. C. Young, junr., presided at the organ.
A collection was taken up in aid of the presbytery debt, and donations to th amount of £60 were handed in.
1919 - GULGONG - St. John's Statuary
Mrs. J. Loneragan, of "Mellary," has donated a life-size Mission Cross to St. John's Catholic Church, Gulgong. Other statues have been presented to the church and the interior fittings are now complete. The mission cross and the stations will be unveiled at an early date.
1929 - EARLY GULGONG. - A Pioneer's Reminiscences
In our issue of August 1 we suggested that some of the pioneers should forward their memories of the early days with the view of publishing them as materials for Catholic history in this State. The following account of the beginnings of Gulgong was sent by Mr. C. R. Young, now of Tweed Heads.
Mr. Young was a schoolboy in Gulgong 40 years ago. Possibly, some of the old residents can supplement this interesting record:
The first church in Gulgong, a fine, spacious, wooden building, was built by Mr. Kelleher, father of the Rev. Father T. Kelleher, now P.P. of Moss Vale. Gulgong was then in the parish of Mudgee, and ministered to by the late Father O'Donovan (afterwards Monsignor) and his assistants, in cluding Father M. Campion, now Archdeacon at Parkes. The church was destroyed in a cyclone in 1885. About a year after wards, the Bishop-elect of Bathurst, the late Dr. J. P; Byrne (prior, to his consecration) visited Gulgong to lay the foundation stone of a new church. The stone remained in the trench prepared for it for years.
The old school, dating from denominational school days (J. Cosgrove, master) did duty as a church, the old cedar altar and French harmonium being the only reminders of the ill fated church. In January, 1883, the Sisters of St. Joseph, from Perthville, opened in Gulgong, with a community of six, under the late Sister M. De Pazzi. A small wooden cottage on a spot to the north of the present church was used as a convent. After his consecration, the Right Rev. Dr. Byrne visited Gulgong, and received a great reception, residents going out for miles in buggies and on horseback, to meet the Bishop. On this occasion, Gulgong was the scene of his very first Confirmations.
The parish of Gulgong was formed in 1886 or 1887. Father O'Dowd was in charge, and his presbytery was an old house, formerly a tannery. Father Martin Long (now Monsignor at Wellington, N.S.W.), took charge in August, 1888; and immediately set about raising funds for a new church. As Gulgong was then in a state of transition from a deserted mining field to an agricultural centre, money was scarce. However, the contract for the present beautiful brick and white stone church was let to the late Mr. G. Turner, and work commenced early in 1890. The present site was decided on, in preference to the old site in Medley-street, opposite Luxford's residence. In case there is ever any enquiry as to where the foundation-stone was placed, it was incorporated in the foundation just below the surface, to the right of the sacristry door. The new Church of St. John the Baptist was blessed and opened on December 14, 1890, by Bishop Byrne. The sermon on 'The Love of God' was preached by Father McGee, then of Bathurst, now a Franciscan. The local choir was assisted by the choir of St. Mary's, Mudgee, and it was a great day. I believe the contract price of the fine church was only £1600. The cost would be about £4000 nowadays.
Early in the following year, the first mission was preached by the late Fathers McKenna and Hegarty (Vincentians). Father Laurence Bolger was for a time assistant to Father Long. Father Bolger died in Gulgong on June 7, 1893, and was buried in the local cemetery. About this time a movement was begun for a presbytery building, Father Long living meanwhile in Young's cottage, Bayley-street, and afterwards 'Glen Ayr,' Mark's late residence, in Mayne-street.
Bishop Byrne laid the foundation-stone of the present fine rubble and freestone presbytery in or about 1897, and it was opened by his Lordship the following year.
Source: The Catholic Press (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1942) Thu 22 Aug 1929 Page 21 
Father Long in his Gulgong days
Catholic Church, Gulgong
Source: Explored Visions by GD
See also: All Hallows Convent
