From humble, uncertain beginnings, the town of Geelong grew with the gold rush years, survived two world wars and the ensuing years, rich and lean, to become Victoria's second largest city.
Over the years St Mary of the Angels, too has grown and today is certainly one of the finest churches in Victoria, an icon for Geelong and the State. Such is the majesty and historical significance of St Mary's, that is is officially recognised by the National Trust of Victoria and the Historical Buildings Council.
It all began on 27 November 1842, when a small wooden chapel was erected on Geelong's Yarra Street, thanks to donations from the congregation. This modest hut was one of Geelong's first churches. The town of Geelong had only been officially proclaimed four years earlier, the area being pioneered by squatters. The town of Geelong was in its infancy and, much like the rest of the state, still a rugged place to live.
At the time the parish of Geelong stretched as far as Portland Bay and the first priests often had to travel on horseback from Geelong to Colac, Bunninyong and Portland - not unlike shepherds or drovers tending their flock.
In the next few years an influx of Irish immigrants swelled the district's Catholic population to around 1,000. This meant that the wooden chapel was simply too small, so the generous congregation set about raising the money for a new church. In 1846 the foundations for a stone church were laid on the present site.
The foundation stone was laid by Fr P.B. Geoghegan and the church was completed the following year. Thanks to the gold rush, Geelong continued to prosper and the population swelled. In 1852 the number of Catholics in Geelong had grown to almost 4000, so it was decided that the congregation needed an even larger church. This new church was not going to be just a place of worship, but a building that would do justice to the name of St Mary and one which would serve as a striking icon for Geelong.
The plans drawn up by Messrs Dowden and Ross called for a magnificent cathedral-like building, 200 feet long, 130 feet wide and costing 40,000 pounds. It was to feature a giant bluestone spire, flying buttresses and an exquisite rose window. The bluestone construction would be complemented with the finest Barrabool sandstone quarried from the local hills.
So in 1854, amid widespread celebrations, the foundation stone of the new St Mary of the Angels Church was laid. However in 1856, work on the new church ceased, turning the grand vision of Dowden and Ross into nothing more than an eyesore for the community.
After seventeen years, the arrival of Archdeacon Slattery to Geelong in 1871 was the catalyst for work to commence on the new church and in 1872 the new St Mary of the Angels was dedicated. Despite the fact that the spires were not yet installed, it was an impressive structure that dominated the local landscape. It seated over 1000 people and was lauded in the local press for its artistry.
In 1931 work began on the completion of the church as it appeared in the original plans. Six years later, in the midst of the depression, the work was completed. So finally after eighty years, in June 1937, St. Mary of the Angels could be appreciated in all its majesty by the people of the Geelong region, regardless of religious persuasion.
"From whatever direction one approaches Geelong, the most outstanding landmark is the Church of St. Mary of the Angels with its slender spires pointing towards the heavens."
St Mary of the Angels Timeline
1841 September 8 The first priest, Father Michael Ryan arrived in Geelong September 10 The first mass celebrated in a cottage in South Geelong October Foundation stone of a chapel laid. Ryan recalled to Sydney
1842 March Father Michael Stephens arrived in Geelong April 13 Stephens celebrated first marriage.
November First mass in the temporary chapel
1843 A permanent church with the name St Mary of the Angels proposed
1844 October Visit by Archbishop Polding who conducted the first confirmation ceremony and consecrated the Catholic portion of the cemetery
1846 August 19 Foundation stone laid for a permanent church designed by Melbourne architect, Samuel Jackson
1847 October 6 New church opened and blessed by Father P.B. Geoghegan.
1853 October 13 Tenders called for extensions to church. October 30 Bishop Goold laid the foundation stone for extensions. Goold ordered work to stop.
1854 February Prize offered for design of new church, won by Dowden & Ross June 15 Goold laid foundation stone for new church.
1857 All work stopped on new church
1870 January 3 Archdeacon Matthew Downing commissioned T.A. Kelly to prepare plans for completion of the church
1872 February 4 Church officially opened by Bishop Goold.
1931 June 28 Archbishop Mannix blessed memorial stone to mark the commencement of work to complete the church as originally planned.
1937 June 16 Beginning of ceremonies to mark the completion of St Mary of the Angels
1969 Repairs and renovations costing $95,000 commenced.
1995 Further repairs costing $300,000 carried out.
1996 April 21 Restoration Appeal launched
A large sculptured crest graces the front of the Basilica - above the front doorway and immediately below the circular Rose Window. The crest is that of the Holy See and is a little over a metre square in size. It has been magnificently cast in bronze and is a striking visible symbol of St Marys' status as a minor Basilica.
On Tuesday 2 August 2005, the crest sculpture was blessed by Fr Kevin Dillon and dedicated to the memory of the late Sheila Maguire, who represents the unselfish and kind nature of the "ordinary parishioner".
It was Sheila's generous bequest to St Mary's that made possible the beautiful crest which is now an enduring symbol to the parish.
Please take some time to admire this beautiful addition to St Mary of the Angels Basilica.
Kuanzia mwanzo wa hali ya chini, mji wa Geelong ulikua na miaka ya msukosuko wa dhahabu, ulipona vita viwili vya dunia na miaka iliyofuata, tajiri na dhaifu, kuwa mji wa pili kwa ukubwa wa Victoria. Kwa miaka mingi St Mary of the Angels pia imekua na leo ni moja ya makanisa bora katika Victoria, icon kwa Geelong na Jimbo. Mji wa St. Mary's ni muhimu sana kwa historia na utamaduni wa Uingereza, na ni moja ya majengo ya kihistoria ya Uingereza. "Kila kitu kilianza mnamo Novemba 27, 1842, wakati kanisa dogo la mbao lilipojengwa kwenye barabara ya Geelong ya Yarra, kwa shukrani kwa michango kutoka kwa kutaniko la kanisa hilo. """ Nyumba hiyo ndogo ilikuwa mojawapo ya makanisa ya kwanza ya Geelong. Jiji la Geelong lilikuwa limetangazwa rasmi miaka minne tu mapema, eneo hilo likiwa limeanzishwa na wakaaji wa makazi ya ghafula. Jiji la Geelong lilikuwa katika utotoni na, kama sehemu nyingine za jimbo hilo, bado lilikuwa mahali pa kuishi pasipo amani. Wakati huo parokia ya Geelong ilifikia mpaka Ghuba ya Portland na mara nyingi makasisi wa kwanza walilazimika kusafiri kwa farasi kutoka Geelong hadi Colac, Bunninyong na Portland - tofauti na wachungaji au wachungaji waliolinda kundi lao. Katika miaka michache iliyofuata, idadi ya Wakatoliki katika wilaya hiyo iliongezeka hadi watu wapatao 1,000. Kwa sababu ya kuwa kanisa hilo la mbao lilikuwa dogo sana, kutaniko hilo lenye ukarimu lilianza kukusanya pesa za kujenga kanisa jipya. Mnamo mwaka wa 1846, msingi wa kanisa la mawe uliwekwa mahali ambapo kanisa hilo liko leo. Jiwe la msingi liliwekwa na Fr P.B. Geoghegan na kanisa lilikamilishwa mwaka uliofuata. Shukrani kwa msukosuko wa kupata dhahabu, Geelong iliendelea kusitawi na idadi ya watu ikaongezeka. Mwaka wa 1852 idadi ya Wakatoliki katika mji wa Geelong ilikuwa imefikia karibu 4,000, kwa hiyo iliamuliwa kwamba kutaniko hilo lilihitaji kanisa kubwa zaidi. Kanisa hilo jipya halingekuwa mahali pa ibada tu, bali jengo ambalo lingetimiza jina la Mtakatifu Maria na ambalo lingetumika kama alama ya kuvutia kwa Geelong. "Mipango iliyoandaliwa na Dowden na Ross ilihitaji jengo kubwa kama kanisa kuu, lenye urefu wa futi 60 na upana wa futi 130, na gharama ya pauni 40,000.""" Lilipaswa kuwa na mnara mkubwa wa mawe ya bluu, nguzo za juu, na dirisha maridadi la maua ya waridi. Ujenzi wa mawe ya bluu ungeongezwa na mawe bora zaidi ya mchanga ya Barrabool yaliyochimbwa kutoka milima ya eneo hilo. Mwaka 1854 wakati wa sherehe kubwa, jiwe la msingi la Kanisa la Mtakatifu Maria wa Malaika liliwekwa. Hata hivyo, kazi ya ujenzi wa kanisa hilo lilipomalizika mwaka wa 1856, maono ya Dowden na Ross yakawa kitu cha kuchukiza kwa jamii. Baada ya miaka kumi na saba, kuwasili kwa Archdeacon Slattery huko Geelong mnamo 1871 kulikuwa kichocheo cha kuanza kazi kwenye kanisa jipya na mnamo 1872 Kanisa jipya la Mtakatifu Maria wa Malaika liliwekwa wakfu. Licha ya ukweli kwamba minara hiyo haikuwa imewekwa bado, ilikuwa jengo lenye kuvutia ambalo lilitawala mandhari ya eneo hilo. Ilikuwa na nafasi ya watu zaidi ya elfu moja na ilisifiwa na vyombo vya habari vya mahali hapo kwa ustadi wake. Mwaka 1931 kazi ya kukamilisha kanisa hilo ilianza, na kazi hiyo ilianza. Miaka sita baadaye, katikati ya mvurugo wa kiuchumi, kazi hiyo ilikamilishwa. Hatimaye, baada ya miaka themanini, mnamo Juni 1937, Mtakatifu Maria wa Malaika aliweza kuthaminiwa katika fahari yake yote na watu wa eneo la Geelong, bila kujali imani zao za kidini. "Kutoka upande wowote mtu anavyokaribia Geelong, alama ya kutokeza zaidi ni Kanisa la Mtakatifu Maria wa Malaika lenye minara yake midogo inayoelekeza kuelekea mbingu". Mtakatifu Maria wa Malaika (Sunday) - Septemba 8, 1841 - Mtakatifu Michael Ryan, Mtakatifu wa kwanza wa kanisa la Kiislamu, aliwasili mjini Geelong, Septemba 10, 1841 - Misa ya kwanza ilifanywa katika nyumba ya kiume huko Geelong Kusini. Mwaka 1842 baba Michael Stephens aliwasili Geelong, Australia, na kuadhimisha ndoa yake ya kwanza. "Katika mwaka wa 1843, kanisa la St. Mary of the Angels lilijengwa, na mwaka wa 1844 lilitengenezwa na Samuel Jackson, ambaye alianzisha kanisa la ""St. Mary of the Angels"" na kuanzisha kanisa la kwanza la kanisa la Katoliki." Geoghegan. Oktoba 13, 1853 Tender iliitwa kwa upanuzi wa kanisa. Maafisa wa serikali wa Marekani wameweka jiwe la msingi la ujenzi wa jengo hilo. Goold aliamuru kazi isisimamishwe. Mwaka 1854: Mfano wa kanisa la kwanza la Uingereza, Dowden & Ross, lilijengwa na Gould. Kazi zote zilisimamishwa kwenye kanisa jipya 1857 Januari 3 Archdeacon Matthew Downing aliagiza T.A. Mji wa St. Kelly ulijengwa na kuanzishwa na Kanisa la Kanisa la St. Kelly la Uingereza, ambalo lilifunguliwa rasmi na Askofu Goold mnamo Februari 4, 1872. Mnamo Juni 28, 1931 Askofu Mkuu Mannix alibariki jiwe la ukumbusho ili kuashiria kuanza kwa kazi ya kukamilisha kanisa kama ilivyopangwa awali. Juni 16, 1937: Maadhimisho ya ukarabati wa St. Mary of the Angels yanaanza. 1995 - Ukarabati zaidi wa gharama ya $ 300,000 ulifanywa. Aprili 21, 1996 - Mwaliko wa Kurudishwa: Mti mkubwa wa sanamu unavutia mbele ya Kanisa - juu ya mlango wa mbele na chini ya dirisha la mviringo la Rose. Nembo hiyo ni ya Baraza la Kanisa Katoliki na ina ukubwa wa zaidi ya mita moja ya mraba. Imechongwa kwa uzuri katika shaba na ni ishara inayoonekana ya hali ya Mtakatifu Maria kama Kanisa dogo. Mnamo Agosti 2, 2005, sanamu ya bendera ilibarikiwa na Fr Kevin Dillon na kujitolea kwa kumbukumbu ya marehemu Sheila Maguire, ambaye anawakilisha asili ya kujitolea na fadhili ya "mshiriki wa kawaida wa parokia". Ni Sheila's ukarimu urithi kwa St Mary's kwamba alifanya inawezekana crest nzuri ambayo sasa ni ishara ya kudumu kwa parokia. Tafadhali chukua muda wa kuvutiwa na nyongeza hii nzuri kwa St Mary ya Malaika Basilica.