Benalla, VIC - St Joseph's Catholic
Year Built: 1908
Denomination: Roman Catholic
Saint: Joseph
Address: Corner Wedge & Arundel Streets, Benalla, Victoria, 3672
Architect: Kempson & Conolly
Architectural Style: Romanesque
Traditional Owners: Yorta Yorta people
Last Updated: 19/03/2024
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History and Architecture:
The first St Joseph's was built in 1866.
The current Church was completed in 1908 in a Romanesque style at a cost of £9,000. The Foundation stone was laid by his Grace the Most Reverend Dr Carr Archbishop of Melbourne on 21 July 1907 assisted by Bishop Reville and Dean Davey 1907. In 1989 a fire destroyed a large part of the building with many parts being replaced. This included the pressed steel roof.
The Church bell was blessed and installed by His Lordship Bishop Revelle on November 13th, 1904. The ceremony took over an hour. The Jesuit Superior of Australia preached at the Mass which followed the Blessing of the Bell.The Inscription on the Bell reads, "Matthew O'Byrne Fountain Head Bell Foundry, James Street, Dublin. Present-ed to St. Joseph's Church, Benalla, by Archdeacon Davy D.D.,V.G. 1904".
Clergy:
This list may not contain every serving cleric, past or present, for this church.
Further submissions welcomed.
| Years | Name | Annotation | D.o.B | D.o.D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1876 - | Father John Scanlon | 1847 | 1880 | |
| 1877 - 1879 | Father Michael Kennedy | Asst | ||
| 1883 - 1884 | Father P. J. Kavanagh | Asst | 1930 | |
| 1880 - 1908 | Dean Owen Davy | 1841 | 1908 | |
| 1884 - | Father John Carolan | |||
| 1886 - 1889 | Father J. Fitzgerald | Asst | ||
| 1889 - 1893 | Father Mauricw Byrne Byrne | Asst | 1946 | |
| 1893 - 1896 | Father William Tobin | Asst | 1911 | |
| 1896 - 1900 | Father David Tobin | Asst | ||
| 1900 - 1906 | Father James O'Reilly | Asst | 1944 | |
| 1906 - 1915 | Father William Armstrong | Asst | 1960 | |
| 1908 - | Dean James O'Reilly | |||
| 1915 - 1917 | Father John Duggan | Asst | 1955 | |
| 1917 - 1919 | Father Matthew Dunne | Asst | 1947 | |
| 1919 - 1921 | Father Otto Francis Meyer | Asst | 1966 | |
| 1921 - 1934 | Father Hugh Ryan | Asst | ||
| 1930 - 1934 | Father Joseph Ryan | Asst | ||
| 1938 - 1946 | Father George Shanahan | Asst | 1972 | |
| 1944 - 1954 | Monsignor Matthew Rohan | 1879 | 1953 | |
| 1946 - 1949 | Father Leo Lacey | Asst | ||
| 1946 - 1951 | Father Vincent Cochrane | Asst | 1975 | |
| 1949 - 1952 | Father David W. Murphy | Asst | ||
| 1951 - 1952 | Father John S. Ryan | Asst | ||
| 1952 - 1954 | Father Patrick Collins | Asst | ||
| 1952 - 1957 | Father Patrick Farrell | Asst | ||
| 1954 - 1955 | Father Michael O'Reilly | Asst | ||
| 1954 - 1958 | Monsignor J. Ryan | 1958 | ||
| 1955 - 1959 | Father William Harney | Asst | ||
| 1957 - 1960 | Father Donald O'Neill | Asst | ||
| 1958 - | Father J. T. Awburn | 1890 | 1971 | |
| 1958 - 1965 | Father Leslie Ring | Asst | ||
| 1959 - | Monsignor J. T. Awburn | 1971 | ||
| 1960 - 1968 | Father Felix Wozniczak | Asst | ||
| 1965 - 1971 | Father Bryan Long | Asst | ||
| 1968 - 1969 | Father John Duffas | Asst | ||
| 1969 - | Father Michael Goonan | Asst | ||
| 1969 - 1971 | Father Paul Ly | Asst | ||
| 1971 - | Father Brian Connell | Asst | ||
| 1989 - 1994 | Father Robert Burtonclay | 2013 |
Organ:
No information currently available. Submissions welcomed.
Source:
1. St Joseph's Parish Benalla 1876 - 1976- November 26 -29 1976. 254.0342 SAIN
2. Church website.