Matraville, NSW - St Agnes' War Memorial Catholic
Year Built: 1966
Denomination: Roman Catholic
Saint: Agnes
Address: 509 Bunnerong Road, Matraville, New South Wales, 2036
Architect: Sydney G. Hirst and Kennedy
Traditional Owners: Bidjigal and Gadigal people
Last Updated: 12/03/2024
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History and Architecture:
The first Mass celebrated in this district was on Sunday, 20 January, 1907, when the Bunnerong school-church of Our Lady of the Rosary was blessed and opened by Archbishop Kelly on donated land now known as 45 Perry St, Matraville. A Brick school –church next to the timber school-church: opened in 1951. School hall-church at St Agnes School, Bunnerong Rd opened 1961.
In 1956, approval was given to dispose of the present parish buildings and site in Perry St, Matraville and to establish similar buildings on a new site in Bunnerong Rd, near the shopping centre.
A Foundation stone reads, " AD Maiorem Dei Gloriam St Agnes War Memorial Church was blessed and opened by His Eminence N.T. Cardinal Gilroy Archbishop of Sydney 23rd January 1966 Sydney G. Hirst and Kennedy Architects Geo. Ward Pty Ltd Builders Rev James E. Munday PP DCL Pastor".
Clergy:
The below Pastors were responsible for Bunnerong and later Matraville
| Years | Name | Annotation | D.o.B | D.o.D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1906 - | Father Peter Treand | 1926 | ||
| 1906 - | Father P. Tierney | Randwick | ||
| 1907 - 1917 | Father Patrick Dowling | Botany | ||
| 1914 - 1915 | Father J. Foxall | Asst | ||
| 1917 - | Father C. Lynch | Asst | ||
| 1917 - 1935 | Father Patrick Walsh | Mascot | ||
| 1931 - | Father T. Kennedy | Asst | ||
| 1935 - 1939 | Father Edward Teehan | Mascot | 1960 | |
| 1939 - 1940 | Father John Deely | Malabar | ||
| 1940 - 1946 | Father Sylvester Francis O'Sullivan | Malibar | 1975 | |
| 1946 - 1953 | Father Jeremiah O'Sullivan | Malabar | 1966 | |
| 1954 - 1959 | Father Maurice Rochie | Malibar | ||
| 1959 - 1971 | Father James Munday | 1985 | ||
| 1965 - 1969 | Father Roland Darmenia | Asst | 1976 | |
| 1969 - 1970 | Rev Joseph Purcell | Asst | 1992 | |
| 1971 - 1971 | Father Michael Hogan | Administrator | ||
| 1971 - 1971 | Father David Vaughan | Asst | ||
| 1972 - 1972 | Father Noel Molloy | Administrator | ||
| 1972 - 1973 | Father Robert McGuckin | Asst | ||
| 1973 - 1990 | Father John Roche | |||
| 1974 - 1975 | Father Ken Sargent | Asst | ||
| 1983 - 1985 | Father Harry Payne | Asst | ||
| 1985 - 1986 | Father John Deluca | Asst | ||
| 1986 - 1987 | Father Dominic Sequiera | Asst | ||
| 1990 - 2009 | Father Anthony Simari | |||
| 2010 - 2011 | Father Matthew Thekkedath | Administrator | ||
| 2011 - | Father Lawrence Cauchi | |||
| 2013 - 2016 | Father George Azhakath | Asst | ||
| 2024 - | Father John Knight |
Organ:
No information currently available. Submissions welcomed.
Source:
1. Deceased Clergy in Australia, 1788-present.
2. Church website.