Murringo, NSW - Sacred Heart Catholic
Year Built: 1874 - 1877
Denomination: Roman Catholic
Address: Boreham Street, Murringo, New South Wales, 2586
Architect: Andreas Stombucco
Traditional Owners: Wiradjuri people
Last Updated: 12/04/2023
Click on the image to view larger
History and Architecture:
The Church is part of a group of buildings built by the Catholic Church in Murringo (previously Marengo) between the 1870s and 1930 to serve the local Catholic community in their faith and schooling. They included a church (opened in 1877), Convent – and original school (opened in 1917) and new school (opened in 1930). The Convent and school were sold by the Catholic Church in 1974, but the church remains operational, having occasional weddings, baptisms, funerals and other events, but no regular services.
The origin of the construction of the Catholic Church was a public meeting held in Michael O’Connor’s hotel in Marengo in July 1871. This initiated fund-raising activities for the building of the church.
A foundation stone was laid by the Right Reverend Dr Lanigan, Bishop of Goulburn on Friday, 4 December 1874. Local District Priests Rev. J. Dunne and Rev William McGrath, as were Rev P Riordan (St. Mary’s Sydney), Rev A.T. O’Dwyer (Yass) and Rev D. O’Dwyer (Young). The stone to build the church was sourced from local farms, with teams of local volunteers from the region hauling the stone to the church grounds.
The design of the Church was attributed to architect Andreas Stombucco. Stombucco was also the architect for St Peter and Paul’s Cathedral in Goulburn – which was built between 1871 and 1890. The Murringo Church was to be 47 feet (14.3m) long, 25 feet (7.6m) wide and 16 feet (4.9m) high from the base course, with capacity to seat 300 people. Early building work was done by William Costello. Following his death in December 1875 the work was completed by the Cranston Brothers. Credit for construction was also given to Mr J O’Connor of Grenfell, with the cedar altar by Mr Millard of Marengo. Samuel Knightly did the carpentry and joiner’s work.
The Church was officially opened on 15 July 1877 by the Right Reverend Dr Lanigan, Bishop of Goulburn. Also present were the Very Rev. P Bermingham of Wagga and local Burrowa (now Boorowa) priests Revs J. Dunne and W. Long. In 1882-1883 a sacristy and sanctuary were added to the Church. The foundation stone for the additions was laid on Sunday 22 October 1882 by the Right Rev. Dr William Lanigan, Bishop of Goulburn.
By the early 1900s the Church was becoming too small for the growing congregation. The plans for the extension were prepared by an architect, Mr Copeland, from Bathurst and the builder was Mr Blackett. Father Leahy, Parish Priest of Koorawatha was the key proponent for the extension with the support of Father Sheehan (who replaced Father Leahy). Sand for the mortar for the extension came from the local Marengo Creek. On Sunday 21 July 1907, following a further fund-raising drive, the new additions to the Church were officially opened. The additions included a 12 feet by 24 feet (3.7m x 7.3m) extension to the church, which included a gallery with seating for 60 people (and perhaps also used by the choir), as well as an entrance porch, two side altars and a pulpit. The Right Rev. Dr. Gallagher, Bishop of Goulburn, attended the opening along with Rev Andrew, CP, Rev McGurk, and Rev. Sheehan. The additions cost around £400.
In 1911, Father Fogarty convened a meeting to support plans to build a convent next door to the Church. Fund raising commenced immediately. A foundation stone for the Convent was laid by His Lordship Dr. Gallagher, Bishop of Goulburn on 1 September 1912 (the whereabouts of this foundation stone is not known). He was assisted by Very Reverend Father Hennessy, Parish Priest of Young as well as Father E Hennessy (Burrowa – now Boorowa) (who had replaced Father Fogarty). The Convent was designed by William John Monks (known as Bill or Billy) (1869-1943). William Monks worked as an architect in country NSW for more than 40 years, designing many building in the Federation style. The builder was David Larcombe. During construction, a foundation stone was blessed and laid in the building on 28 November 1915 by His Lordship Dr. Gallagher, Bishop of Goulburn. He was assisted by Reverend Father Edmund Sheehan, Rector (Boorowa). Mother Gabrielle Campbell attended the ceremony. This stone can still be seen on the front of the building today.
The official opening day was on 25 February 1917. The ceremony was performed by his Lordship Dr Gallagher, with Rev. Father Slattery, Diocesan Inspector of Schools also preaching.
On Saturday 3 February 1917, the Sisters of Mercy nuns arrived from Goulburn to take up residency and teaching responsibilities. The nuns included Mother Mary Bonaventure Macguire (first community leader) and Mother Mary Gabriel Mistress of Method (who only stayed a few days). Forty-eight pupils, over half of the students from Marengo (now Murringo) Public School, transferred to the new Convent school in 1917.
With growth in student numbers, a new schoolhouse was built on the land next door. On 5 May 1929, a foundation stone for the new building was laid by the Right Rev. J Barry, Bishop of Goulburn, in the presence of Rev E. Sheehan, Parish Priest. The school was officially opened in February 1930 by the Right Rev. Dr. Barry. School classes moved there. The Convent remained a residence for the nuns.
The school was closed in 1961 due to a shortage of Sisters and the availability of a bus service to take students to nearby larger towns. It was more than a decade after this that the Convent and School buildings became private residences when they were sold by the Church in 1974.
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 - 1880 | Rev John Dunne | From Boorowa Parish (1876–1903) | ||
| 1876 - 1877 | Rev William McGrath | Asst | 1965 | |
| 1879 - | Rev Edward Fallon | Asst | 1912 | |
| 1889 - 1885 | Rev Thomas Long | |||
| 1883 - | Rev Andrew Walsh | Asst | ||
| 1885 - 1896 | Rev William Bermingham | 1900 | ||
| 1887 - 1891 | Rev Terence O'Shaughnessy | Asst | ||
| 1890 - 1891 | Rev Patrick Hanrahan | Asst | ||
| 1892 - 1895 | Rev Thomas Hayes | Asst | ||
| 1895 - 1896 | Rev Peter McAlroy | Asst | 1934 | |
| 1896 - 1903 | Rev James Kennedy | |||
| 1900 - 1903 | Rev Timothy Cleary | Asst | ||
| 1903 - 1905 | Rev Edward Laide | Asst | 1931 | |
| 1903 - 1909 | Rev Daniel Leahy | From Koorawatha Parish (1903-1911) | 1909 | |
| 1907 - | Rev Thomas Mullins | Asst | 1939 | |
| 1907 - 1908 | Rev Edmund Sheehan - more details | Asst | 1877 | 1960 |
| 1908 - | Rev Peter McGurk | Asst | ||
| 1910 - | Rev Peter Mulligan | |||
| 1910 - | Rev John McDwyer | Asst | ||
| 1911 - 1911 | Rev Edward Laide | |||
| 1911 - 1912 | Rev John Fogerty | Asst | ||
| 1912 - 1915 | Rev Timothy O'Connell | 1936 | ||
| 1913 - 1914 | Rev Patrick Reidy | Asst | 1938 | |
| 1914 - 1919 | Rev P Bailey | Asst | ||
| 1943 - 1946 | Rev John W Morrison | From Boorowa Parish (1911-1961) | 1904 | 1988 |
| 1920 - 1922 | Rev Edward O'Donnell | Asst | ||
| 1922 - 1924 | Rev Clarence Lehane | Asst | 1960 | |
| 1925 - 1925 | Rev Peter Donnelly | Asst | 1945 | |
| 1925 - 1925 | Rev Alphonsus Deegan | Asst | 1963 | |
| 1926 - 1927 | Rev Austin O'Connor | Asst | 1972 | |
| 1928 - 1937 | Rev Matthew Bugler | Asst | 1957 | |
| 1929 - 1930 | Rev Joseph McDonnell | |||
| 1931 - 1932 | Rev Joseph Keating | Asst | 1947 | |
| 1933 - 1933 | Rev George Crennan | Asst | ||
| 1934 - 1936 | Rev Timothy Harnett | Asst | ||
| 1936 - 1938 | Rev Patrick Landers | Asst | ||
| 1937 - 1939 | Rev Michael Edwards | Asst | ||
| 1939 - 1940 | Rev Terance Dunleavy | Asst | 1946 | |
| 1940 - 1941 | Rev Lawrence Gallagher | Asst | 1969 | |
| 1941 - 1941 | Rev David Lonergan | Asst | ||
| 1942 - 1942 | Rev Marcus Crowe | Asst | 1916 | 2006 |
| 1943 - 1946 | Rev John W Morrison | Administrator | 1904 | 1988 |
| 1943 - 1944 | Rev Christopher O'Donovan | Asst | ||
| 1944 - 1948 | Rev John Bartley | Asst | ||
| 1948 - 1950 | Rev Michael O'Brian | Asst | ||
| 1946 - 1951 | Rev Patrick Coffey | Administrator | ||
| 1952 - 1952 | Rev Francis Casey | Administrator | 1980 | |
| 1952 - 1955 | Rev Daniel Greene | Administrator | 1977 | |
| 1955 - 1955 | Rev Lloyd Reynolds | Asst | 1983 | |
| 1955 - 1959 | Rev John O'Connor | Asst | ||
| 1959 - 1960 | Rev Michael O'Shea | Asst | 1965 | |
| 1960 - 1961 | Rev John W Morrison | 1904 | 1988 | |
| 1960 - 1961 | Rev John O'Brian | |||
| 1956 - 1964 | Rev John Tiernan | From Koorawatha Parish (1961-1976) | 1980 | |
| 1964 - 1969 | Rev Cyril Commins | |||
| 1969 - 1972 | Rev John O'Connor | |||
| 1971 - | Rev Terence Pigram | |||
| 1972 - 1973 | Rev Patrick Flanagan | |||
| 1974 - 1975 | Rev Hilton Roberts | |||
| 1975 - 1976 | Rev Marcus Crowe | 2006 | ||
| 1976 - 1982 | Rev George Weissel | From Young Parish (1976–2021) | ||
| 1979 - 1979 | Rev Michael Burke | Asst | ||
| 1979 - 1980 | Rev Peter Gannon | Asst | ||
| 1979 - 1982 | Rev Maurice Hasler | 1994 | ||
| 1980 - 1982 | Rev Thomas Thornton | Asst | ||
| 1982 - 1989 | Rev Kevin Flynn | |||
| 1982 - 1985 | Rev Thomas Thornton | Asst | ||
| 1985 - 1988 | Rev Richard Thompson | Asst | ||
| 1987 - 1990 | Rev Paul Huthnance | Asst | ||
| 1989 - 1995 | Rev Christopher Kirwin | |||
| 1990 - 1991 | Rev Warrick Tonkin | Asst | ||
| 1991 - 1994 | Rev Anthony Percy | Asst | ||
| 1992 - 1993 | Rev John Tran | Asst | ||
| 1994 - 1996 | Rev Peter My | Asst | ||
| 1995 - 2000 | Rev Lachlan Coll | |||
| 1996 - 2000 | Rev Dermid McDermott | Asst | ||
| 1998 - 2000 | Rev Francis Fuchs | Asst | ||
| 2000 - 2006 | Rev Warrick Tonkin | |||
| 2000 - 2003 | Rev Mietek Markowicz | Asst | ||
| 2006 - 2014 | Rev Richard Thompson | |||
| 2010 - 2011 | Rev Loorthsamy Irudeysamy | Asst |
Organ:
In 1994, the two original organs were sold and replaced by a new Yamaha organ. The original organs were played by many parishioners over the years, including Mrs Jim O’Connor, Helen North and Joan Parkman. Catherine Cusack played the new organ at the last Mass held on 21 December 2014.
Contributions:
1. The material presented here was sourced from: Morris, Paul 2021, Former Sacred Heart Convent, Murringo, including the History of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Sacred Heart School, Murringo,
, December 2021, Murringo, NSW, ISBN 978-0-6451022-3-9. Copies of the publication are available for purchase from Paul Morris at email:
or can be borrowed from the Boorowa or Young Libraries, the National Library of Australia or the NSW State Library.
Material reprinted with permission, Paul Morris 2021.
Source:
1. Ryerson Index.