Surry Hills, NSW - St Peter's Catholic

Year Built: 1918

Denomination: Roman Catholic

Saint: Peter

Address: 235 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, New South Wales, 2010

Architect: Austin McKay

Architectural Style: Gothic

Traditional Owners: Gadigal people

Last Updated: 16/02/2024

See Street View

Send your photos

Click on the image to view larger (2 photos)


History and Architecture:

The Catholic Church and parish of St Peter’s Surry Hills was established in 1880. It arose out of the need to serve a very densely settled and highly Catholic Surry Hills, which had a strong Irish population. On the 19th of September 1880, Archbishop Vaughan laid the foundation stone.

The present church, built in Gothic style, was designed by the architect Austin McKay, and opened on Sunday 26 May 1918.

Clergy:

These names are now in the Database and can be searched individually.

Years Name Annotation D.o.B D.o.D
1882 - 1886 Father M E O'Brian
1888 - Father J. J. Walsh Asst
1889 - 1889 Father John O'Carroll Asst 1896
1889 - 1891 Father Michael Rohan Asst 1920
1891 - 1892 Father J Power Asst
1892 - 1893 Father M Glasheen
1892 - 1894 Father Joseph Bunbury Asst 1903
1893 - 1902 Father James Furlong 1926
1894 - 1896 Father John O'Reilly Asst
1896 - 1899 Father T E King Asst
1899 - 1900 Father Peter Donnelly Asst 1945
1900 - 1909 Father Thomas Vaughan Asst 1941
1902 - 1904 Father R Condon
1904 - 1931 Father Richard P. Collender 1958
1912 - 1917 Father Richard Lonergan Asst 1955
1917 - 1926 Father P Fogarty Asst
1925 - 1926 Father T J. O'Farrell Asst 1937
1926 - 1929 Father Charles Foley Asst 1949
1929 - 1934 Father P F Cunningham Asst 1979
1931 - 1943 Father Peter Power
1933 - 1933 Father John M Kelley Asst
1934 - 1935 Father W Canavan Asst
1935 - 1937 Father Michael J Ryan Asst
1936 - 1939 Father J. J. Massey Asst
1937 - Father R A. Lyng Asst
1937 - 1940 Father W. J. Fahy Asst
1939 - 1940 Father A. J. Hickey Asst
1942 - 1943 Monsignor T O Wallace
1944 - 1962 Father John F Bryne
1962 - 1969 Father Justin McGlynn
1970 - 1972 Father Roland Darmenia
1972 - Father Anthony J Sahade
1999 - 2019 Father William Millstead
2019 ?? - Father John Mcdonald

Organ:

The first Ogan was built by Flight & Robson of London in 1810. It had 1 manual, 4 speaking stops, mechanical action. Broken up c.1958. The present Organ was built by George Fincham & Sons of Melbourne in 1967, for St Mary's Anglican Church, South Camberwell, Vic. Incorporating some pre-existing pipework 2 manuals, 25 speaking stops, 8 couplers, electro-pneumatic action. Rebuilt and enlarged in 2018 by Hargraves Pipes Organs of Mt Evelyn, Vic. It has 2 manuals, 24 speaking stops, 9 couplers, electro-pneumatic action.
For a complete decription and photos click here.

 

Contributions:

1. 2023 Ned Barsi with additional clergy name and Organ ref.

Source:

1. Centenary of St Peter's Parish Surry Hills 1880 - 1980. A Brief History
2. Church Website
3. Organ Historical Trust of Australia with permission.