By Fr Peter McMurrich SM
This year St Brigid’s Church in Millers Point celebrates 190 years since its foundation.
Located at 14 Kent Street, Millers Point, it is Australia’s oldest surviving place of Catholic worship.
In 1834 the colonial government provided the site and completed a simple single-storey building using convict labour, which was handed over to Catholic Church authorities in May 1835.
The building was provided “for a Roman Catholic school, to be occasionally used as a chapel.”
St Brigid’s, known in the early days as the Kent-street north school or the Cockle Bay Creek Chapel, functioned as a school from 1835 until July 1992. Sunday Mass continues to be celebrated there by priests from St Patrick’s, Church Hill.
A number of events planned for May will commemorate the anniversary.
On 10 May, from 2pm-4pm there is a gathering in St Brigid’s hall to commemorate the religious orders involved in St Brigid’s story: Christian Brothers, Sisters of St Joseph, Sisters of Mercy North Sydney, Marist Fathers and Marist Sisters.
On 14 May from 7pm, musicians from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music will perform a free concert featuring music heard in and around the colonial Rocks precinct at the time.
An historical display will be held on 17 May from 10am-2pm and 5pm-7pm, featuring an array of photographs, archive material, and memorabilia. Each session will be followed by a gathering in the adjacent Captain Cook Hotel, to share stories of St Brigid’s and Millers Point.
On 24 May, from 10am-11am a free guided pilgrimage walk will begin at St Patrick’s, Church Hill, and visit historic Catholic sites between St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s. Places are limited and bookings required at www.trybooking.com/DADHH.
A celebratory Mass will be held at 9am on 25 May, followed by a gathering at the Captain Cook Hotel.
For further details contact St Patrick’s, Church Hill, 9254 9855 or email office@stpatschurchhill.org