THE FIRST CATHEDRAL

On 12^th December 1841, Robert D'Arcy, on behalf of the few Catholics of Perth, sent a letter to the Archbishop of Sydney requesting spiritual aid.

In response to Robert D'Arcy's letter, Archbishop Polding sent Father John Brady Vicar General, Father John Joostens and Catechist Patrick O'Reilly to Perth. They arrived in Fremantle on 8^th December 1843 on the "Water Witch".

13^th December 1843

The Records of the Colonial Secretary's Office show that Father Brady wrote to Governor Hutt asking for Perth town lots numbers 6, 9, 10 & 11 for the erection of a Chapel and other buildings.

27^th December 1843

On the Feast Day of the Saint, the Church of St. John the Evangelist was begun.

The Foundation Stone of the Church of St. John the Evangelist was laid on Tuesday 16^th January 1844.

With the church unfinished, Father Brady sailed for Rome on the "Ganges" on 11^th February 1844, leaving behind Father Joostens as his Vicar General.

6^th May 1845

In Rome, the Diocese of Perth was established by the Apostolic Letter of Pope Gregory XVI

18^th May 1845

In Rome Father Brady was consecrated Bishop of Perth. While in Europe, Bishop Brady recruited personnel for his mission. 27 Missionaries accompanied him to Western Australia on the "Elizabeth".

The "Elizabeth" dropped anchor in Gage Road, opposite Fremantle, on 7^th January 1846 after a voyage of 113 days.

On 9^th January the Missionaries sailed up the Swan River to Perth

THE 28 MISSIONARIES:

BRADY, Dr. John, Bishop
CONFALONIERI, Dom Angelo, Priest
POWELL, Father Peter, Priest
FRAYNE, Mother Ursula, Professed Religious RSM
DILLON, Sister Mary Anne Xavier, Professed Religious RSM
GOGARTY, Sister Mary Catherine, Professed Religious RSM
de la HOYDE, Sister Mary Ignatia, Professed Religious RSM
KELLY, Sister Mary Aloysius, Professed Religious RSM
O'DONNELL, Sister Mary Baptist, Professed Religious RSM
O'REILLY, Catherine, Postulant RSM
SERRA, Dom Joseph, Benedict Priest OSB
SALVADO, Dom Rosendo, Priest OSB
TOOTLE, Brother Denis, Subdeacon OSB
FONTEINNE, Frère Léandre, Novice OSB
BOUCHET, Abbé Maurice, Priest, St. Coeur de Marie
THEVAUX, Abbé François, Priest, St. Coeur de Marie
THIERSE, Abbé François. Priest, St. Coeur de Marie
ODON, Frère Theodore, Lay Brother, St. Coeur de Marie
EUSEBE, Frère Vincent, Lay Brother, St. Coeur de Marie
CAPORELLI, Nicola, Layman
BUTLER, Martin, Student-Catechist
DONOVAN, Timothy, Student-Catechist
FAGAN, James, Student-Catechist
FARRELLY, Terence, Student-Catechist
FOWLER, William, Student-Catechist
GORMAN, John, Student-Catechist
HOGAN, Nicholas, Student-Catechist
O'REILLY, John, Student-Catechist

9^th January 1846

A Te Deum was sung in thanksgiving for the safe arrival of the 28 Missionaries in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. The Church of St. John the Evangelist had become a Cathedral because it was the seat of the Bishop.

[The chair that Bishop Brady brought from Europe remains in the Pro-Cathedral.]

Mother Ursula Frayne described the condition of the Church:

" The church - what was it like? Imagine a room about thirty feet long by fifteen feet wide and twelve feet high; a shingle roof, through which the sun, moon, and stars could be distinctly seen; a few planks laid loosely on the ground did duty as flooring; door spaces, but no doors; window spaces but no windows; an old wooden counter, the gift of a retired shopkeeper served for an altar. A faded green tablecloth, with yellow corners, did duty as an antependium*, and a strip of calico, unhemmed, was the only altar-cloth."

A hanging in front of the altar.

On Saturday afternoon 10^th January 1846, Dom Salvado nailed down the floor boards, then fixed sheets of calico in place of a ceiling; fronds of black-boy were used to conceal and decorate the empty window spaces, an altar was constructed and rich decorations, which the party had brought with them, were brought out. The next day, Sunday 11 ^th January 1846, the first High Mass in the Swan River Colony was celebrated by Bishop Brady; Fr. Powell preached, the nuns and the catechists sang and Dom Salvado played the piano. All were impressed.

25th January 1846

Sister Mary Ignatia de la Hoyde made he perpetual profession as a Sister of Mercy.

26^th January 1846

A solemn Office and Requiem was chanted for Father Maurice Bouchet. He was buried close to the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.

2^nd February 1846

The Sisters of Mercy opened their school in the Cathedral

6^th February 1846

The St Coeur de Marie Missionaries [Spiritans] were blessed in the Cathedral by Bishop Brady and sent to Albany.

9^th February 1846

The Benedictines sang the Litany of Loreto and the Salve Regina, were blessed by Bishop Brady and sent to New Norcia.

Discord, between Bishop Brady and Bishop Serra, over money, began in 1849.

On 23^rd December 1851 Bishop Brady came to the Cathedral with a crowd of his followers, wishing to address the people. Serra refused to allow him to do so. Police were posted around the Cathedral.

Archbishop Polding of Sydney arrived in Perth on 3^rd July 1852 to sort out the Brady / Serra dispute. Brady submitted to Polding in the Cathedral on

4^th July 1852.

Trouble continued between the followers of Bishop Brady and Bishop Serra.

On 1^st August 1852 Archbishop Polding excommunicated Brady's followers in the Cathedral.

On 17^th October 1852 Bishop Brady left Perth forever.

By 15^th June 1855 the extensions to the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist were completed.

15^th June 1855

The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist was re-dedicated as the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

31^st May 1856

The porch of the Cathedral was completed.

THE SECOND CATHEDRAL

Father Martin Griver was faced with the task of constructing a more worthy Cathedral as it had been a scandal for too long that the priests of the Diocese lived in one of the most imposing residences in Perth while the Master they served was housed in 'a diminutive shanty of frail construction and insignificant appearance.' (Martin Griver)

18^th April 1859

Before Bishop Serra left Perth he made a request to Governor Kennedy for land in the centre of Victoria Square for a new Cathedral. This site had been intended by the Surveyor General, J.S. Roe, as the centre of town and the site of the Anglican Cathedral, but remained vacant as the Anglicans had chosen another site opposite Government House. The request was granted to Father Griver, now the Temporary Administrator of the Diocese, on 13^th August 1859.

1862

A subscription list for a new Cathedral was opened and Sunday collections were made. King Francis 11 of Naples gave 1,000 scudi towards the High Altar and the Benedictines of the Monastery of St. Paul's Outside the Walls donated the marble which was shipped to Perth on the Bride.

8^th February 1863

The foundation stone of the new Cathedral was laid by Bishop Salvado. The work of building the Cathedral continued. The number of mason-monks dwindled as some moved to New Norcia and others were occupied with the struggling farm at Subiaco. In the end only two or three brothers were left and the assistance of local men was sought. Martin Griver wrote that Brother Joseph Ascione-master mason 'has been the only architect or director of the building…he subscribed £100 to be paid by his work.' By January 1864, at a cost of £2,395, the walls had been raised to their full height and the work ceased for lack of finance. Eventually contributions trickled in, the roof was put on and the interior completed. The total cost was £4,000

29^th January 1865

The new Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was blessed by Father Griver, now the Apostolic Administrator, and Fr Matthew Gibney preached.