No. 1589 - Westbury - Holy Trinity Catholic Church (1855-1874)
Westbury is a historic town situated approximately 30 kilometres west of Launceston. It was surveyed in 1828 and was developed as an administrative centre for the district. For most of its history Westbury has been served by only three religious denominations. The town’s Catholic, Anglican and Uniting (Methodist) churches all date back to the first half of the 19th century.
The first regular Catholic Mass held at Westbury can be dated back to 1847 when the Government permitted Catholics to use the Colonial Hospital ‘for divine service’ for Westbury and the surrounding districts. Prior to this a priest from Launceston periodically ministered to Catholic convicts at Westbury’s Probation Station.
In 1850, Bishop Robert Willson asked for a Government land grant at Westbury on which to build a church, a priest's house and school. This was approved on condition that the Catholics built their church as soon as possible. Father Hogan, who was to serve the Catholics of the Westbury district for 49 years, arrived in the town in a fisherman’s cart on May 24, 1850.
In 1855, a small timber church was built at a cost of £300. The only image of this church known to exist is a drawing by John William Hardwick (1826-1891). Hardwick’s poor health prompted him to emigrate to Australia and in August 1852, at the age of 26. He brought substantial capital with him to Australia and he travelled around Victoria, Tasmania before settling in New South Wales. His drawings of buildings at Westbury include the small timber Holy Trinity chapel and the ‘priest’s house’.
Within seven years of Hogan’s appointment, the Catholic population of the Westbury region had grown to 1400. By 1868, this had increased to about 2000, only 100 fewer than Launceston.
The rapid growth of the church is illustrated in reports of large numbers of adults and children undertaking the sacrament of confirmation. In 1863, The Cornwall Chronicle reported on one such event involving 115 children and adults:
“The ceremony was a most imposing one, and witnessed by certainly not less than about 1100 or 1200 persons, amongst whom were not a few representatives of other denominations. The persons to be confirmed had assembled from the thee districts of Longford, Deloraine and Westbury…”
By the 1870’s large confirmation services had become a feature of Westbury’s religious life. In January 1878, the Launceston Examiner reported on what had become a popular annual spectacle:
“The children…. had their annual examination in church doctrine. Between 400 and 500 of them were examined, and prizes presented by their respected pastor, the Rev. J. Hogan, after which headed by the Westbury Band they walked in procession round the township, halting at the old Catholic Church, where they were most liberally regaled with tea and cakes. After the children had satisfied their little wants the doors were thrown open to children and grown people of all denominations. The amount of feasting was something tremendous, still there appeared to be enough for all and to spare…. It seems a real pleasure to Father Hogan to see the members of his flock and others of different denominations assembled in friendly and social intercourse… [and] “Father Hogan’s feast,” as it is termed, is looked forward to from year to year, by young and old, as one of the most enjoyable events in our little community”.
The growth of the Catholic community necessitated the need for a much larger church. The foundation stone of the new Holy Trinity Church was laid on 12 May 1869. The church took almost five years to complete and officially opened in May 1874.
The old Holy Trinity chapel was used as a convent school by the Sisters of St Joseph who arrived at Westbury in 1887. Over the years the old chapel was enlarged as the school developed. When the school was demolished in 1940 the building was no longer recognisable as a church.
Launceston Examiner, Saturday 22 December 1855, page 3
Courier, Friday 18 January 1856, page 2
Courier, Wednesday 23 January 1856, page 3
Launceston Examiner, Saturday 27 November 1858, page 3
Cornwall Chronicle Saturday 7 March 1863, page 5
Cornwall Chronicle Wednesday 3 June 1868, page 5
The Tasmanian Times Friday 5 June 1868, page 3
The Examiner Saturday 15 May 1869, page 5
The Tasmanian Saturday 3 February 1872, page 11
Daily Telegraph, Saturday 24 May 1924, page 4
Launceston Examiner, Saturday 12 March 1932, page 24
Southerwood, W. T., 1938-. Priceless heritage : the Tasmanian Catholic community 1772-2010 / by W. T. Southerwood Stella Maris Books St. Leonards, Tas. 2010
The first regular Catholic Mass held at Westbury can be dated back to 1847 when the Government permitted Catholics to use the Colonial Hospital ‘for divine service’ for Westbury and the surrounding districts. Prior to this a priest from Launceston periodically ministered to Catholic convicts at Westbury’s Probation Station.
In 1850, Bishop Robert Willson asked for a Government land grant at Westbury on which to build a church, a priest's house and school. This was approved on condition that the Catholics built their church as soon as possible. Father Hogan, who was to serve the Catholics of the Westbury district for 49 years, arrived in the town in a fisherman’s cart on May 24, 1850.
In 1855, a small timber church was built at a cost of £300. The only image of this church known to exist is a drawing by John William Hardwick (1826-1891). Hardwick’s poor health prompted him to emigrate to Australia and in August 1852, at the age of 26. He brought substantial capital with him to Australia and he travelled around Victoria, Tasmania before settling in New South Wales. His drawings of buildings at Westbury include the small timber Holy Trinity chapel and the ‘priest’s house’.
Within seven years of Hogan’s appointment, the Catholic population of the Westbury region had grown to 1400. By 1868, this had increased to about 2000, only 100 fewer than Launceston.
The rapid growth of the church is illustrated in reports of large numbers of adults and children undertaking the sacrament of confirmation. In 1863, The Cornwall Chronicle reported on one such event involving 115 children and adults:
“The ceremony was a most imposing one, and witnessed by certainly not less than about 1100 or 1200 persons, amongst whom were not a few representatives of other denominations. The persons to be confirmed had assembled from the thee districts of Longford, Deloraine and Westbury…”
By the 1870’s large confirmation services had become a feature of Westbury’s religious life. In January 1878, the Launceston Examiner reported on what had become a popular annual spectacle:
“The children…. had their annual examination in church doctrine. Between 400 and 500 of them were examined, and prizes presented by their respected pastor, the Rev. J. Hogan, after which headed by the Westbury Band they walked in procession round the township, halting at the old Catholic Church, where they were most liberally regaled with tea and cakes. After the children had satisfied their little wants the doors were thrown open to children and grown people of all denominations. The amount of feasting was something tremendous, still there appeared to be enough for all and to spare…. It seems a real pleasure to Father Hogan to see the members of his flock and others of different denominations assembled in friendly and social intercourse… [and] “Father Hogan’s feast,” as it is termed, is looked forward to from year to year, by young and old, as one of the most enjoyable events in our little community”.
The growth of the Catholic community necessitated the need for a much larger church. The foundation stone of the new Holy Trinity Church was laid on 12 May 1869. The church took almost five years to complete and officially opened in May 1874.
The old Holy Trinity chapel was used as a convent school by the Sisters of St Joseph who arrived at Westbury in 1887. Over the years the old chapel was enlarged as the school developed. When the school was demolished in 1940 the building was no longer recognisable as a church.
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| A detail of a sketch showing Holy Trinity Chapel at Westbury (1855) - John W. Hardwick "Views in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania, 1853" Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales |
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| A detail of a sketch showing Holy Trinity Chapel and 'Priests House' at Westbury (1855) - John W. Hardwick "Views in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania, 1853" Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales |
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| A detail of a sketch showing Holy Trinity Chapel at Westbury (1855) The original St Andrew's Anglican church is on the right. - John W. Hardwick "Views in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania, 1853" Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales |
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| A digital copy of the original sketch can be viewed HERE |
Sources:
Courier, Friday 18 January 1856, page 2
Courier, Wednesday 23 January 1856, page 3
Launceston Examiner, Saturday 27 November 1858, page 3
Cornwall Chronicle Saturday 7 March 1863, page 5
Cornwall Chronicle Wednesday 3 June 1868, page 5
The Tasmanian Times Friday 5 June 1868, page 3
The Examiner Saturday 15 May 1869, page 5
The Tasmanian Saturday 3 February 1872, page 11
Daily Telegraph, Saturday 24 May 1924, page 4
Launceston Examiner, Saturday 12 March 1932, page 24
Southerwood, W. T., 1938-. Priceless heritage : the Tasmanian Catholic community 1772-2010 / by W. T. Southerwood Stella Maris Books St. Leonards, Tas. 2010
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