No. 1653 - Snug - St Mary's Catholic Church (1898-1967)
Snug is situated on the Channel Highway, approximately 25 kilometres south of Hobart. The settlement’s name is believed to have come from sailors who found 'snug' anchorage here for their ships. The earliest settler, John Dunn (1790-1861), took up a land grant on ‘Snug River’ in 1837. Around the 1840s and 1850s a small settlement was established at what was then called ‘The Snug’ or ‘Snug River’.
Before the present Catholic Church at Snug was built in 1967, two earlier churches existed. The first was opened and blessed by Bishop Willson on 21 June 1858. [See No.1649] This church, which was also used as a school, was replaced by a new building in 1898. The ceremonial laying of the foundation stone of the new church took place on Sunday 21 February 1897, exactly 39 years to the day, of the official opening of the original building by Bishop Willson. The stone-laying ceremony in 1897 was recorded by a correspondent for the Hobart Mercury:
“An interesting ceremony took place at this picturesque nook in the Channel on Sunday, 21st Inst., in the laying of the foundation stone of a new church by Bishop Delany, assisted by the Revs. Father Hennebry and and other clergymen from Hobart, and Father O'Flynn, the parish priest. The ss. Ivy was chartered for the occasion, and brought a large number of people from Hobart, including Mr. E. Mulcahy and Captain Evans, MHA. The ss. Lottah also brought a full complement from Port Cygnet.
Mass was celebrated in the old building used as a church by Father O'Flynn, and at the conclusion Bishop Delany delivered an eloquent discourse, concluding by eulogising the pastor for his strenuous exertions in endeavouring to provide a suitable building for the conduct of religious duties in that part of his parish. So far, all his undertakings had been crowned with success, and he felt confident that this would be no exception. He then appealed to those present to assist in the good work, and a generous response was made, some £40 odd being laid upon the stone. After the ceremonies the bishop, clergy, and friends repaired to Mr. Torpy's residence, where they were right hospitably entertained…”.
There is no record of when the construction of the new building was completed but it was officially opened some 11 months later on Sunday 23 January 1898. The Mercury reported:
“…The church is served from Port Cygnet, of which the Rev P. J. O’ Flynn is pastor. The sermon at the opening will be preached by the Very Rev. Father Hanley, of the congregation of the mission, Sydney. The s.s. Victory will carry visitors from Hobart to the ceremony.”
Signage at the site of the church states that the original 1858 church was destroyed on New Years Eve in 1897 and that “within three weeks a new church was erected”. However, given that the foundation stone of the new church was laid some 10 months before the New Year Eve bushfire, some questions arise. one possible explanation is that little progress had been made with the construction the new building and the bush fires simply expedited the construction of the planned new church.
The history of the new church is not well recorded and reports about it in local newspapers are limited to fundraising fairs and dances as well as regular funerals.
In the summer of 1967, history repeated itself and St Mary’s, along with St John’s, Snug’s Anglican church, were both destroyed in bushfires that devastated the town and tragically took the lives of 9 of its residents.
While the wooden church was completely destroyed, the church bell survived. It was salvaged and placed on a pylon on the town’s oval, which had become the site of a temporary village for survivors of the fires. Here it was rung each Sunday to summon the faithful of all denominations. As a symbol of resilience, in 2017, 50 years after the fires, St Mary’s bell was rehung outside the new Catholic church which had opened in time for Christmas in 1967.
Before the present Catholic Church at Snug was built in 1967, two earlier churches existed. The first was opened and blessed by Bishop Willson on 21 June 1858. [See No.1649] This church, which was also used as a school, was replaced by a new building in 1898. The ceremonial laying of the foundation stone of the new church took place on Sunday 21 February 1897, exactly 39 years to the day, of the official opening of the original building by Bishop Willson. The stone-laying ceremony in 1897 was recorded by a correspondent for the Hobart Mercury:
“An interesting ceremony took place at this picturesque nook in the Channel on Sunday, 21st Inst., in the laying of the foundation stone of a new church by Bishop Delany, assisted by the Revs. Father Hennebry and and other clergymen from Hobart, and Father O'Flynn, the parish priest. The ss. Ivy was chartered for the occasion, and brought a large number of people from Hobart, including Mr. E. Mulcahy and Captain Evans, MHA. The ss. Lottah also brought a full complement from Port Cygnet.
Mass was celebrated in the old building used as a church by Father O'Flynn, and at the conclusion Bishop Delany delivered an eloquent discourse, concluding by eulogising the pastor for his strenuous exertions in endeavouring to provide a suitable building for the conduct of religious duties in that part of his parish. So far, all his undertakings had been crowned with success, and he felt confident that this would be no exception. He then appealed to those present to assist in the good work, and a generous response was made, some £40 odd being laid upon the stone. After the ceremonies the bishop, clergy, and friends repaired to Mr. Torpy's residence, where they were right hospitably entertained…”.
There is no record of when the construction of the new building was completed but it was officially opened some 11 months later on Sunday 23 January 1898. The Mercury reported:
“…The church is served from Port Cygnet, of which the Rev P. J. O’ Flynn is pastor. The sermon at the opening will be preached by the Very Rev. Father Hanley, of the congregation of the mission, Sydney. The s.s. Victory will carry visitors from Hobart to the ceremony.”
Signage at the site of the church states that the original 1858 church was destroyed on New Years Eve in 1897 and that “within three weeks a new church was erected”. However, given that the foundation stone of the new church was laid some 10 months before the New Year Eve bushfire, some questions arise. one possible explanation is that little progress had been made with the construction the new building and the bush fires simply expedited the construction of the planned new church.
The history of the new church is not well recorded and reports about it in local newspapers are limited to fundraising fairs and dances as well as regular funerals.
In the summer of 1967, history repeated itself and St Mary’s, along with St John’s, Snug’s Anglican church, were both destroyed in bushfires that devastated the town and tragically took the lives of 9 of its residents.
While the wooden church was completely destroyed, the church bell survived. It was salvaged and placed on a pylon on the town’s oval, which had become the site of a temporary village for survivors of the fires. Here it was rung each Sunday to summon the faithful of all denominations. As a symbol of resilience, in 2017, 50 years after the fires, St Mary’s bell was rehung outside the new Catholic church which had opened in time for Christmas in 1967.
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| St Mary's Catholic Church - Photograph courtesy of the Archdiocese of Hobart |
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| The Mercury, Saturday 15 January 1898 |
Sources:
The Mercury, Tuesday 23 February 1897, page 3
The Mercury, Saturday 15 January 1898, page 4
The Mercury, Saturday 22 January 1898, page 3
Southerwood, W. T., 1938-. Priceless heritage : the Tasmanian Catholic community 1772-2010 / by W. T. Southerwood Stella Maris Books St. Leonards, Tas. 2010
Channel Heritage Centre - Interpretation signage at the site of the church.
The Mercury, Tuesday 23 February 1897, page 3
The Mercury, Saturday 15 January 1898, page 4
The Mercury, Saturday 22 January 1898, page 3
Southerwood, W. T., 1938-. Priceless heritage : the Tasmanian Catholic community 1772-2010 / by W. T. Southerwood Stella Maris Books St. Leonards, Tas. 2010
Channel Heritage Centre - Interpretation signage at the site of the church.
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