Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, Booval

The Foundation Stone

As Archbishop Duhig's car approached Booval, on the 2nd August 1914, he would have seen

a dense black crowd ... on the summit of a hill, and rising conspicuously from its midst was a large tripod indicating that another dedicatory stone was awaiting the Church's consecration and ready to be directed into its firm resting place by episcopal hands.  Several motor buses told of the interest which the citizens of Ipswich city were taking in this further improvement in its suburbs, while an array of private vehicles told that the good country folk had come from far and near not alone to witness the ceremony and to participate in the invocation to the Saints, but also to contribute materially towards the cost involved.

The inscription on the dedication stone read:

Hune Primarium Lapidem

Ecclesiae D.O.M., sub invocationae

S'rmdi Cordis Jesu erigendae,

Benedixit Posuitque,

R'mus J. Duhig, A'epis Amidensis,

Die II Augusti MCMXIV.

R'mo R. Dunne D.D., A'epo Brisbanensi

R'do A. Horan, Adm., Ipswich.

In his address, Archbishop remarked:

I think it is a good thing that a church should be brought to the people of this great district.  For many years they have been going to St. Mary's Sunday after Sunday, but now that the population is increasing it is high time that the people of Booval had a church of their own.

The Dedication

At 11am on Sunday 9th May, Archbishop Duhig blessed and opened the new Sacred Heart Catholic church at Booval.  A guard of honour was formed by members of the Hibernian Societies of Ipswich, Rosewood, Rosevale, Brisbane (special train services had brought them to Booval Station), as Archbishop Duhig arrived.  He was welcomed by Reverend M. Lane and members of the Booval committee.

The Mass was celebrated by Reverend C. Casey and a choir from St Mary's, under the baton of Violet Watson, sang Ecce Sacerdos (Wiegand), Mass in B flat (Mercadante), and Haec Dies (H.J. Stewart).  The choir was accompanied by soloists (sopranos Mrs. F. Carroll and Miss A. Geragty; contralto Miss Violet Watson; tenor Mr. J. Byrne; and bass Mr. W. McLean), organist Miss Mary Dwyer, and an orchestra (first violins Miss Riglett, Mesrs. H. Halley and J.J. Murphy; second violins Misses Shine, K. Landy, M. Drew, and Mr J. Rice; cornet Mr. C. Hegarty; flute Mr. McKellar; cello Mr. A. Lawrie).

Archbishop Duhig's sermon referenced the dedication of the Temple of Solomon and reflected on the horrors then unfolding on the Western Front and Gallipoli.  [A detailed account of the sermon can be found on page 8 of The Age newspaper, from Saturday 15th May 1915, see link below].

To commemorate the dedication, a luncheon was held in a large marquee erected on the grounds.  This part of the day had been overseen by a committee of ladies from St Mary's and Booval.  With the Reverend M. Lane at the head of the table, dignitaries beside Archbishop Duhig included the Reverends A. Horan and J. Byrne, the Honourable J.W. Blair and Mrs. Blair, the Honourable Frank McDonnell, M.L.C., Alderman A.T. Stephenson, Mr. J.C. Cribb and a number of prominent Hibernians including E.J. Quinn (president of the Ipswich Hibernian Society), G. Dale (president of the Rosewood Hibernian Society), and Mr McCormack (District President).

The Church Building

The building was designed by architects R. Coutts and Sons and bult by David Walker, at a contract price of £2016.  Its dark brick, relieved with band courses, is accentuated with lapel arches of white, Gothic-shaped windows plastered and lined off to represent stone arches.  The roof, at this time, was covered with poilite asbestos red tiles and featured two large diamonds of coloured slates.  The porch, with large double doors, had a floor of black and white tiles and a head light window, by Exton's.  The main body of the church, measuring 60ft by 32ft, had 16ft high walls, tinted pale rose, with dado to match, broken up by five large double Gothic headed windows on each side, glazed in green cathedral glass.  Fixed Gothic headed fanlights of the side double doors were glazed in selected leaded lights.  The fibrous plaster ceilings was ornamented with angels with outstretched wings.  An 'exceptionally neat' staircase led to the choir gallery.  A large Gothic arch, spanning 15ft,lead to the semi-octagonal sanctuary (16ft wide by 16ft deep), which also contained lead light Gothic-headed windows, one on either side of the raised platform, and a rose window above.  The timber ceiling in the sanctuary was painted a pale blue and decorated with silver stars.  The Gothic influence was also present in the cedar and stained pine altar rail.  Two sacristies (11ft x 7ft 6in) were located off either side of the sanctuary.