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Opening and Blessing of the ‘costly’ church of

 St Ignatius on the 7th August 1870

( Adapted from an article that originally appeared in 'Christian Traveller' our parish magazine)

 

St Ignatius church was officially opened  on Sunday 7 August 1870. It was intended to open it on the feast of St Ignatius, but it is thought that inclement weather prevented that so it was delayed to the octave of the feast. The church building has had a few additions since 1870 when there was a simple porch in the front and no transepts or community hall. The towers are part of the original church but the original choir loft was extended in 1973. There must have been some controversy about the church then for the reference to the ‘...costly church of St Ignatius’ comes from the diary of the Austrian Jesuit, Brother Francis Poelzl S.J., and his diary records in detail the events of that day so long ago and of the well known names in attendance at the time. He wrote in his diary;

‘ On the 7th August, octave of the feast of Our Holy Father St Ignatius, a Sunday, was the opening and blessing of the costly Church of St Ignatius. After many Holy Masses said by Ours in the morning, at 11 o’clock the ceremonies began of this day of such festivity for Norwood and the city and it’s neighbourhood.

The Very Rev Archdeacon and Vicar General Pat Russell with many assisting priests went in procession from the house chapel (Manressa - Ed ) to the new church where the ceremonies took place, carried out according to the Roman ritual. (Elsewhere in his diary, Br Poelzl indicated that the Archbishop was visiting Europe which probably explains why the Vicar General opened the church. - Ed ) First at the entrance to the Church, the Holy Water was blessed, then the procession proceeded with singing of psalms and prayers all around the church outside and then around it inside, then to the High Altar where the litany of the Saints was sung and the usual prayers. Then a Solemn High Mass began, sung by Rev Fr C.A. Reynolds in the presence of the Vicar General and the large number of assistant ministers and priests. After the communion, Fr C.Horan O.S.F preached and after the sermon the Mass went on to its conclusion.

In the evening at 7 o’clock were solemn Vespers and the Rev T.E.Woods preached ( This would be Fr Julian Tennyson- Woods, co founder of the Josephite nuns - Ed )

The church was brightly illuminated, not only at the altars, but also with 92 gas jets. Over the High Altar was hung a very beautiful large painting in a gold frame of St Ignatius Loyola, from Munich  (Whereabouts now not known - Ed) At the two side altars were also beautiful pictures also from Munich of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Heart of Mary ( Still in the church - Ed )’

Br Poelzl goes on to say how the governor, his wife and his brother visited the church the next day and that people said to Fr Hinterścker ‘ This church is much too large for the Norwood congregation'. and how Fr Hinterścker answered, ‘We must have room for those that will be converted to the church!’ It is interesting to reflect that, while we still have our beautiful church and we still remember Fr Hinterścker and his work, we have no idea who they were who said that the church was too large and costly!