Restoration of St Ignatius Church
By Fr Paul Cleary S.J., PP
When the parish began, the Norwood area was still covered
with Stringy Bark and River Red Gums and the rich loam along the creeks,
Greenhill and Hallett’s Rivulets - now First and Second Creeks - supported
vegetable gardens, orchards and vineyards among scattered homes. Bishop Sheil
initiated the parish when he handed over to the Jesuits of the Austrian Mission
the area east of Adelaide extending from the River Torrens to Greenhill Road. In
1869 there was a church/school in Beulah Road and the Annunciation Church at
Hectorville, but the congregation grew to four hundred and a site on the corner
of Queen and William Streets was chosen for this expansion.
The foundation stone of St Ignatius Church was laid on Sunday 17 October
1870. Various additions
were made in 1890, for which there is a stone marking the additions, then
some small adjustments to the sanctuary in 1943 and major development with the
building of the transepts and new sanctuary in 1953 and 1954. Then major
remodelling was undertaken of the sanctuary area, choir, ceiling, porch, as well
as the addition of the Parish Centre in 1973 to accommodate the new expressions
of the liturgy brought in following the Second Vatican Council.
In 1995 extensive repair work was done on the towers and to repair salt damp
damage to the walls. The six stained glass windows in
the nave of the Church were reframed and repaired - even some moved so that we
now have Sts Ignatius and Francis Xavier in more prominent positions to show
that the Church is dedicated to St Ignatius. In 1998 the false ceiling was
removed and the original ceiling revealed in all its glory. The roof was
refurbished, the wall behind the altar removed, the carpets replaced, smoke
damage to the devotional alcoves was repaired and exhaust fans installed to
prevent future damage, and the interior of the church painted throughout.
(Adapted from an
article that originally appeared in 'Christian Traveller' our parish magazine in
1994. Unfortunately, Fr. Paul died in 1996 and never got to see the church
in its present glory. We feel that he would be impressed)
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