St Brigid's, Red Hill

Before moving to apartment living at Teneriffe, we lived in Brisbane's western suburbs for years. During that time, I would drive out of the city after work each afternoon, and head west for the trip home. Just after the Normanby Fiveways, I would pass this magnificent Gothic structure. It is St Brigid's Catholic Church, built in a very prominent position on Musgrave Rd at Red Hill. Click the photo to see a larger image - look for the statue of St Brigid in the central gable on the top of the church.
(Photo: © 2009 the foto fanatic)

I've never had cause to go to this church, so I made it my business recently to find out a bit more about it. It seems that this structure wasn't the first catholic church on the site - a previous building had been erected in 1877, and is pictured here from around 1910.

(Photo: State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library; #7917)

But the increase in parishioners in those inner-city suburbs around Milton and Paddington meant that a larger church was needed, so in 1912, work commenced on a new church designed by Robin Dods of Hall & Dods. Archbishop Duhig wanted a grand structure, and he got it. Modelling it on a cathedral in Albi, France, Dods made it large enough to seat 1000 worshippers. It is certainly imposing, and its position on a ridge makes it visible from many parts of the city. I would love to know how many red bricks were used!

(Photo: State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library; #18854)

St Brigid's was opened by Archbishop Duhig on 9 August 1914, in a large dedication ceremony that was also attended by Archbishop Mannix from Melbourne. The photo above records the scene from that day.

Click here for a Google Map.

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