St Francis Xavier's Catholic Church
Beaconsfield, TAS 7270
Church Information
| Church Name: | St Francis Xavier's Catholic Church |
| Church Previous Name: | - |
| Denomination: | Catholic Church in Australia |
| Street Address: | 190 Weld St, Beaconsfield TAS 7270, Australia |
| Suburb: | Beaconsfield |
| State: | TAS |
| Postcode: | 7270 |
| Foundation Stone Laid: | 11-05-1890 |
| Foundation Stone Notes: | The foundation stone was laid by Archbishop Daniel Murphy accompanied by Monsignor Daniel Beechinor on 11/5/1890. The text on the foundation stone is not known. Information/photographs are invited. A heritage plaque records: St Francis Xavier's Catholic Church and School - Sister Gertrude Sullivan was one of three Presentation Sisters who arrived in 1899 to open a school here. Sister Gertrude's compassion and teaching skills epitomised the Presentation ethos, which was to develop education and religion amongst the poor. She taught astronomy, geometry, trigonometry, Greek, Latin and Spanish, and was a gifted muscian. - With no school rooms, the Sisters held lessons in the church with blackboards and tables stowed each Friday in readiness for Sunday devotions, and then re-arranged for school on Monday. Imagine how cramped it was inside the church in 1900 when eight Sisters schooled more than 70 students. |
| Date Opened: | 26-06-1891 |
| Date Closed: | unknown |
| Email: | admin@churchesaustralia.org |
Comments
The St Francis Xavier's Catholic Church, Beaconsfield is part of the Parish of West Tamar and the Diocese of Hobart. The present church building was opened on 26/6/1891, within ten years of the arrival of Catholic parishioners. In the early days the church building was also used as a school. More historical information/photographs of the church/congregation are invited. Photographs uploaded 23/4/2023.
