St Francis Xavier Cathedral

Statement of Significance

Historically John C Hawes was an Australian Missionary besides being a priest/architect. Architecturally interesting. An artist's idea in stone of some of the best samples if many architectural styles.
The largest and most important of a group of churches designed, and in some cases built, by Monsgr Hawes in the Geraldton Diocese. As a group they display an eclectic style, personal to Hawes and are both architecturally and liturgically significant. Hawes was a qualified architect before he bacame a priest.

Physical Description

Stone building. Spanish Colonial variation of the baroque. Many periods of architecture represented - huge dome - resembles that of Florence Cathedral and also covers octagonal space between nave and chancel; while round windows in octagon wall resemble those in Florence Cathedral. Octagon twin dome towers at west end are Spanish Californian. Great central portal is French Romanesque. Round arches of the nave are supported on squat, unfluted bulky columns - 11th century English Romanesque. Zebra striping on walls and arches like those in Siena in Italy. Early renaissance canopied pulpit. Immense gothic crucifix behind large domed tabernacle.

History

Assessment 1973
Date of Construction: Foundation stone laid June 20 1916, opened for worship
Aug 28, 1938
Architect Monsgr J.C. Hawes

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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