By Oscar Parry
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church is turning 150 this month, with its parish celebrating the occasion with anniversary events throughout the next 12 months.
The church recently received repairs to its bluestone slate roof, and although it is less used by the parish than it once was, the anniversary will be recognised with a mass on Friday, January 24.
Chair of the church’s historic committee Joan Koren said that it is “amazing” to think that the church is still there after 150 years.
“When you think of buildings in other places, it doesn’t seem very old in comparison – but it’s old to us,” Ms Koren said.
“There was a consideration for a construction of the church in 1854, but it was not until 1864 that the Catholic Bishop of Melbourne laid the foundation stone to commence work,” she said.
Work continued on the construction for the next seven years, with an official opening held on January 24 in 1875.
The church was designed by engineer and architect William Wardell, who also designed St Patrick’s Cathedral and Government House in Melbourne.
Ms Koren said that additions to the church since its opening include an altar, an organ, the statue, and a gallery.
Due to logistics, the parish stopped using the church for services and masses during Covid restrictions, now using St Anne’s Church on Middle Road instead.
In its 150th year, Ms Koren said that she hopes that the church is “something for Sunbury to celebrate as a whole.”
