History
In 1843 approval for the request was granted from Rome (Vatican) and Father John Brady, Father John Joostens (Belgian priest) and Patrick O'Reilly (a Catechist) were soon to arrive in Fremantle on the ship 'Water Witch'. Even though Father Brady was to stay in Perth for only a short time (two months) he was able to claim a land grant for the church, on Victoria Avenue. This was to be the site of the first Catholic Cathedral, The Church of St John the Apostle and Evangelist (St John's Pro-Cathedral). Construction commenced on 27 December 1843. The foundation stone was laid on 16 January 1844. Brady left for Rome, in 1844, to ask for assistance and advocate the establishment of a new diocese for the Swan River Colony.
Following Bishop Brady's arrival back in Perth in January, 1846, the Church of St John the Apostle and Evangelist became a cathedral as it was now the seat of a Bishop. Interestingly the chair that Bishop Brady brought from Europe still remains in the Pro-Cathedral. Bishop Brady left Perth in 1852, following disputes with the Apostolic Administrator, Joseph Serra. In 1850, Bishop Serra replaced Brady as Bishop of Perth and, in 1855, he extended the building in brick to twice its original size. The church was rededicated as the Immaculate Conception. In 1856, a brick portico was added to the western side of the building.
St. John's Pro Cathedral was the principal place of worship for the Roman Catholic Community in Perth from 1844 until 1865. The Gothic-style St Mary's Cathedral replaced St John's as Perth's Catholic Cathedral upon its completion in 1865. The church then became known as St. John's Pro Cathedral and was used by the Christian Brothers as a school.
In 1881, St. John's Pro Cathedral was renovated and used by the Sisters of Mercy, under the name of St. John's Chapel, as the school chapel in the Mercedes College complex. In 1965, the building was 'modernised' and used as a classroom for convent students and for external students studying English.
Between 1979 and 1980, work was done to restore the building and to remove additions and alterations which were unsympathetic to the original design, and the buildings was adapted for use as a museum by the Catholic Church.
Read more about this topic: St John's Pro-Cathedral
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