St Francis Xavier's Roman Catholic Church, Berrima, Gothic Revival church in Berrima, Australia.
St Francis Xavier's is a Gothic Revival church in Berrima featuring pointed arches and ribbed vaults characteristic of 19th-century religious architecture. The building sits along the Hume Highway and is administered by Pauline Fathers who conduct regular services.
Augustus Pugin designed this building in 1849 at a time of growing Catholic expansion across colonial New South Wales. The structure was built on land that previously housed a stockade used by road construction workers in the colonial period.
The church serves as a focal point for the Catholic community in Berrima, hosting regular worship and religious gatherings throughout the year. It reflects how early European settlers established their faith communities in rural colonial areas.
The building offers wheelchair access, making it accessible for visitors with mobility needs. Regular services take place throughout the week, so checking the timing of your visit helps you experience the space according to your preferences.
This is the only intact church design by Augustus Pugin in Australia, making it a rare example of his work in the Southern Hemisphere. Pugin was a leading Gothic architect, and this building displays his distinctive style in a remote colonial setting.
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