St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Ipswich, Roman Catholic church in Woodend, Ipswich, Australia
St Mary's Roman Catholic Church is a parish church in Woodend, Ipswich, Queensland, built from local Helidon sandstone on Elizabeth Street. It has twin spires and a rectangular nave, and the building follows the Gothic Revival style inside and out.
The first church on this site was begun in 1858, with its design drawn up by William Holloway Chambers. The current building replaced it and was completed around 1904.
The church is named after the Virgin Mary, a dedication that reflects the deep roots of Catholic life in this part of Ipswich. Locals still gather here for Sunday Mass, baptisms and seasonal celebrations throughout the year.
The church sits on Elizabeth Street in Woodend and can be reached on foot from central Ipswich. Visitors are welcome outside of service times, and modest dress and quiet behavior are expected inside.
When the new building went up in the early 1900s, materials from the older church were worked into an annexe rather than discarded. This means parts of the original 1858 structure are still physically present on the site today.
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