Guest speaker at our AGM on 28 July at the Leinster Arms was architect Nigel Lewis, whose new design for the badly burnt St Joseph’s Church in Otter Street Collingwood will create a modern church complex while retaining and restoring historical associations. This is the culmination of a long battle to prevent the demolition of this much-loved church. Nigel discussed the history of the church complex, the interior renovations carried out prior to the fire and the battle to retain it. Then he showed the plans of the new design and how it will showcase various older details of the building while creating a functional worship space.
This is wonderful news. It was such a beautiful building, so pleased the remainung facades are going to be incorporated into the new Church.
As with so many lovely buildings in Melbourne, they are kept in their glory with new meaninf
Judith Webb
I attended St Joseph’s yesterday for the funeral of my friend, Alan and I was so impressed with the magnificent restoration work to the church. I have not attended the church before and had no idea about the fire.
The way the original old structure has been left in place and the new ceiling and roof has been incorporated into it, is a triumph and looks fabulous. The church has an ambience of old history and living vitality at the same time. I loved it and am so glad I saw it yesterday.
God bless all of you and thank you to Father Martin who took the service and was so accommodating with the mix of people contributing who included AA members and family. He was not daunted, but went along with it all and let God work it out. Wonderful.
Collingwood Historical Society thanks you for sharing your comments.
I’m from Malaysia and usually my family and I attend the St. Joseph’s Saturday’s English evening mass whenever I visit them in Collingwood. I last attended the mass at St. Joseph’s on 13 April 2019, which was presided by Fr. Phil for the Palm Sunday service.
I read about the history of St. Joseph’s and how fire had gutted most part of the church in 2007.
Nevertheless, the church had been remarkably and beautifully restored and it certainly makes one feels cozy whenever one is inside it.
The last few times I attended, there were not many congregation and this creates a feeling or sense of ‘personal touch’ throughout the service, whenever the priest communicate with the parishioners, which I think is really good.
However, I’m also hopeful that more parishioners will patronise the Saturday’s service.
Looking forward to attend many, many more services at St. Joseph’s whenever I visit my family there.
God Bless,
Michael Leong
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia