History of St Patricks Arrowtown
St Patricks Church Arrowtown, 7 Hertford Street Arrowtown
St Patrick’s Catholic Church Arrowtown, built between 1873 and 1902 on a landmark corner site, has been the focus of Catholic worship and education in Arrowtown since its inception. It is a fine example of architect F.W. Burwell’s ecclesiastical architecture and has a significant association with Australasia’s first saint, Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
The history of the Catholic community in Arrowtown dates back to the discovery of gold on the Arrow River in 1862. The first Catholic priests, Father Moreau and Father Martin took it in turns to visit the isolated mining settlements. After Invercargill parish was separated from Queenstown in 1873, the care of the around 650 Catholics was entrusted to Father John Mackay. On 26 July 1873, miner John Healy gave a three-quarter acre section to the Bishop of Dunedin as a site for the church.
Prominent architect F.W. Burwell designed the church in a Gothic style with a narrow spire and a fine rose window. Built of local stone with contrasting cement facings, St Patrick’s is set on a generous corner section above Arrowtown’s main street. Alongside the church sits Mary MacKillop’s cottage, a small stone building that provided a home for the sisters, and later for the priest when he stayed overnight in Arrowtown. In 1880, the church bought the section next to St Patrick’s, complete with stone cottage. The cottage, over the years, served as a home, refectory, classroom and garage. The church served as a classroom for the school during the week.
In 1882, the church was renovated and enlarged. A new sanctuary (16 feet by 15 feet) was added, and a stained glass window at the back of the altar. In February 1883, the Bishop ‘canonically erected’ the Stations of the Cross. By 1886, a strong parish had developed – the buildings reflecting the strength of the community – the parish had spent £2,370 on the church and grounds, priest’s residence and site for a convent. The sacristy was added in 1902.
Mass Times
| 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Sunday of the month 11:00 AM |
| 2nd Sunday of the month – Liturgy with Holy Communion 11:00 AM |
| Tuesday weekly 4:30 PM – Note there is no Mass on 26th December or 2nd January |
