Church to host heritage tour

The Catholic Church will highlight the works of Monsignor John Hawes to boost fundraising efforts to complete a $7.5 million conservation project at St Francis Xavier Cathedral in Geraldton.

The cathedral’s conservation committee will host a fundraising coach tour on Saturday week of buildings and sites in Geraldton and Mullewa connected to the late architect and Catholic priest.

Director of heritage for the Geraldton Diocese, Father Robert Cross, said Monsignor Hawes’ heritage in the Mid West region was extensive and of great significance to the broader community and internationally.

“It is more than just about the church and the Catholic faith,” Father Cross said.

“What we have here in the Mid West is of world-class significance. If they were in Perth or anywhere with a bigger population, we would have millions of people visiting these buildings.

“There’s no arts and crafts movement anywhere else in the world where there is such a visible display of the 20th century revival of classical architectural forms.”

He said many other gothic-inspired cathedrals failed to capture the methods and ways of the gothic era artisans, but Monsignor Hawes used the talent of “the average man in the street”.

“The arts and crafts of average people were lost and Hawes reacted by honouring the artisans, using rough stone cut by human hands, not by machine, and using other local craftsmen where possible, ” he said.

Father Cross will provide expert commentary for the tour to Mullewa, which will include a celebration of Mass and Gregorian chant music at San Spirito Cemetery Chapel, Utakarra, and visit sites connected to Monsignor Hawes at Mullewa and Kojarena.

Father Cross said he would help participants interpret the details of Monsignor’s work and they were also likely to see plenty of wildflowers during the coach tour, which includes morning tea, drinks and lunch.

The $100-a-head tour cost will go to the fundraising committee, which to date has raised more than $1.2 million.

The cathedral conservation project will include an interpretive centre to showcase Monsignor Hawes’ architecture and life.

Tour tickets are available from Bishop’s House, 7 Maitland St, Geraldton, or the Visitor Information Centre, 246 Marine Terrace, Geraldton.