Timeline: The Catholic Church in Australia

1788

Arrival of the first fleet at Sydney Cove

Christianity came to Australia with the first fleet, between one quarter and one third of the convicts and free settlers were Catholic.

1792

Catholic Settlers in Parramatta petition Governor Phillip for a Chaplin

An extract of this petition read "“We, therefore, humbly implore your Excellency’s assistance on your return to England, to represent to His Majesty’s Ministers, that it may be taken into consideration, as our present opinion is that nothing else could induce us ever to depart from His Majesty’s colony here, unless the idea of going into eternity without the assistance of a Catholic priest."

1798

The Irish uprising heightened the distrust towards Catholics

The Irish Catholics rebelled after centuries of oppression from the British Authorities, but were unsuccessful.

1803

First official public Mass is held under strict Government supervision and is celebrated by prisoner priest, Fr Dixon

The mass was a signal event as an act of emancipation for Catholic worshippers.

1804

Castle Hill Rebellion results in Fr Dixon's permit to conduct Mass being withdrawn

1819

Fr John Therry and Fr Philip Conolly, Australia's first official priests, arrive in Sydney

Fr Therry opens the first Catholic school in Parramatta and lobbies Governor Macquarie for land on which to build the settlement's first Catholic church

1820

Father Conolly leaves for Hobart

This departure left Fr John Therry the only priest on mainland Australia

1821

The construction of the first Catholic church at Richmond, Tasmania

Of the three designs considered, that chosen was by Architect Henry Edmund Goodridge. St John the Evangelist Catholic Church is still functional today.

1822

Father Therry founds the first Catholic school on Hunter Street, Parramatta

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZm-6UkFAOY 'An Insight into the history of Fr John Joseph Therry'

1826

Father Daniel Power lands in Sydney to replace Fr Therry

Father Therry moves to Parramatta and remains a chief influence among Sydney's Catholics.

1828

Australia's first census is held

The census revealed a white population of 36,598, of which 11,236 were catholic

1829

The Catholic Relief Act

This act allowed the English Catholic Emancipation

1832

Father John McEncroe appointed official chaplain to the Catholics of Australia

In a letter to Dublin's Archbishop Murray "There are 16,000 or 18,000 Catholics in this colony, not one half of whom hardly ever see a priest"

1845

Those identifying as Christian made up 98.6% of the Australian population

72.4% were Anglicans, Protestants, Methodists and Presbyterians. 26.6% Were Catholics from Britain and Ireland

1857

The number of clergy in Australia has risen to 144

129 of the clergy are Irish, the other 15 were made up of 5 English, and the others were French Marists, German Jesuits, and Spanish Benedictines at New Norcia.