Holy Spirit Church
25 Bostock Avenue, MANIFOLD HEIGHTS VIC 3218 - Property No 299756
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Statement of Significance
A Listed - State Significance
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
The Holy Spirit Church was designed by the Geelong architect, C. C. Kelly and built by his father W. J. Kelly in 1932. It is the first church in Victoria derived from the Californian Mission style. The design is a reflection of the religious experiences of Father J. J. Malone and the architect's belief that church architecture should break away from the 'sombre and dark' Gothic revival and introduce more light, colour and fresh air. It has an excellent degree of integrity and it is of State significance.
References
Discussion with the architect Cyril C. Kelly, Newtown.
Discussion with Peter F. B. Alsop, Geelong West.
Discussion with Father Keany, Catholic Historical Commission, Melbourne.
Geelong West Building permit register, 1926-40.
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Holy Spirit Church - Physical Description 1
The Geelong architect C. C. Kelly, based his design of the Holy Spirit Church on the Californian Mission style. This was the architecture of the Spanish religious orders in Mexico and California, mainly in the eighteenth century. A great deal of domestic architecture in Australia had been derived from California, in particular the Bungalow style, sometimes with a 'Spanish mission' variation. This style had been popular here since the 1920's. Many examples of these can be seen in various areas of Geelong West. However this was not the case with religious buildings and Kelly was the first to base a church design on the Californian Mission Style in Victoria and possible, Australia. A considerable amount of literature about architectural trends in California had been circulating in Australia since about 1915. Churches in the Californian Mission style, built after the Holy Spirit, include one at 305 Wendouree Parade, Ballarat, 1938 by the architect P.J. O'Connor and St. Roch's in Burke Road, Glen Iris. Possible locations of other churches derived form this style are in South Yarra and Traralgon, Victoria. The Californian Mission style for churches did not attain the popularity of the domestic counterpart in Australia. This may be because the domestic style was a modern development whereas the religious style was a revival of an earlier style, or that unusual stylistic elements are more difficult to incorporate on larger buildings.
As well as Kelly's personal knowledge of the Californian Spanish Mission style (this must have been from books and journals as he had not traveled to California or the East) he created his design with two other important points in mind. Firstly, his own belief that most churches derived from the Gothic style are dark and somber and that it was desirable to introduce more light, colour and fresh air into new churches. Secondly, he felt that it was very important to express the belief that 'the Holy Spirit is equal in all things'. A clear expression of this is in the design of the stained glass below the dome. This is the story of the Holy Spirit, expressed as a dove over the altar, and designed by Kelly himself.
Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Geelong - City of Geelong West Urban Conservation Study
Author: Huddle, Aitken and Honman
Year: 1986
Grading:
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ST ELMOVictorian Heritage Register H1180
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HOLY SPIRIT CHURCHVictorian Heritage Register H1110
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FORMER DONAGHY'S ROPE WALK BUILDING (PART) AND ROPE-MAKING MACHINERYVictorian Heritage Register H1169
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