Image right: St Martha's Church, Strathfield, 1986. Courtesy Strathfield Local Studies
St Martha’s Catholic Church, Strathfield celebrated its 100th birthday during October and in February 2025 St Martha’s School will also celebrate this milestone!
The ‘new’ church was dedicated to the memory of Monsignor Peter Byrne, bearing the name ‘Monsignor Peter Byrne Memorial Church’[1] but it was Father Patrick Kerwick who instigated its construction. Remarkably, it is the only Australian parish named for St Martha. Martha was the sister of Lazarus and Mary of Bethany, Judea. The family offered hospitality to Jesus whenever he was visiting the district.[2] St Martha is the patron saint of homemakers, cooks, domestic workers, waiters and waitresses.[3]
Monsignor Byrne, known for his hard work and well liked by all, died on 18 March 1922. He was the first parish priest of St Martha’s and worked hard to acquire the land and money to build the original church on the corner of Churchill Avenue and Homebush Road. The foundation stone of this church was laid in 1904. Mass had previously been held at Santa Sabina and later in the Strathfield Council Chambers. Earlier still, the Catholic families of Strathfield travelled to St Mary’s Church, Concord. The first church of St Martha’s was opened and blessed by Cardinal Moran on Sunday 9 April 1905 [4] and the parish of St Martha’s was formally created in 1916.[5]
The first St Martha's Church at Strathfield. Courtesy Chau Chak Wing Museum.
As new residents continued settle in Strathfield, by the early 1920s the decision was made to build a larger church at an estimated cost of £9000.[6] The foundation stone was laid by the Archbishop of Sydney on 9 December 1923.[7]
Among the well-attended events to raise funds for the new church were balls held in the newly opened Strathfield Town Hall.
‘Upwards of 400 enthusiastic dancers fully appreciated the splendid floor, and until midnight jazzed to the thrilling and well-timed music of Mr A. Hahn’s Orchestra.’ [8]
Spot dances and a jazz cap competition provided added entertainment while the euchre players were accommodated in the council chambers.
The new church opened on 19 October 1924, alongside the old church. Its cost was £14,409 with a seating capacity of 500. Mrs Hogan of Ellwood House in Albert Road offered to donate £300 for a bell for the church.[9] Wilhelmina Hogan died just a year later, her funeral held in the new St Martha’s Church.[10]
St Martha's Catholic Church, Strathfield. Freeman's Journal 22 October 1931 p.9
When Archbishop Kelly opened and blessed the church in 1924 he urged that a primary school be established within the old church.[11]
In February 1925 St Martha’s School was opened by the Dominican Sisters of Santa Sabina with 28 boys and 11 girls.[12] However Freeman’s Journal of 19 March 1925 reported that the school’s opening attendance had been just 21 pupils but had since increased to 51, also noting that ‘as this school satisfies a long-felt want, a much larger attendance is expected in the near future.’[13] The first principal was Sister M. Benignus of Santa Sabina who served for 17 years.[14]
Mary Hyacinth White, aged 10, wrote to Freeman’s Journal in July 1927 to say that ‘I attend St Martha’s School, Strathfield (Dominican nuns) and like it very much.’[15]
The school’s attendance did increase during the following years and by the end of 1935 there were 132 students. However, the school was outgrowing the old church.
Parents attended the 1935 end-of-year concert when ‘A fine programme was presented, consisting of choruses, vocal and piano solos, action songs by the little ones, folk dances, and an exceptionally fine display of physical exercises. The bigger girls in charming costumes gave all a pleasant surprise by their grace in eurythmics.’ [16]
‘At the conclusion of the concert, Rev. Father P. Kerwick, P.P., congratulated the Dominican Sisters, who are in charge of the school and the children for the high class concert.’ [17]
Father Patrick Kerwick died suddenly in Strathfield in December 1939.
Catholic Freeman's Journal 27 March 1941
‘Solemn High Mass of Requiem was offered for the repose of the soul of the late Father Kerwick, in the Church of St Martha, Strathfield, on the morning of Tuesday, December 12.’ [18]
St Martha’s School was finally extended during 1941 when a cottage adjoining the church was demolished and a new ‘neat and very attractive structure’ was added. [19]
Catholic Freeman's Journal 18 September 1941 p.5
Pauline Hickey of Russell Street Strathfield described the school in a letter to Catholic Weekly in August 1944:
‘At the front of the school are two lovely gardens, in which are growing stocks, snapdragons, sweet-peas, and many other flowers, which make it look very beautiful. At the side of the gardens is a lawn that has recently been cut, and it looks very neat. The doors that lead to the playgrounds are painted light green. Inside the school are five classrooms. These have blue walls with cream edges. The doorposts are also painted cream; but the doors are of light wood, and are varnished. Each room leads into the hall, which has a green terrazzo floor. At the back of the school is a basketball court. We are taught by the Dominican nuns, who come from ‘Santa Sabina’ every day.’ [20]
Author and ‘Homebush boy’ Thomas Keneally attended St Martha’s School at this time.
Happy 100th birthday, St Martha’s!
St Martha's Catholic Primary School, April 2020. Courtesy Strathfield Local Studies
By J.J. MacRitchie
Local Studies Advisor
You can read more about St Martha’s Church and School at:
Jones, Cathy 'St Martha's Church and School Strathfield' https://strathfieldheritage.com/buildings/churches/st-marthas-church-and-school-strathfield/
Gleeson, Damian John ‘Faith, Hospitality and Service: St Martha’s Catholic Parish Strathfield 1916-2016’ Strathfield, NSW: St Martha’s Catholic Parish, 2016.
References
[1] Gleeson, Damian John ‘Monsignor Peter Byrne and the foundations of Catholicism in Strathfield.’ IN Journal of the Australian Catholic Historical Society 35 (2014) pp.38-50 https://australiancatholichistoricalsociety.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/2014_achs_journal.pdf
[2] St. Martha’s Parish, Strathfield https://stmarthas.org.au/
[3] International Catholic Stewardship Council 'Saint Martha – One of Jesus’ Closest Friends' https://catholicstewardship.com/saint-martha-one-of-jesus-closest-friends/#:~:text=Martha%2C%20a%20witness%20to%20service,and%20waitresses%2C%20and%20hotel%20employees
[4] Sydney Morning Herald 10 April 1905 p.5 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14677761
[5] Gleeson, Damian John ‘Faith, Hospitality and Service: St Martha’s Catholic Parish Strathfield 1916-2016’ Strathfield, NSW: St Martha’s Catholic Parish, 2016. p.xiii
[6] Gleeson, Damian John ‘Faith, Hospitality and Service: St Martha’s Catholic Parish Strathfield 1916-2016’ Strathfield, NSW: St Martha’s Catholic Parish, 2016. p.25
[7] The Catholic Press 29 November 1923 p.27 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/106416295
[8] Freeman’s Journal 25 October 1923 p.29 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116794633
[9] ibid
[10] Western Age (Dubbo) 23 October 1925 p.2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/137080295
[11] Daily Telegraph 20 October 1924 p.6 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/245468524
[12] Gleeson, Damian John ‘Faith, Hospitality and Service: St Martha’s Catholic Parish Strathfield 1916-2016’ Strathfield, NSW: St Martha’s Catholic Parish, 2016. p.30
[13] Freeman’s Journal 19 March 1925 p.27 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116789187
[14] Catholic Weekly 3 July 1952 p.5 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/147086851
[15] Freeman’s Journal 21 July 1927 p.46 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116749953