HISTORIC St Patrick’s Church in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley is 23,500 tiles closer to its original condition.
That’s how many tiles have been required to repair the steep pitched roof of the 127-year-old church consecrated by Bishop Robert Dunne on December 31, 1882.
Dean of St Stephen’s Cathedral Fr Ken Howell, within whose parish the church is located, said the roof “which used to leak like a sieve when it rained” had been the item in most pressing need of repair.
“The stonework, the floor, the stained-glass windows and the drainage system will also need to be repaired in the long run as funds become available,” he said.
“However, it was the water leaking in through deteriorating box guttering which was responsible for a lot of the interior damage to columns and walls.
“So the roof repairs had to be done before anything else could be considered.”
Fr Howell said the roof restoration had been a major contract involving about $650,000.
The work on the church’s six roof slopes, which started in July, was due for completion last Thursday (November 19) in time for a graduation ceremony for volunteers with Catholic Psychiatric Pastoral Care (CPPC).
The restoration work was particularly costly because the box guttering sections on the roof had deteriorated and underlying rafters and roof members had rotted so they also needed replacement.
Project manager Gordon Magann said, due to the building’s heritage listing, the preparation and execution of the repairs had been time consuming, adding to costs.
“For example, we needed to research the type of joinery methods used in the roof’s construction to guide the carpenter when he was replacing damaged rafters and roof members,” Mr McGann said.
“We also had to take timber samples and find the closest match among existing modern timber species.
“The slate was brought in from a location in the Pyrenees between France and Spain which is thought to be the source of the original tiles.”
Fr Howell said it was pleasing to see such an important part of the church’s restoration nearing completion.
A small function to mark the near completion of the work was held at St Patrick’s hall on November 11.
It was attended by project workmen, Auxiliary Bishop Brian Finnigan and various other representatives from the archdiocesan planning and building department and local parish community.
