Category:St Francis Xavier Church and Cemetery, Greendale

English: St Francis Xavier Church and Cemetery in Greendale, New South Wales demonstrates the history of the initial foundation and development of the Catholic Church in the area. The site provides information on the history of settlement in the Greendale region from the mid 19th century and reflects subsequent changes in its rural population. Several of the grave inscriptions pre-date the introduction of the Civil registration in 1856 providing an important record of the local population. In addition at least 3 convict graves were recorded in the cemetery. The continued use of the site as a graveyard, including the relocation of burials from nearby Luddenham, and the recent construction of a contemporary church, reflects the site's local social significance. There is the potential to gain more information on the site from further architectural, archaeological and documentary research.

This site is located 200m south of St Mark's Anglican Church Group. The Greendale Roman Catholic Cemetery is situated on the southern side of the main road at Greendale. The cemetery is enclosed by a post and wire fencing. The east end of the site facing Greendale Road is the older, original portion of the cemetery. This contains five main rows of east facing graves which comprise a total of 37 monuments dating from the 1859s to 1908. The majority of monuments are simple sandstone headstone some with matching footstones. Most stones have a simple relief carved motifs such as crosses, "I.H.S" or occasionally more elaborate types such as the draped urn on the headstone of Edward Fury, 1858. Some of the headstones are fallen and broken. The grave of Catherine Petith, 19th April 1895, is marked by an unusual moulded concrete headstone and kerbing. Three plots are enclosed by cast iron picket fencing. Plantings evident include Periwinkle, Olive and Box (Buxus sp.).

The older portion of the cemetery to the east end of the new church has remained relatively unchanged, however photographic records indicate that at least one of the headstones has collapsed since the 1992 study. In addition many of the inscriptions were weathered and difficult to read. The graves highlighted in the 1992 Heritage Study are still standing. At least 2, and possibly 3, convict graves were also recorded during recent inspections. Simple horizontally laid flat stones mark the graves. The inscriptions are almost illegible on 2 of the memorials. The third however notes the convict name, country of origin, date pardoned and the ship on which he arrived, it states: "James McCooey, born Armagh Ireland 1790, died ?7-5-1865. 75yrs Came in Isabella 1822, Life Sentence. Pardoned 1832" .

At the western end of the site is a recently established section containing monuments and remains transferred from the St Francis Xavier Catholic Church Cemetery at Luddenham in 1989/1990. These monuments are arranged in double east/west facing grave rows with all plots bordered by sandstone kerbing with pebblecrete paths between the grave rows. These monuments date from the early 20th century to the present. Earlier types include marble headstones and crosses. The desk is the dominant monument type in a variety of designs and materials including sandstone, black granite, terrazzo and granolite.

On the northern side of the cemetery is a newly fenced future extension of the cemetery area. The cemetery is still in use and is extending to the north of the site.

A major addition to the site since 1992 has been the construction of a church, toilet block and barbeque area. The church has been constructed to the west of the older portion of the cemetery, with the barbeque area and toilet block to the north.

The church has been constructed as a replica of the Francis Xavier Chapel at Luddenham which had been in use from 1920 to 1990, when the lands were acquired for the new Sydney Airport. It consists of a single storey brick nave with a slated gabled roof. There is a gabled roof on the vestry and entrance porch attached to the north and east elevation, respectively. The appexes of the gabled porch and nave roof have cross finials. A plaque placed near the entrance door of the church states:

This chapel was built by the

Petith and Fordham families.
It is a replica of the
Francis Xavier Chapel at Luddenham
Built in 1910 by the Petith family
on land donated by the Anschau family.
The church was used until 1990 when the land
was acquired for the new Sydney Airport
& all the graves relocated to this site.
Blessed and opened by
His Lordship the Most Reverend
BEDE V. HEATHER DD LSS BA
Bishop of Parramatta
4th of November 1995.

References

• Portions of this description come from the Heritage NSW description, which is licensed under CC-BY 4.0.