Parish History

The Parish extends over an area of some seven kilometres across and includes the suburbs of Chatswood, Castle Cove, and (in part) Roseville, Lindfield, Artarmon and Lane Cove. Established and separated from Pymble Parish on 8 December 1910. 
First Mass celebrated in private homes: A house attached to Peter Vines' tannery, High St., Willoughby (1880s), Windsor Gardens, Mowbray Road, Chatswood. (c 1890s).
  
Building of first church/school took place in 1895 on portion of an 1863 cemetery grant of some 3 ½ acres in Archer/Anderson Sts.  Building used as a school up until 2001 (now demolished).
 
Sisters of Mercy began teaching in Our Lady of Dolours' church/school in 1896. Also established a private school; St. Catherine's on opposite side of Archer Street after purchase of house HILLGROVE (demolished) New Convent and school established in 1905 opposite present church. 
  
8 December, 1910     Chatswood parish separated from Pymble and established. 
 
13 August, 1911        Cardinal Moran laid foundation stone of Presbytery; completed in 1912.

18 April 1920             Foundation stone of new (second) church blessed.
 
21 August, 1921       Church of Our Lady of Dolours (Sorrows) opened
                                  (only partly complete). Cost  10,000  (ten thousand pounds).

17 January, 1937      Christian Brother' school and monastery opened.    
                                  Named St Pius X College.

11 April, 1954            Foundationstone of primary school laid by Bishop Carroll.
 
16 January, 1955      Parish school opened and blessed by Cardinal Gilroy.
 
31 December, 1961  Church of Our Lady of Dolours completed (seating 800)
                                 additions of transepts and bell tower etc. Costs: £82,716. 
                                 Refurbished and painted in 1978.
 
8 April, 1986             Parish became part of new Diocese of Broken Bay. 
                                 First Bishop; Most Rev Patrick Murphy. 
                                 Second Bishop; Most Rev David Walker (1996)

A History of the parish from 1895 (including Willoughby, Naremburn Lindfield and Lane Cove/Greenwich) completed in 2001 and on sale at Piety Store at Our Lady of Dolours Church, Chatswood.

HERITAGE OF CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF DOLOURS CHATSWOOD 
  
Notes from original design description prepared by Architects; Messrs. Hennessy and Hennessy in 1920:

Architecturally it is a simplified treatment of Italian Renaissance complete with coloured brick in-lays- campanile, apsidal sanctuary – semi-circular vaulted ceiling with intersecting groins giving necessary height for the lateral lighting.  The completed building WILL*comprise a large nave 40ft (12.2m) wide and 92ft (28m) long and 50ft (15.2m) high.  Transepts 40ft (12.2m) wide finished with side chapels, apsidal sanctuary, sacristies, vestry, strong room, three mural confessionals, baptistery, tower campanile and gallery….'.

*C.R. Massent, of Waverley, Sydney, only completed a HALF portion in 1921.  This was caused by a substantial 'blow out' in costs of construction, after commencement of projects and resulted in plans being modified. 
  
1921 The completed section in 1921 comprised the whole of the front with baptistery, entrance vestibule, gallery, two confessionals (instead of three) a temporary sanctuary and vestry, finished with asbestos cement.  Walls and ceilings were finished in KEEN's cement and plaster.

 The front elevation consisted of a large semi-circular arch, springing from Ionic entablature flanked each side by large piers in coloured brickwork.  The arch divided by two Ionic columns into three main entrance doorways surmounted by modelled panels.  The columns supported two adoring angels that divided the semicircular arch into three large leadlight windows.  The arch itself was flanked by panels containing a set each of Arms of the Archdiocese of Sydney and the Archbishop of Sydney. 
 
1961 Completed and extended but with modifications owing to difficulties with the site which had been restricted in size owing to the building of the East Wing of St. Pius College in 1957 and which was on part of the original Church portion.

The Sanctuary, which is normally separated from the nave and transepts has been brought forward. Behind the altar, a sandstone Reredos provides a simple and fitting background.  The altar is of sandstone, the table being in a single great stone.  It rests on stone legs at the end, in filled at the front with carved panels with a red granite centre-piece bearing the symbol of Our Lord in gold, on the face.  The floors of the sanctuary, which is on two levels, are covered with parquetry.

The tower was added in 1960.

The church can accommodate 800 people.