WelCom March 2022
St Mary of the Angels Church on Boulcott St Wellington was to be celebrating 100 years on 25 March with a weekend of festivities. However, following the move to the Covid-19 red traffic light protection framework, the parish has decided not to celebrate the church’s centenary this month as planned. Parish priest Brian Wysocki sm said, ‘Given the restrictions in place it would not be possible to truly celebrate the history of the church, especially its musical and liturgical traditions. A date for the celebrations will be decided once the move to the orange light framework has been announced. Hopefully they will take place later this year.’
Brian Wysocki sm
March 2022 marks 100 years since the church of St Mary of the Angels was blessed and opened by Archbishop Redwood. However, a church has stood on this site since 1843. The first Catholic settlers of Wellington constructed a wooden church that served the community for almost 40 years. The growing Catholic population necessitated a building of a larger structure – also made of wood. This church catered for the local Catholic population until 1912 when a devastating fire destroyed it.
Marists had worked in the parish since 1875, at first under the colourful and charismatic leadership of the Irish Capuchin, Fr Jeremiah O’Reily. Three years later, Archbishop Redwood appointed Fr Patrick Kerrigan as the first Marist parish priest. The Society of Mary has administered the parish ever since.
In 1917, Fr Stan Mahony became parish priest and was tasked to supervise the building of the new church. Everyone assumes he was Irish, however, he was born in London and his family emigrated to New Zealand when he was a child.
The construction of the church took place at a difficult time. The First World War was raging and there was a shortage of manpower and money. Fr Mahony and his friend Martin Maloney were the Clerks of Works. Sometimes workmen were not paid until Monday and Fr Mahony would be hoping the Sunday collection would make up for any shortfall in funds.
Once the exterior was completed, Fr Mahoney turned his attention to the beautification of the interior. He had seen and was inspired by some of the great churches of Europe. Although German industry was in chaos following World War I, Fr Mahoney purchased windows from the famous Munich stained-glass foundry of Zettler. An Italian marble altar was added, which serves the church to this day.
The sole memorial to Fr Mahony is a stained-glass window depicting his patron, St Stanislaus Koska.
The total cost of the project was less than thirty-two thousand pounds. Ninety years later the church was refurbished and earthquake strengthened while Fr Barry Scannell was parish priest. The bill was in excess of eight million dollars.
St Mary of the Angels is located in the city centre. Many people who worship here frequently are not parishioners. They take advantage of the three Masses offered daily during the week – 7.30am, 12.05pm and 5.15pm. On Sundays they worship in their own parish churches in nearby suburbs or cities.
The church has always been the focus of liturgical and civic celebrations. In the days prior to the Archdiocese of Wellington having a cathedral, many important events were hosted in the church, including the funeral of Cardinal Peter McKeefry and the consecration of Fr Tom Williams as the Archbishop of Wellington.
Music has always been a strong feature at St Mary of the Angels. During the 1950s, Maxwell Fernie brought the choir to a standard that has been maintained over subsequent years. He was also responsible for the design and installation of the current organ. The choir’s well-established fame continues to extend beyond Wellington.
A church building is given life by the people who worship and visit it. There is plenty of life here as this church enters its second century.