St Bernadettes Roman Catholic Church

St Bernadettes Church of 1961-62, designed by Robert Ellis, is significant. The presbytery c.1970 and associated c.1961 convent contribute to the historical evolution of the site but are not significant.

How is it significant?

St Bernadettes Church is of historic, architectural, aesthetic, social and spiritual significance to the City of Banyule .

Why is it significant?

St Bernadettes Catholic Church is one of three modernist churches built as a result of the division of the Ivanhoe Parish in 1950.(Criterion A)

St Bernadettes is architecturally and aesthetically significant as a superb example of modernist religious architecture and as one of only two known examples of work by the modernist architect, Robert Ellis. (Criterion B)

Incorporating some modernist features such as the angled front window and elliptical bell tower, the Church also adopts several elements from Le Corbusier's Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut at Ronchamp. In particular this connection refers to the folded elliptical roof and the design and orientation of its windows allowing for small and seemingly irregular patterns of light to be projected in to the building and on to the walls of the Church's interior. The large windows with vertical fins are a striking part of the overall design and composition. (Criteria A, B, D& F)

St Bernadettes Church is of social and spiritual significance because it has provided a local place of worship for Catholics in the area for almost 50 years. (Criteria G & H)

The associated presbytery and convent are of some historic significance for their connection to the spiritual mission of the Church. (Criteria (A, G )

Group

Religion

Category

Church