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St Joseph's Church First World War Memorial Stations of the Cross, Gunnedah

St Joseph's Church First World War Memorial Stations of the Cross, Gunnedah
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Eastern wall of church showing stations 1-7
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Western wall showing station 8-14
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - St Joseph's interior from choir loft
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - First Station of the Cross
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Plaque of First Station dedicated by Private Freill to his lost friends
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Second Station of the Cross
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Plaque of Second Station dedicated to Private Leonard Bowen
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Fourth Station of the Cross
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Plaque of Fourth Station dedicated to Private William Fitzgerald
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Fifth Station of the Cross
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Plaque of Fifth Station dedicated by W.J. O'Brien to comrades killed at Lone Pine
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Sixth Station of the Cross
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Plaque of Sixth Station dedicated to Private  John Babbage
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Seventh Station of the Cross
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Plaque of Seventh Station dedicated to  Private Albert Nelson
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Eighth Station of the Cross
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Plaque of Eighth Station dedicated to Trooper George and Private James McGuire
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Ninth Station of the Cross
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Plaque of Ninth Station dedicated to  Sergeant William Best
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Tenth Station of the Cross
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Plaque of Tenth Station dedicated Private Leslie Turner
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Eleventh Station of the Cross
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Plaque of Eleventh Station dedicated to  Corporal Royal Grace
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Twelfth Station of the Cross
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Plaque of the Twelfth Station dedicated to Sergeant John Bloomfield
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Thirteenth Station of the Cross
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Plaque of Thirteenth Station dedicated to Private David Cushan
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Fourteenth Station of the Cross
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Plaque of Fourteenth Station dedicated to Corporal John Ford
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Third Station of the Cross
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Plaque of Third Station dedicated to Driver Edward Cohen
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Fourth Station of the Cross
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - St Joseph's Altar Sanctuary
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Western Facade of St Joseph
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - exterior of church from Conadilly Street
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Stations of the Cross, St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah - Foundation Stone
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Description / Background

St Joseph’s Church was built in Gothic style by the parishioners in 1918-1919, beginning in the final months of the First World War. The foundation stone was laid on 7 July 1918 by Dr O'Connor, Bishop of Armidale and the opening and blessing of the church was celebrated on 22 June 1919. The building of the church at this time was a significant achievement for the parish.

There are fourteen 'Stations of the Cross' in Catholic churches commemorating Jesus' journey to Calvary in visual images such as paintings, reliefs or sculptures. The stations in St Joseph’s are paintings in ornately carved timber frames. Each station was donated by parishioners in honour of a soldier or soldiers from Gunnedah and surrounding areas who fell during the war. Each station has a plaque detailing who it was erected by, in whose honour it is erected and where and when they died.

The stations depicted are:

  1. Jesus is condemned to death
  2. Jesus is made to bear his cross
  3. Jesus falls the first time
  4. Jesus meets his mother
  5. The Cyrenean helps Jesus
  6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
  7. Jesus falls the second time
  8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
  9. Jesus falls the third time
  10. Jesus is stripped of his garments
  11. Jesus is nailed to the cross
  12. Jesus dies on the cross
  13. Jesus is taken from the cross
  14. Jesus is placed in the sepulchre
Inscription

Foundation stone

A.M. D.G

This stone was blessed, and laid by Rt Revd Dr O'Connor. Bishop of Armidale. 7th July, 1918.

Station I plaque

Erected by Private S. Freill in memory of friends killed at Gallipoli 1915. R.I.P.

Station II plaque

Erected by T. J. Bowen in memory of Private L. Bowen Died in England 12th October 1915 R.I.P.

Station III plaque

Erected by Mrs S. Cohen in memory of Driver E. Cohen Killed in France 30 March 1918 R.I.P.

Station IV plaque

Erected by Fitzgerald Family Huntsgrove in memory of Private W. B. Fitzgerald Killed in France 30 July 1918 R.I.P.

Station V plaque

Erected by Private W. J. O'Brien in memory of comrades Killed at Lone Pine 6th August 1915 R.I.P.

Station VI plaque

Erected by F. Babbage in memory of Private J. Babbage Killed in France 26 September 1917 R.I.P.

Station VII plaque

Erected by Mrs Nelson in memory of Private A. J. Nelson Killed at Gallipoli 15th August 1915 R.I.P.

Station VIII plaque

Erected by T. Maguire Boggabri in memory of Private J. J. Maguire Killed in France 16th April 1918

And 

Trooper G. F. Maguire Killed in Egypt 8th August 1918 R.I.P.

Station IX plaque

Erected by Mrs Best in memory of Seargeant W. J. Best Killed in France 10th August 1918 R.I.P.

Station X plaque

Erected by A. Turner. Carroll in memory of Private L. A. Turner Killed in France 7th June 1917 R.I.P.

Station XI plaque

Erected by E. Grace Tambar Springs in memory of Corporal R. Grace Killed in France 8th November 1916 R.I.P.

Station XII plaque

Erected by Mrs Bloomfield JUNr in memory of Sergeant J. Bloomfield Killed in France 12 October 1917 R.I.P.

Station XIII plaque

Presented by Mr & Mrs Cushan & family in memory of Private D. Cushan Killed in France 13th July 1917 R.I.P.

Station XIV plaque

Erected by Mrs Ford in memory of Corporal J. Ford Killed at sea 11th December 1916 R.I.P.

Veterans listed on this memorial

Veterans listed on this memorial

Last held rank Given name Family name Conflict/s Service No. Service Campaign Read more
Driver J F Babbage World War 1 25655 Army France, Ypres Belgium view
Pte W J Best World War 1 958 Army Somme, France view
Sgt J Bloomfield World War 1 16 Army France, Ypres Belgium view
Pte L J Bowen World War 1 2275 Army Suez view
Driver E L Cohen World War 1 33043 Army Amiens France view
Pte D B Cushan World War 1 2578 Army Mudros, Gallipoli view
Pte W B Fitzgerald World War 1 4294 Army France view
Pte J H Ford World War 1 4398 Army Did not make to battle view
Cpl R A Grace World War 1 3643 Army Villers Bretonneux, France view
Pte J J McGuire World War 1 834 Army France view

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Address
346 Conadilly Street
Gunnedah NSW 2380
Local Government Area
Gunnedah Shire
Setting
Building – inside
Memorial type
Other
Recorded by
Mackenzie Dewsbury, Emmerson Tull and Vicki Isbester. Marie Hobson, photographer.
Conflict/s
First World War, 1914–18