It’s been a few weeks since I posted some windows but around this area of Western Australia in the 1800’s lived an architect turned Catholic priest. His love was designing and creating houses of God.
St Francis Xavia Cathedral
What a magnificent building this is. Walk inside and it is quite a unique design. It is a byzantine style of architecture.
It has an Egyptian feel.
A closer look at the window
More stained glass windows
Another church designed by Father John Dawes is in the town of Northampton, 50 kilometres north of Geraldton and yesterday we drove there for a look around.
St Mary’s in Ara Coeli
This small window was round the back.
The late afternoon sun highlights the beautiful colour and texture of the stones. Unfortunately the door was locked. I can only imagine the inside of this smaller church would be charming.
Next door to this church a convent had been built. Later it became a budget boarding house and now stands empty waiting for some one to decide what to do next with it.
Convent of the Sacred Heart
That door looks very interesting I think I will go for a closer look
The detail is beautiful
I still have to see the church at Mullewa, but that will be another days outing.
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Dawn of “The Day After” hosts 2 challenges. “Lingering look at windows” is a weekly challenge and the “Lingering Look at Architecture” is a monthly challenge. (go to the links for more details)
Forgive me Dawn, I am cheating a bit this week as I am using the one post for both challenges.
gypsy life 
Wow, these are amazing!
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Thanks Dawn
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I love St Mary’s and you always post the most magnificent of buildings and those stain glass windows are wonderful.. Many thanks for sharing… I know when I travel I always find old churches and take pictures of windows too 🙂
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It is sad that churches have to lock their doors to protect them. A real statement on what the world has come to.
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Yes nearly all the church’s in England have locked doors… They are frightened of someone taking the silver!.. But today its the lead off the roof which is the prize.. So many churches now with leaking roofs.. as the lead has been stolen from their roofs..
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That is very sad especially as you get so much rain over there
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beautiful, amiga.. the contrasting stripes were quite interesting and added interesting detail to the arches. as always, thanks for taking us on the tour! z
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This cathedral is quite different to many others we have seen.
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Pure loveliness!
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Thanks Cindy
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Love all the windows, but especially the heart one. I hope someone restores the convent, it looks like a great building, make wonderful apartments or hotel perhaps.
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I wish I could’ve looked inside both the church and the convent Jude. Northampton is more a pass through sort of place and maybe stop for a couple of hours look around, so don’t think the travelling/tourist trade would support a hotel that size. Maybe that is why the budget boarding house closed down.
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Gosh it would have been lovely to have stayed in that Convent when it was ‘ budget style accommodation’ PP ! I hope someone will take on the challenge to bring it back to life in some way .
Do love that dove .
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Yes I think it would’ve been my type of place to stay too. But I imagine it would cost a fortune to renovate it now.
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Thanks for the link Jack
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I absolutely love the door with the heart. Beautiful pics 😀
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I can picture that door gracing your RUC Dianne
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Oh yes! I can too 😀
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Beautiful windows, Pommepal, especially the one with the white dove. 🙂
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I liked that one best too Sylvia
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I love churches, cathedrals and convents (well, lots of other architectural stuff, too, really). These are stunning! I’ve never seen rough stone used so well, and the colour only adds to the final effect. That door, too . . . and I love stained glass windows. My dad did a lot of stained glass work after he retired and would have enjoyed seeing these. Thanks for sharing. ~ Linne
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G’day Linne loved getting your comment. It was a perfect time of the day (golden hour) the sun really highlighting and bringing out the golden glow of those stones.
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Stunning! 🙂
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Thanks Aileen
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The window with the white bird I especially like.
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Thanks for the comment Jack. I wish we could’ve gone inside to see it.
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Churches are often closed, this one was cloosed last time we visited it.
The public have Sunday as a day of rest but ironically that is a priests working day.
The Lord works every day, in mysterious ways.
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🙂
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