Tour St. Mary’s Catholic Church, built 1904, Ipswich Icon, pipe organ 1915, stained glass windows, life size Stations of the Cross.

A tour of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, know as the ‘Icon’ of Ipswich. St. Mary’s Parish was established in 1849. The cathedral style church, the third on the site, is built of Helidon sandstone, incorporating part of the 1859 second church and was completed in 1904. It contains many unique features, including: life size Stations of the Cross (1912), B.B. Whitehouse pipe organ (1915), marble high altar with a Last Supper relief by Daphne Mayo and restored stained glass windows. In 2004, four new windows were created, honouring the contribution of the pioneer nuns, brothers and priests. The church precincts contain many Heritage buildings, dating from the Presbytery (1876) designed by Italian architect Andrea Stombuco and includes the former convent (1884), Christian Brothers’ Residence (1892), school buildings (earliest 1885) and Parish Hall (1901).