A symbol of hope

Guests, parishioners, friends and members of the wider Binalong community gathered for Mass at St Patrick’s Binalong on February 28 to celebrate the return of the historic stained-glass windows. Photos by Fr Allen Crowe.

The window of Our Lady was donated by the Browne family

The morning light filtered through stained glass, casting a red, blue and purple glow around the marble altar in St Patrick’s Church Binalong.

Massed floral arrangements softened the air as Vicar General Fr Tony Percy prepared to celebrate Mass assisted by Deacon Patrick Whale.

On Sunday, February 28, and guests, parishioners, friends and members of the wider Binalong community gathered to mark the return of the historic stained-glass windows behind the altar.

The congregation included Parish Priest Fr Jiss, Fr Allen Crowe (retired), Fr Dom Carrigan (rector of St Clements, Galong), Helen Delahunty (Archdiocesan Financial Administrator) and Michele Murdock (Manager Catholic Development Fund).

Historically, the Binalong Catholic precinct included the church, convent, school and presbytery. The century-old church is the sole remaining building in community hands.

The movement of Binalong’s clay soil over the years caused damage to the church’s bluestone walls, leaving the stained-glass windows balanced precariously in cracked and crumbling niches. A tiny faith community tackled the massive task to stabilise the walls and restore the windows.