A multi-million dollar project to resurrect two historical buildings as part of a cathedral precinct for Maitland will begin next month.
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Plans to restore St John the Baptist Chapel and Bishop’s House will form stage one of a vision to revive the precinct for next year’s sesquicentenary of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.
“The diocese is currently working on its part of the central Maitland re-development – the cathedral precinct – and looks forward to collaborating closely with council to see this next stage of Maitland’s regeneration delivered,” catholic development fund manager Sean Scanlon said.
“The diocese has plans to refurbish the external building fabric of St John’s Chapel, the historic Bishop’s house and the surrounding grounds. This will open the area to the riverbank and community.”
The works will be undertaken as part of the 170th anniversary of the chapel and the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the diocese.
“For many years St John’s Chapel has fallen into a state of disrepair,” Mr Scanlon said.
“This is an important building in the history of the diocese, the city of Maitland and the life of the Maitland community. We aim to bring this area back to life and make it once again a community asset and a site of pilgrimage.”
The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle was formed in 1866 with the chapel established as a cathedral on November 1.
During the 1920s the church was used as a school building and in the 1950s part of the church was transformed into a classroom.