St Joseph's Convent Chapel, Kensington

The Chapel at Kensington

The foundation stone for a Chapel, Convent and Novitiate was laid on 8 September, 1875 and the completed building was blessed and opened on 8 May, 1876. The Chapel was on ground level with sleeping quarters above and below. The ceiling (the floor of the dormitory above) extended almost three quarters of the way along the length of the chapel. The room below (the present Crypt) was the Novitiate.

In 1931 the original wooden altar in the Chapel was replaced with a marble one. This was a gift from the family of Sr Flavia Sheedy. The altar rails were donated by the family of Sr Liguouri Sinn.

In 1938 the porch at the front of the chapel was constructed and the front door leading to the crypt was closed in. The square top windows were changed to a curved design and the floor was renewed. The original pews were replaced with the present seats and memorial plaques were added to each seat. The upstairs sleeping accommodation was cut back and is now the choir loft.

In 1954 the vestry, confessional and priest's flat on the eastern side of the chapel were completed.

The present Stations of the Cross were added in 1961.

By 1970 it became necessary to carry out major renovations. This included the redesign and relocation of the altar in accordance with the instructions of Vatican 11 stipulating that the celebrant face the congregation.

Arches were cut in the walls in order to extend the sanctuary. This provided an area for the new wooden carvings of Mary and Joseph which are of a Spanish design. The marble altar rails were removed, the large painting of the Sacred Heart was moved from above the altar to its present site and was replaced with a crucifix. The floor was carpeted.

Renovations to the Crypt under the chapel were completed in 1974. This became the South Australian Josephite Archives (till 2005) and was the forerunner to the present Mary MacKillop Centre.

The wooden carving of Mary MacKillop, which stands in the chapel porch, was donated to the Sisters of St Joseph in South Australia in 1995, by the Knights of the Southern Cross. This was a gift commemorating the Beatification of Blessed Mary MacKillop on January 19, 1995.

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