 Short History of St Benedict’s ParishWhat is now St Benedict’s Parish Khandallah was originally part of the parochial district of the Hutt Valley which was established, along with the Archdiocese of Wellington, in 1850. At the time it encompassed all the land north of Wellington city, including the Wairarapa, and up the west coast to Otaki. With the growth of population, the area was reduced in size. The Hutt parish boundary still rested north of Ngaio in 1922.
The first Mass was celebrated in what is now this parish in 1908, in a building known as Vickers Hall, situated in Simla Crescent. The Mass was presided over by Father T Walsh, curate of Lower Hutt. Eventually, a small church was built in Ngatoto Street and opened in September 1912.
In 1922 the northern part of the Hutt parish was cut off and a new parish of Sts Peter and Paul, Johnsonviille, established with Father Griffin appointed as Parish Priest. The Khandallah/Ngio area now became part of that parish. The Catholic population of the area continued to increase, so the building in Ngatoto Street was added onto in 1936 with the addition of the rear portion, which now incorporates the church proper. The front was converted to two classrooms for the school established by the Brigidine Sisters.
In 1950 the area of Ngaio and Khandallah was cut off from Johnsonville and became a parish in its own right with Father Tim O’Brien as the first Parish Priest. The parish set about setting up St Benedict's School in Nicholson Road, providing accommodation for a Mass centre in the school buildings. The school was opened on Sunday 7th September 1952.
On 31st January 1965 the parish opened St Benedict’s Church, on the corner of Izard Road and Everest Street in Khandallah. This provided a church central to the Khandallah area. Also on the Khandallah site the current presbytery was built, being ready for occupancy in July 1973.
|
Parish History
