Catholic Church building (St Teresa of the Child Jesus), Holyhead Street, Outram

With thanks to Pauline Lee, Bishops Office, Diocese of Dunedin, for the following information about the former Catholic Church at Outram.

Before the Catholic Church was built in Outram, it had been necessary to travel to Allanton for church services, but with a growing congregation among Outram residents, Mass began to be celebrated in the Outram township, initially in a room above Mr Keppel's store, with Rev Father Morkane holding Mass once a month during his term as Parish Priest (until 1921), and then later at the Outram Bowling Club pavillion, with Father Collins administering the parish. 

The Outram parishioners worked together with Father Collins to raise funds to help build a Church in Outram. A piece of land was donated by Mr Patrick Treacy, a local publican, and various events were held, including a bazaar in December 1924, and a musical concert in Allanton and the 'Queen Carnival' in October 1925, with Mrs Eileen Free, daughter of Mr Treacy, being crowned fund-raising queen (from among six 'contestants').

These events were very successful, raising the funds required to build the Church, and ₤500 was raised by the carnival alone. As well as the queen contest, the carnival boasted six 'stalls' - Outram stall, Mosgiel stall, Scotch stall, English stall, Irish stall and Country stall. Musical entertainment was provided by Mosgiel Brass Band and the Taieri Pipe Band, and the Outram Orchestra. There were also numerous side-shows.  

The Church building was designed by Dunedin architects Mandeno and Fraser, and plans were presented to the congregation with Father Collins presiding, at a special meeting in October 1925. The building contract went to Mr D Murphy. The altar and many items in the Church were also donated by members of the congregation and friends

The foundation stone for Outram Church was laid and blessed by Bishop J Whyte on 23rd May 1926 and the building project was finalised with a blessing by Bishop Whyte at an opening ceremony on 12th September 1926, when the Church was dedicated to St Teresa of the Child Jesus. There were a great number of parishoners in attendance - the Church was overflowing - with visitors from Dunedin, Middlemarch, Waitahuna, Allanton, Mosgiel and other parts of the Taieri. Rev Dr O'Neill, Parish Priest of Mosgiel and the Taieri, was superintendant of the arrangements. The Very Rev Dr Morkane, Director of Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, assisted Bishop Whyte as he officiated at Pontifical High Mass after the blessing of the Church. Bishop Liston, Coadjutor-Bishop of Auckland, officiated at a Pontifical Benediction at the Church later that same afternoon.

The Church was described by the New Zealand Tablet on opening as:

... a handsome structure in brick, and was erected at a cost of over ₤2000.

Congregation numbers Outram's Catholic Church were large, with around 60-70 parishioners attending weekly Mass by the 1950's-1960's. By the 1980's, though, numbers had declined to 30-40 per week, and the decline continued during the 1990's to around 25 per week. In 2000 there were fewer locals attending, and quite a few people travelled from Mosgiel for the Vigil Mass on Saturday evenings. The decision was therefore made to close Outram Church and move the Mass to the Mosgiel Church. The last Mass celebrated at Outram's Catholic Church was on 21st May 2004, by Bishop Boyle, the then Bishop of the Diocese. 

The Church was put up for sale and sold on 8th October 2004.

sources:

• The Catholic Parish of Mosgiel 1900-2000, Researched by Noreen Pearce Edited by Sister Stephanie Glen, RSM Printed in May 2000;
• Allanton New Zealand Tablet, 9th June 1921, p23
• New Zealand Tablet, 3rd December 1924, p38
• New Zealand Tablet, 11th November 1925, p43
• New Zealand Tablet, 15th September 1926, p40
• New Zealand Tablet, 7th October 1925, p35