The Abbey Church of New Norcia, Western Australia
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382811)
Rockingham, Australia
August 31, 2025 8:12pm CST
I’ve written a little about New Norcia, Australia's only monastic town. In the beginning, two Spanish Benedictines, a French and an English Benedictine and an Irish catechist were charged with going to the region and ministering to the indigenous people. In the end, only the two Spaniards made it to New Norcia. The Englishman became ill, the Irishman was accidentally shot and this caused the mental state of the Frenchman to decline to such an extent that he was sent back to France!
The organ in the church was built to the design of a monk, Dom Moreno, who was a composer of note and an organist. It was built in Munich in 1922 and displayed at the German Trade Exhibition, before being shipped to Australia in 24 zinc-lined cases. It was installed in The Abbey Church of the Holy Trinity in mid-1923 and refurbished in 1978. At the time, the organ was considered very advanced. Its refurbishment included removing candle grease from the mouths of the pipes.
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12 responses
@allknowing (153529)
• India
1 Sep
While I was on foreign tours one thing our tour conductors ensured that we visited several churches more for their architectural grandeur.
Is the organ in working condition?
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@luisadannointed (11885)
• Philippines
1 Sep
That's cool to know. I think a lot of churches have a cool design and organs to show.
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@luisadannointed (11885)
• Philippines
1 Sep
@JudyEv It is also cool to have a balcony inside the church where the choir sings.
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@JudyEv (382811)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Sep
@luisadannointed Yes, that's true. And often the organist has like a rear-view mirror so he can see the conductor behind him.
1 person likes this
I can't imagine going up and down those hills. Thanks for the photo.
@snowy22315 (209325)
• United States
1 Sep
One doesn't think of Monks in Australia, but 8 am sure they are everywhere.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382811)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Sep
They were taught a lot of skills, were housed and fed, and had their illnesses tended to so it cuts both ways a bit. They were also free to leave if and when they wanted to. An interesting bit of trivia - there are still two old ladies there who speak fluent Spanish which they picked up from the nuns. I don't think Spanish was taught per se.
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@YuleimaVzla (1857)
• Maracaibo, Venezuela
1 Sep
It looks architecturally restored but respecting its historical heritage as it should be, it is something worth visiting beautiful walkways
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@LindaOHio (223055)
• United States
1 Sep
That's a lovely church. Thank you for the history.
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@Dreamerby (10111)
• Calcutta, India
1 Sep
The Irishman was "accidentally" shot? That's sad and distressing.
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