World's Ugliest Church

Well maybe not the "World's" Ugliest Church, but it is pretty darn ugly.

Not helped by the lack of exterior maintenance.

This is the Holy Family War Memorial Church in Indooroopily.

Designed by Wm. L. Douglas and B. Barnes. There is a foundation stone "Blessed and laid by the Most Rev. James Dugig, Archbishop of Brisbane, 1961.

View all photos taken: Sunday, 17th June 2007, This photo: 11:30pm

Previous Photo: Indooroopily Hotel

Comments

  • .steve.t said:
    It actually looks better in your photo. It needs some paint desperately. The brief look I took inside was sympathetic to the exterior, so I wouldn't change it.
  • David de Groot said:
    There were definitely some odd non-traditional churches in that era. There's another odd one in Parramatta which echoes the peaked architecture in this one, but isn't nearly quite so ugly. And yes, the inside was suited the outside perfectly, but really wasn't what one would expect from a Catholic church.
  • Findo said:
    it's not ugly.. we've just moved on from modernist architecture :)

    --
    Seen on your photo stream. (?)
  • David de Groot said:
    Hmmmm, I guess that's one definition, but I still lean towards the ugly side of things, esp. considering it's a Catholic church. There wasn't even any stained glass in the church proper, just paintings on the walls where the stained glass windows should have been.
  • Misteriddles said:
    Oh I don't know. I'm quite into mid century modernism, so I'd certainly enjoy looking at this interesting building. I had heard it had been badly neglected. Actually, I read it in Brisbane Modern (Mid 20th Century Design) Magazine.
  • David de Groot said:
    That's partly what makes it so sad, the neglect that is. The exterior is definitely showing signs of neglect. The interior isn't too bad, but they really need to ditch the plastic chairs - that's just far too tacky.