St Canute’s Church is located a little distance east from the Streaky Bay township, just off the highway to Ceduna. It sits opposite the town’s large grain silos! The Church is unexpectedly grand, created from local stone, and featuring a tower and transepts. The entry door leads to a small foyer area which extends to the right beneath the tower. There is a confessional to the left of the entry, with small windows looking out over the notice board. INDEX
2. NORTHWEST VIEW, TOWER
The Church has an interesting solid construction, with prominent buttresses, and large castellations at the top of the tower, and above the confessional. We observe the notice board, and also a foundation stone on the West tower wall. An unusual round window gives light to the foyer area. I was just in time to catch the cleansing angel in action!
3. NOTICE BOARD AND FOUNDATION STONE
The notice board gives the briefest of information, and the foundation stone carries the date 1912 on which the Church was built. Canute IV (1042 – 1086), later known as Canute the Holy (Danish: Knud IV den Hellige) or Saint Canute (Sankt Knud), was King of Denmark from 1080 until 1086. Canute was an ambitious king who sought to strengthen the Danish monarchy, devotedly supported the Roman Catholic Church, and had designs on the English throne. Slain by rebels in 1086, he was the first Danish king to be canonized. He was recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as patron saint of Denmark in 1101. ‘St Canute’ arrived in Streaky Bay with Church founder Danish priest Fr Peder Jorgensen.
4. NORTH WALL
We begin our walk around the Church in a clockwise direction. From here we see the short nave, and the North transept, which is situated right at the East end of the building, forming a T with the nave.
5. EAST WALL
Walking to the East end, we see the Gothic arch of the sanctuary, and the fact that the transepts abut the East wall. A more modern building links to the old Church on the North side.
6. EAST WALL DETAILS
We note the three Eastern sanctuary lancet windows. The Church building appears to remain structurally sound with little sign of movement. The gables are topped with closed Celtic crosses.
7. SOUTH WALL
Further round we can view the South transept with its entry ramp, the South wall of the nave, and the South wall of the tower. The windows here all appear to be plain. I wonder if the tower contains a bell?
8. GROTTO
This little grotto stands to the Southwest of the Church, and was made in 2012 for the centenary celebrations of the Church. It was made by local man, Murray Cook. The grotto celebrates the appearing of the Virgin Mary to young lady Bernadette Soubiros in 1858. It is said that this was when the healing spring at Lourdes began to flow.
10. NAVE CEILING
The ceiling above is constructed with stained planks: these follow the roof line at the sides, and then there is a flat central section.
11. WEST NAVE
From the centre of the nave we look back towards the West wall. The line of Stations of the Cross continues across this wall. To the left are a couple of photographs; to the right, a door through to the Confessional.
12. NORTH NAVE
The North wall of the nave is unadorned, apart from the Stations of the Cross. The windows have plain glass, and we notice bar heaters for winter warming, and fans overhead for summer cooling. There is an amplifying speaker at the sanctuary end.
13. SOUTH NAVE
The South nave wall is similar to the North wall. Speakers at the sanctuary end provide sound amplification.
14. POPE AND BISHOP
On the West wall there are two photographs. Above is Pope Francis. Francis, original name Jorge Mario Bergoglio, (born December 17, 1936, Buenos Aires, Argentina) is the bishop of Rome and the leader of the Roman Catholic Church (2013 – ). He was the first pope from the Western Hemisphere, the first from South America, and the first from the Jesuit order. Below is Gregory O’Kelly, Bishop of the Diocese of Port Pirie to which St Canute’s Church belongs. O’Kelly was ordained a priest for the Society of Jesus in Adelaide in 1972. His career has been largely devoted to education. On 6 July 2006, O’Kelly was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Adelaide and titular bishop of Ath Truim in Ireland. He was the first Jesuit to be appointed a bishop in Australia.
15. STATIONS OF THE CROSS
The Stations of the Cross are of a traditional old style, painted and set in stained wooden frames. Shown here are: I. Jesus is condemned to death; IV. Jesus meets his mother; XI. Jesus is nailed to the Cross; XIV. Jesus is placed in the sepulchre. Traditionally there are 14 Stations of the Cross, used as an aid to meditation, particularly around Easter time.
17. ALTAR
In Old Testament times the altar was the place of sacrifice. This is alluded to today as the Mass is celebrated from here, with the Elements of the Eucharist being distributed. We notice the Crucifix resting on the altar, and also the painting of the Last Supper on the front, facing the congregation.
18. ALTAR PAINTING
The Last Supper is a late 15th-century mural painting by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci housed by the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. It is one of the Western world’s most recognizable paintings. There are many copies, of which this is one. The painting represents the scene of the Last Supper of Jesus with his apostles, as it is told in the Gospel of John, 13:21. Leonardo has depicted the consternation that occurred among the Twelve Apostles when Jesus announced that one of them would betray him.
19. CRUCIFIX AND TABERNACLE
This is the altar crucifix. It is a reminder of the death of Christ on the Cross, and his redeeming sacrifice for the world. At right is another Crucifix, this one standing on the tabernacle. This is a locked box which contains Reserved Elements of the Eucharist. These are wafers and wine which have been blessed, and are available for use in, for example, ministering to the sick.
20. EAST WINDOWS
These three lancet windows behind the altar depict three scenes in the life (and death) of Jesus. At left is the Nativity, with Mary and Joseph, and the newly born Child. The star is visible near the top. In the right window, Joseph and Mary present the young Boy Jesus in the Temple. At centre is the Crucifixion of Christ, with his Mother Mary, the disciple John, and Mary Magdalene in attendance.