Church History
       

What then is a church?

While the "church" is a mystery made up of people, right from the beginning Christians have always sought to express in a concrete way their praise and worship of God.

Our word "church" originally came from a Greek word which meant, 'something which belongs to the Lord.'

St. Raphael's Church
The present church is the third church to stand on or near this site. Its generous proportions speak of the confidence of the Catholic community as well as the vision and architectural craftsmanship it mustered at that time. The present church was opened on 19th April 1939. It was, for many reasons, the crowning event of an extraordinarily long and fruitful ministry of Cowra's first parish priest Archdeacon Denis O'Kennedy, who at 83 years lived to see the church opened after almost fifty years as parish priest.
 
Legend:
  1. Statue of St. Raphael
  2. Door 1, the symbol of FAITH
  3. Door 2, the symbol of HOPE
  4. Door 3, the symbol of LOVE
  5. Old Baptistry
  6. Window over the old Baptistry
  7. Foundation stone
  8. Pious goods shop
  9. The Holy water stoup
  10. Stained glass window of Jesus Christ High Priest
  11. Stained glass window of Mary the Mother of God
  12. Stained glass of St. Francis of Assisi.
  13. Stained glass of Our Lady of the Rosary
  14. Stained glass of St. Dympna.
  15. Stained glass of St. Joseph
  16. Reconciliation room
  17. Votive candle stand
  18. Stained glass of St. Columba
  19. Stained glass of St. Patrick
  20. Our Lady's Altar
  21. Lectern
  22. Main Altar
  23. Blessed Sacrament shrine.
  24. Processional Cross
  25. Altar of the Sacred Heart
  26. Baptismal Font
  27. Stained glass of St. Raphael.
  28. Stained glass of St. Denis
  29. The Pieta
  30. Storage room
  31. Organ console
  32. Stained glass of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
  33. Stained glass of St. Brigid
  34. Table for the offertory gifts
  35. Paschal Candle
  36. Depository for the Holy Oils
  37. Sanctuary Lamp
  38. Sacristry
  39. Statue of St. Patrick
  40. Statue of St. Teresa of Lisieux
  41. Statue of the Infant of Prague
  42. Statue of St. Anthony of Padua
  43. Statue of the Sacred Heart
  44. Statue of Mary the Mother of God
 

 

 
   
       
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