The Diocese of Geraldton has launched a significant conservation initiative in 2025, focusing on the restoration and preservation of two of its most cherished heritage sites: the San Spirito Chapel in Utakarra and the Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church precinct in Mullewa.
The project, spearheaded by the Monsignor Hawes Heritage Incorporated (MHHI), continues the legacy of architect-priest John Cyril Hawes, whose unique blend of arts and crafts and spirituality left an indelible mark on the Mid West region of Western Australia.
San Spirito Chapel: A Testament of Faith and Architecture
Nestled within the Utakarra Cemetery, the San Spirito Chapel stands as a remarkable expression of John Hawes’ architectural brilliance and theological vision.
Designed in 1936 as a personal meditation on mortality, the chapel features a modernist exterior juxtaposed with a Romanesque interior, complete with barrel vaults, mauve mourning stripes, and a stunning painted Rood of Christ flanked by Mary and the Apostle John.
Though fully funded by Hawes at the time of construction, the chapel now requires extensive conservation.
MHHI was recently placed on a reserve list for a State Heritage Council grant to support $181,000 in urgent external repairs.
Even if the funding is secured, 50 per cent of the cost must be locally sourced, with future internal works expected to cost significantly more.
Beyond its aesthetic value, the chapel is a spiritual landmark. It houses the reinterred remains of Archdeacon Adolphe Joseph Lecaille and features a commemorative plaque for Hawes himself, who is buried beneath his hermitage on Cat Island in the Bahamas.
The chapel’s distinctive features—including wrought ironwork by Wilfred Priestner and a ceiling mural by migrant Italian artist Dan Mazotti—underscore its cultural and artistic significance.
Restoring Mullewa’s Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church
During the centenary celebration of the laying of the foundation stone at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church last September, concerns over the building’s deteriorating condition became impossible to ignore.
From flaking stone caused by rising damp to detached bass relief sculptures and rotting woodwork, the church is in urgent need of attention.
In response, MHHI launched the OLMC Precinct Project to develop a comprehensive conservation plan.
Initial works in 2024 saw the waterproofing and repainting of the church’s three domes and façade cappings, costing $37,000, partially funded by the Cyclone Seroja Vietnamese Fund and the generous support of the Critch family.
The next phase of the project will address rising damp issues, requiring drainage improvements and foundational repairs.
Estimated to cost around $1 million, the project has already received a $30,000 donation for boundary fencing.
MHHI is calling upon the local community—particularly farmers and business owners—to follow in the footsteps of past generations by dedicating time, resources, or even a portion of their harvest to help safeguard this architectural gem.
A Call to Action
The preservation of Hawes’ buildings is not only a tribute to the past but a gift to future generations.
As Fr Robert Cross, Chair of MHHI, passionately stated in the organisation’s March newsletter: “Together we can do it.” Donations to both the San Spirito Chapel and OLMC Precinct Project can be made through the John Hawes Foundation.
In a time when many faith communities face declining numbers, these conservation efforts offer a rallying point for heritage, community spirit, and spiritual renewal.
The Diocese of Geraldton, through MHHI, continues to uphold the vision of John Hawes—not merely as relics of the past, but as living testaments to beauty, faith, and resilience.
