The arson attack that caused the destruction of St Patrick’s Cathedral in 1996 had a lasting impact on the firefighters who attended the blaze on that day, the NSW Fire chief has told a gathering to celebrate the launch of a book on the fire.
“These events don’t just happen and our firefighters go to them and walk away without thinking about them any more,” said Jeremy Fewtrell, the Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW.
“They have a personal, direct impact on our people as well. So there’s that empathy between the firefighters and the people who are experiencing the loss.”
He was speaking nearly 30 years on from those traumatic events, at the launch of a book by the dean of the Cathedral at the time, Monsignor John Boyle, detailing the lead up to the fire and its aftermath.
Monsignor Boyle with, from left, Jeremy Fewtrell, Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Judith Dunn OAM, and MC for the event Denis Fitzgerald AM. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
“I think Monsignor John has done such a wonderful job capturing all the elements of the story for the Diocese of Parramatta,” the commissioner said.
Called Tested By Fire, the book was officially launched by Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, at the Cathedral’s Cloister Hall on Friday, 31 October, in front of more than 200 people, many of whom witnessed the fire or were involved in the rescue and rebuilding afterwards.
Bishop Vincent said Monsignor Boyle was one of the “most qualified living witnesses to write an account of the destruction of the old St Patrick’s”, which was a “shocking and emotionally powerful event”. His book also chronicles how the Diocese responded to the challenge of rebuilding the Cathedral after the fire.
“Readers will be treated to a fascinating account of how Divine Providence accompanied the efforts not only to construct a stunning new Cathedral but to create a seamlessly cohesive architectural marvel,” Bishop Vincent said.
“[This book] is a highly significant contribution to the history of St Patrick’s Cathedral and the young Diocese of Parramatta.”
Monsignor Boyle signing copies of Tested By Fire. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
In his speech, Monsignor Boyle thanked Bishop Vincent for suggesting he write the book, and paid tribute to the many people who rallied around on that day, helping in any way they could.
“I want to say how grateful we are for all those who were involved on that disastrous afternoon of February 19, 1996,” he said. “My memoir is really your story, I’ve just filled in the details.”
Among those he thanked included Paul Vella, the policeman who arrested the arsonist only a few hours after he had lit the fire; the late fire inspector Peter Casey, who was the first on the scene and who directed the other firefighters as they put out the flames.
Then there was the generosity of the Parramatta Mercy sisters who allowed their chapel across the road to be used by the congregation during the rebuilding; the Anglican Bishop Brian King who offered the use of his churches for weddings and more; and the architect John King who arrived on the evening of the fire with plans of the building so that firefighters could know whether it would be safe to enter. It was John King who sat with Monsignor Boyle in the gutter that evening, watching the fire burn.
“The spire was not able to be put out, but the water from the fire hoses had dropped in with the dust of the place, making mud,” Monsignor Boyle said. “John King used that mud as a drawing plan, and there at 4am, in the morning, we drew the cathedral that we have today.”
It was standing room only in the Cloister hall of the Cathedral for the launch. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
But he said his “greatest thanks” were due to the parishioners and parish staff from that time, who were “terrific” in how they handled those terrible events and the many months and years of disruption that followed.
Frances Gallagher, the parish secretary at the Cathedral at that time, was one of many from the parish in the audience for the launch of the book. She remembers on that day being told about the fire and racing down to the office to help field phone calls.
She said Monsignor Boyle was devastated when the fire happened, but that he was the ideal person to lead the rebuilding efforts. “He just knows how to talk to people, how to get things moving,” Frances told Catholic Outlook at the book launch.
“I’m really pleased for him, it’s a really, really nice book.”
Local historian Judith Dunn, from the Parramatta and District Historical Society, another one of the speakers at the launch, said the book was important because, while it “bravely revealed [Monsignor Boyle’s] own distress at the time”, it also gathered the words, thoughts and feelings of others who were there and involved.
“I congratulate Monsignor Boyle on gathering these stories before they’re lost or destroyed with time,” she said.
The launch of the book is aligned with our Diocesan Pastoral Plan priorities of Community and our synodal vision of being an Inclusive and Welcoming Church. Visit Synodality to learn more.
Tested By Fire by Monsignor John Boyle is now available at stpauls.com.au. Copies are also available in the bookshop adjacent to St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta.
