Monsignor John Hawes (1876-1939) was an architect and priest who was born in Richmond, England on September 7 1876.

He began training as an architect in London in 1892.

In 1903 he was ordained an Anglican priest, after which he worked in the Bahamas. He later converted to Catholicism and was ordained a Catholic priest in Rome on February 27, 1915, after which he was sent to Geraldton, Western Australia where he worked as a both a priest and an architect.

Architecture Work

Monsignor Hawes' architectural work in the Mid West region of Western Australia is renowned. He was appointed Diocesan Architect and designed:

• The Cathedral of St Francis Xavier, a Spanish Mission style cathedral in Geraldton. The completed building was officially opened in 1938
• Nazareth House in Geraldton
• The Cemetery Chapel of the Holy Spirit in Geraldton
• The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and adjoining priest house in MullewaMullewa, Sydney Morning Herald, February 8, 2004

• Churches for many agricultural towns in the region; including Morawa, Perenjori, Yalgoo and Northampton.

The Monsignor Hawes Heritage Trail is a tourist route which visits many of these buildings, some of which he also built.

In May 1939, Hawes sailed from Fremantle to the Bahamas, officially on a pilgrimage. He lived in the Bahamas as a hermit, and died on June 26 1956 in Miami, FloridaMonsignor Hawes - Architect/Priest, City of Geraldton .

References