John Hawes

John Cyril Hawes (7 September 1876 – 26 June 1956) was a British architect and priest. Hawes was known for designing and constructing church buildings in England, Western Australia and The Bahamas. He served as a priest in the Church of England before converting to Roman Catholicism and received ordination as a Catholic priest. He was later named a domestic prelate by Pope Pius XI and given the title "monsignor". After retiring he lived as a hermit in The Bahamas, becoming known more commonly as Father Jerome.

Biography

Hawes was born in Richmond, Surrey, to Edward, a solicitor, and Amelia Hawes. He was educated in Brighton and at the King's School, Canterbury. After leaving school he began training as an architect in London in 1893 with architects Edmeston and Gabriel. He also received formal architectural education at the Architectural Association School as well as the Central School of Arts and Crafts.

In 1897 he began practising as an architect, designing houses at Bognor. After winning a design competition, Hawes was commissioned to build his first church, St Christopher's, Gunnerton, Northumberland, in 1899. In 1909 Hawes was invited to join the Church of England mission in The Bahamas where many churches had been damaged by a hurricane. On Long Island he ministered to his native parishioners, repaired the churches, and, in 1910, he designed St Paul's Church in Clarence Town.

He died on 26 June 1956 in Miami, Florida, aged 79 and at his own request was buried in a cave located beneath the hermitage at Cat Island.

Architectural works

Hawes's architectural work in the Mid West region of Western Australia was prolific. 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 Utakarra, Geraldton The Hermitage in Geraldton The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Mullewa Churches for many agricultural towns in the region; including Morawa, Perenjori, Yalgoo and Northampton. Two private residences, one being the homestead for Melangata Station north of Yalgoo; the other the White Tower in Bognor Regis, UK, built as a holiday residence.

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

Hawes also designed the Anglican Church of St Christopher, in Gunnerton, a small village in the North Tyne valley, Northumberland. The building has been restored and now has a stained glass window by William Tillyer in the west end.