The foundation stone, which cannot be found today, was laid in 1867 & it is from this date that the anniversaries are counted, although the building only began in 1869. It was completed in 1875 after many financial constraints & problems. In 1894 the chancel was added & the original galvanized iron roof was replaced by the slate roof in 1966.
From earliest childhood she was known for her beauty & great intellect, stimulated by all the resources in her parents’ kingdom & beyond. Orphaned by 14 years of age she became queen & to the dismay of the elders found no suitable person to marry. A hermit learned in a dream that the King who should be Lord of her heart was to be the Blessed Virgin’s Son & after he showed her their picture, Katharine could think of no other. In a dream the Lord turned her away as not being fair enough for Him & after that Katharine could not rest until she had become a Christian & was baptised. Again in a dream, the Lord betrothed Himself to her & she was so filled with faith & fortitude that she confronted the cruel Maximin of Italy who was ravaging all the Christians in Egypt. So convincing was her appeal at the assembly he convened to trap her, that many were converted & believed that Christ was Lord & God. This so enraged Maximin that he ordered further massacres of Christians & had Katharine tortured, wounded & thrown in a dungeon. Even there, the captive princess continued to talk of God & converted Maximin’s own wife & chief captain. Finally as she was chained between 4 wheels that were to tear her body, fire came down from heaven & broke the wheels apart. While others were hurt by flying fragments, Katharine was unharmed. Maximin ordered her to be taken outside the city of Alexandria where she was beheaded with a sword. Her body was taken to Mount Sinai where a monastery named after St Katharine may be found. Katharine became a great Virgin Patron, her Saint’s Day is November 25th.