Sacred Heart Cathedral, Wellington: Difference between revisions
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Designed by architect [[Francis Petre]], Sacred Heart was built on a classical [[basilica]]n plan, with [[ionic column]]s of [[Oamaru stone]] and a high [[pediment]]. For a period it had twin bell towers topped with domes, but these additions - not in Petre's design - were removed in 1942, following an earthquake. |
Designed by architect [[Francis Petre]], Sacred Heart was built on a classical [[basilica]]n plan, with [[ionic column]]s of [[Oamaru stone]] and a high [[pediment]]. For a period it had twin bell towers topped with domes, but these additions - not in Petre's design - were removed in 1942, following an earthquake. |
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The interior features a main aisle and two side aisles, a large [[colonnade]]d [[nave]] and a large arch forming the entrance to the [[sanctuary]].<ref name="SHC"/> |
The interior features a main aisle and two side aisles, a large [[colonnade]]d [[nave]] and a large arch forming the entrance to the [[sanctuary]].<ref name="SHC"/> The Cathedral is largely built of Oamaru limestone with brick facings. To strengthen the building against earthquakes, concrete piers and steel beams have been incorporated in the fabric of the building. The Blessed Sacrament chapel, the foyer entrance and the adjoining Connoly Hall were added to the Cathedral in 1984,. They are mainly constructed in concrete.<ref name="Guide">''Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and St Mary His Mother: A Short Guide'', Hill St, Thorndon, Welington", Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish, Thorndon, 2001(?)</ref> |
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==Kohatu whakairo and Pou== |
==Kohatu whakairo and Pou== |
Revision as of 10:40, 16 August 2014
Sacred Heart Cathedral | |
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Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and St Mary his Mother | |
![]() Wellington, Hill St | |
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41°16′36″S 174°46′34″E / 41.2766°S 174.7762°E | |
Location | Thorndon, Wellington Central City |
Country | New Zealand |
Denomination | Catholic |
Website | Temporary Sacred Heart Cathedral website |
History | |
Former name(s) | St Mary's Cathedral |
Founded | 1850, 1901 |
Founder(s) | Philippe Viard, 1st Bishop of Wellington |
Dedication | 1850, 1901 |
Consecrated | 1984[1] |
Architecture | |
Heritage designation | Category I |
Designated | 2 April 1985 |
Architect(s) | Francis Petre |
Architectural type | Neo-classical |
Completed | 1901 |
Administration | |
Archdiocese | Wellington |
Parish | Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish |
Clergy | |
Archbishop | Archbishop John Atcherley Dew, 6th Archbishop of Wellington (2005-present) |
Priest in charge | Fr James Lyons (Cathedral Administrator and Parish Priest) |
Laity | |
Director of music | Michael Fletcher |
Organist(s) | Michael Fletcher |
Churchwarden(s) | Frank Doherty |
Parish administrator | Rita Phelon & Frank Doherty |
The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and of Saint Mary His Mother, better known as Sacred Heart Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral on Hill Street, Thorndon in Wellington, New Zealand. It is the cathedral of the Archbishop of Wellington. The church was popularly known as "the basilica", because of its architectural style (has not been declared a minor basilica by the Vatican.[2]), before it was designated as the cathedral of Wellington in 1983.
History
The first church to be built on the Hill Street Site was St. Mary's Cathedral, blessed and opened in 1851. It was gutted by fire in 1898, during repainting. Because the Catholic population of Wellington was then mostly based in the Te Aro and Newtown areas, it was decided that a new cathedral should be erected in that part of the city and a 'serviceable church in brick' built on the site of the old cathedral.[3]
However the new church, called the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, was rather grander than this. Its foundation stone was laid in 1899 and the building blessed and opened two years later. The money to build Sacred Heart was taken from the fund for the new cathedral. The new cathedral was never actually built. In 1983 the Basilica was elevated to the status of a cathedral by Cardinal Thomas Williams. The following year it was made a Category 1 Historic Place.[4]
Design
Designed by architect Francis Petre, Sacred Heart was built on a classical basilican plan, with ionic columns of Oamaru stone and a high pediment. For a period it had twin bell towers topped with domes, but these additions - not in Petre's design - were removed in 1942, following an earthquake.
The interior features a main aisle and two side aisles, a large colonnaded nave and a large arch forming the entrance to the sanctuary.[4] The Cathedral is largely built of Oamaru limestone with brick facings. To strengthen the building against earthquakes, concrete piers and steel beams have been incorporated in the fabric of the building. The Blessed Sacrament chapel, the foyer entrance and the adjoining Connoly Hall were added to the Cathedral in 1984,. They are mainly constructed in concrete.[5]
Kohatu whakairo and Pou
Amongst the treasures of the Cathedral are a kohatu whakairo (a carved rock of Oamaru stone) situated inside the Cathedral entrance and a pou (a carved wooden pole) in the piazza in front of the Cathedral. These taonga were gifts from Catholic Māori of the the Archdiocese and were installed in 1989.[6]
Mass times
The normal Mass times are:
- Weekdays: 8.00am and 12.10pm
- Saturday: 8.30am and (Vigil Mass for Sunday) 5.30pm.
- Sunday: 10.30am and 7.00pm (Retrieved 17 December 2012)</ref>
Music
Sacred Heart Cathedral has a strong music tradition. At present there are two instrumental (piano, guitars, organ) and vocal ensembles to lead congregational hymn-singing for at least one Sunday Mass each week.
Currently there are two choirs. The adult choir is made up of a dedicated group of mostly young singers. This choir sings most Sundays at the Cathedral at the 10.30am Mass as well as at concerts and special services. While firmly based on Gregorian chant, the choir sings a wide repertoire range from Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Tomás Luis de Victoria, Thomas Tallis and William Byrd to George Frideric Handel, Herbert Howells, Samuel Sebastian Wesley, Gabriel Fauré, Maurice Duruflé, Ildebrando Pizzetti, James MacMillan and many other composers including occasional commissioned contemporary works. The boys' choir is made up of about 15 boys from Sacred Heart Cathedral School. Each boy receives a scholarship which pays for weekly individual vocal tuition and theory lessons. The boys sing Vespers every Wednesday (5.30pm) and Choral Mass every second Sunday of the month (10.30am) during school term time.[7]
See also
- Francis Petre and Sacred Heart Cathedral, Wellington
- Sacred Heart Cathedral School, Thorndon
- St Mary's College, Wellington
- Sisters of Mercy
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington
- Roman Catholicism in New Zealand
- Holy Cross College (New Zealand)
- Holy Name Seminary
- Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch
References
- ^ Dan Kelly, p. 155.
- ^ Minor basilicas in the world.
- ^ Dan Kelly, pp. 75-78.
- ^ a b Sacred Heart Cathedral website, History of the Cathedral (retrieved 31 August 2011).
- ^ Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and St Mary His Mother: A Short Guide, Hill St, Thorndon, Welington", Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish, Thorndon, 2001(?)
- ^ ”Unique gift to cathedral”, Zealandia, 22 January 1989, p. 1.
- ^ Programme Notes, Noel: A concert of Advent and Christmas music, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Wellington, 5 December 2012.
Sources
- Temporary site
- "Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Catholic)". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
- Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand: Photograph of the Cathedral showing bell towers.
- Dan Kelly, On Golders Hill: A History of the Thorndon Parish, Daniel Kelly/Parish of the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and of Saint Mary His Mother, Wellington, 2001.
- 1901 establishments in New Zealand
- Francis Petre buildings
- NZHPT Category I listings in the Wellington Region
- Roman Catholic cathedrals in New Zealand
- Places of worship in Wellington City
- Religious buildings completed in 1901
- Roman Catholic churches completed in 1901
- 1901 in New Zealand
- Basilica churches in Oceania