Sacred Heart Cathedral, Wellington: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Line 121: Line 121:
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.


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 Connolly 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, 2011(?)</ref>
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 Connolly 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, 2011(?)</ref>

==Blessed Sacrament Chapel==
The blessed Sacrament Chapel can accommodate about 60 worshippers. The chapel houses five examples of fine English Victorian stained glass from the studios of the Atkinson Brothers of five different saints. They are a unique collection. as no other building in the world contains more than two from these same workshops. The modern glass above the chapel doors was designed and fabricated by Graham Stewart of Christchurch. There is also a fine icon of the Sacred heart and St Mary his mother by contemporary iconographer, Michael Galovic (installed in 2007).<ref name="Guide"/>


==Statue of the Virgin Mary==
==Statue of the Virgin Mary==

Revision as of 10:59, 16 August 2014

Sacred Heart Cathedral
Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and St Mary his Mother
Wellington, Hill St
Map
41°16′36″S 174°46′34″E / 41.2766°S 174.7762°E / -41.2766; 174.7762
LocationThorndon, Wellington Central City
CountryNew Zealand
DenominationCatholic
WebsiteTemporary Sacred Heart Cathedral website
History
Former name(s)St Mary's Cathedral
Founded1850, 1901
Founder(s)Philippe Viard, 1st Bishop of Wellington
Dedication1850, 1901
Consecrated1984[1]
Architecture
Heritage designationCategory I
Designated2 April 1985
Architect(s)Francis Petre
Architectural typeNeo-classical
Completed1901
Administration
ArchdioceseWellington
ParishSacred Heart Cathedral Parish
Clergy
ArchbishopArchbishop John Atcherley Dew, 6th Archbishop of Wellington (2005-present)
Priest in chargeFr James Lyons (Cathedral Administrator and Parish Priest)
Laity
Director of musicMichael Fletcher
Organist(s)Michael Fletcher
Churchwarden(s)Frank Doherty
Parish administratorRita 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 Connolly Hall were added to the Cathedral in 1984, They are mainly constructed in concrete.[5]

Blessed Sacrament Chapel

The blessed Sacrament Chapel can accommodate about 60 worshippers. The chapel houses five examples of fine English Victorian stained glass from the studios of the Atkinson Brothers of five different saints. They are a unique collection. as no other building in the world contains more than two from these same workshops. The modern glass above the chapel doors was designed and fabricated by Graham Stewart of Christchurch. There is also a fine icon of the Sacred heart and St Mary his mother by contemporary iconographer, Michael Galovic (installed in 2007).[5]

Statue of the Virgin Mary

In the cloister courtyard beside the foyer entrance of the Cathedral stands the statue of the virgin Mary that was originally lodged high up on the east side of the tower of the original cathedral, St Mary's Cathedral. The statue fell some 80 feet during the 1896 fire, and as it came close to the ground it was said to hover, settling completely undamaged on the ground.[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] They were carved by Porirua master carver Lou Kereopa.[5]

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

References

  1. ^ Dan Kelly, p. 155.
  2. ^ Minor basilicas in the world.
  3. ^ Dan Kelly, pp. 75-78.
  4. ^ a b Sacred Heart Cathedral website, History of the Cathedral (retrieved 31 August 2011).
  5. ^ a b c d Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and St Mary His Mother: A Short Guide, Hill St, Thorndon, Welington", Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish, Thorndon, 2011(?)
  6. ^ ”Unique gift to cathedral”, Zealandia, 22 January 1989, p. 1.
  7. ^ 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.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sacred_Heart_Cathedral,_Wellington&oldid=621472762"