Sacred Heart Basilica, Timaru: Difference between revisions

Sacred Heart Basilica
Location	Timaru, South Canterbury
Country	New Zealand
Denomination	Catholic
Website	Sacred Heart Church
History
Founded	1911
Founder(s)	Father John Tubman
Dedication	1911
Consecrated	1911
Architecture
Heritage designation	Category I
Architect(s)	Francis Petre
Architectural type	Palladian Revival
Completed	1901
Administration
Archdiocese	Wellington
Parish	Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish

Sacraments

The normal Mass times are:

Palladian basilica

[File:Timarubasilica.jpg]

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart is the third church built on the Craigie Avenue property. A wooden chapel was opened on 25th October 1874, and was replaced three years later by a larger church. Increasing numbers of parishioners dictated the need for a further, and even larger building. The inspiration for the design of the basilica came during a visit to the United States by the Parish Priest Father John Tubman. His brother was a priest at the cathedral in Reno, Nevada, and Fr Tubman was impressed with the design of that church. So it is that the exterior of the Timaru basilica bears resemblance to the Cathedral of St Thomas Aquinas, Reno. Upon his return to Timaru in 1907 Fr. Tubman had plans drawn up, based on photographs he brought back with him. The plans were drawn by the noted Dunedin architect, Frank Petre. Fr. Tubman thought the plan for the proposed building too ambitious, considering the size of the parish, and the financial resources available. He redrew the plans leaving out the towers and sacristies. Petre was infuriated with the proposal and threatened to withdraw from the venture, unless his original plans were adhered to. Fr. Tubman, however, was determined to proceed with his modified plan, and took over supervision himself. He hired Bart Moriarty as building supervisor, and began clearing and levelling the property, using voluntary labour. Fr. Tubman approached the Bishop of Christchurch, the Most Rev. John J Grimes S.M. with his revised plan seeking approval for it. The bishop, however, was appalled with the revision and Fr. Tubman finally relented. In November 1909, Fr Tubman wrote to the bishop: “My Lord Bishop, Encouraged by your kind and considerate letter, I have made up my mind to take the plunge. It is an immense undertaking to attempt the whole plan of the church, but perhaps providence might be kind, and as it is, as you say, an unsatisfactory thing and a painful eyesore to witness what you call ‘a monstrosity’ . . . It is I recognise, an immense undertaking for a place the size of Timaru, where there is not a single man who can afford to give a big donation, and the great majority very little. I have been around half the farmers of the district this day, and they all promised to send teams of horses to do the carting. We can save a lot in this way which we could not on contract. I have every confidence in Moriarty, and I am sure he will get as much out of the labourers as any contractor could . . . By doing it by day labour it will mean procuring a plant ourselves, but that can be sold at the finish . . .” Thus the ambitious project was undertaken in earnest. Fr. Tubman had at the time £7,000. In order to maintain the budget, the tradesmen were paid at the end of each day. W. J. Harding was appointed the stone work overseer and A. Kennedy supervised the brick work. Many district farmers contributed their labour and materials, and Gerald Virtue co-ordinated their efforts. Farmers at the Levels felled blue gums to use as scaffolding, and transported them to the site. Parishioners from St Andrews carted sand and shingle to the railhead and Timaru me off-loaded, and carted it by bullock teams to the site. It was not uncommon to see the pastor climbing ladders and scaffolding to check progress.

The Foundation stone

This was laid by Bishop Grimes, assisted by Bishop Verdon of Dunedin on 6th February 1910. In a sealed receptacle beneath the stone, newspapers, coins and documents of the time were placed. A collection amounting to £1100 was taken up after the ceremony. There were many generous benefactors present, including the Mayor and Member of Parliament James Craigie, who gave ten pounds. John Cassidy of the Levels gave the foundation stone and the silver trowel used in the ceremony. Benediction was given from the site of the high altar, after a “very fine procession”. Translated, the stone reads: To the Most Sacred heart of Jesus This foundation stone was blessed and laid by the Most Rev. J. J. Grimes S.M. D.D. Bishop of Christchurch, On 6th February 1910. Parish Priest, Rev. J. Tubman S.M.

The church completed

It was timely that the church was completed in 1911. The wooden church had burnt down in 1910 and Mass had been offered in the boys’ school until the basilica was ready. The building cost £23,000 and was practically completed and paid for by the time of the opening and consecration, on Rosary Sunday, 1 October 1911. Dignitaries included Bishop (later Archbishop) Francis Redwood S.M. D.D. of Wellington, and the three other bishops of the Dominion. All the district’s mayors were in attendance, being given seats of honour. The church was packed with clergy and laity. The Pontifical Mass of Saint Cecelia, composed by Gounod, was sung by the choir of sixty, supported by a full orchestra. The sermon was preached by Bishop Cleary. Following the blessing ceremony an unexpected honour was bestowed on Father Tubman. He was elevated to the office of Dean. The honour was a complete surprise to all in attendance. The plan of the building is true cruciform, the mark of the Christian basilica. The style is Roman Renaissance, of the Ionic order. Most of the material used was ferro-concrete, Oamaru stone, and locally made bricks.

The parish priest, Dean John Tubman S.M.

Born in Ireland in 1856, John Tubman was ordained in 1882, and taught at the Catholic University founded by Cardinal Newman. He volunteered to teach at the new St Patrick’s College in Wellington and arrived in New Zealand in 1889. In 1893 he was appointed curate in Timaru, and in 1901 was appointed Parish Priest. He was a close friend of many South Canterbury people, especially Archdeacon Harper, later Anglican Bishop of Christchurch, and of Henry Orbell. Wee beloved, not only by the parishioners, but also by the whole South Canterbury community, his work of building was the most ambitious seen to this day. He was also responsible for building the church at St. Andrews. His transfer to Greymouth in 1920, followed a decision to implement the church law, that appointments of superiors in religious communities should be for six years only. Dean Tubman had been in Timaru for 27 years, 19 of them AS Parish Priest. The parish practically refused to part with him, but the decision was final. Even after public meetings and petitions, his transfer went ahead. He died in Meeanee, Hawkes Bay in 1923.

The architect, Francis William Petre

Frank Petre was born in Wellington in 1847. He married Margaret Cargill, the daughter of Edward Bowes Cargill, son of the Otago coloniser. He worked in London for a time, before establishing an engineering and architectural practice in Dunedin in 1875. He was noted for his use of simple geometric forms, and is best remembered for designing basilicas in Timaru, Wellington, Oamaru, and Invercargill, as well as the Catholic Cathedrals of Christchurch and Dunedin. His son Edward was heir presumptive to the Barony Petre.

The building surveyor, Bart Moriarty

Bart Moriarty later became a well-recognised builder in Melbourne, where he built a village for investment and has a street named after him. His recommendations were the basilica and other Timaru buildings he worked on.

Benefactors

The first benefactor must surely have been George Rhodes, one of the original settlers in the district. He donated land for a Catholic chapel in the early 1860s. The land was later exchanged for eight acres, now the site of the church and the presbytery. The Altar Society insured the life of the Parish Priest, Father Hurlin S.M. in 1892. The principal sum of £500 was to form the nucleus of a fund for a new church. The curate Father Paddy Smyth S.M. organised a bazaar and raised a record £1800! A final attempt to clear the debt was made one Sunday in 1919. Michael Mullin gave the Parish Priest a blank cheque to be filled out at the end of the day for the balance required. Major benefactors are commemorated in marble or brass tablets within the basilica.

Interior features

Stained glass windows

Installed between 1911 and Silver Jubilee in 1936, the windows are some of New Zealand’s finest. Before their installation the windows, which number over 100, were glazed with cathedral glass. The creators of the windows were: F.X. Zettler, Munich, Germany (on the north side of the Basilica - St Joseph’s altar): the Sermon on the mount, Christ the Good Shepherd, the Annunciation and the Nativity. H. Credington, Catholic Art Gallery Melbourne (above the altar): the Crucifixion and the Coronation of Our Lady. Matheson and Gibson, Melbourne (on south side of the Basilica – Our Lady’s altar): Calming the waters, Loaves and Fishes, Presentation in the Temple, The finding of the child Jesus in the Temple. James Watson and Son, Eire (Nave windows): St Margaret Mary, St Therese, St Ita, St Michael, St Matthew, St Vincent de Paul, St Colmcille (Columba). To the ‘purist” the superb Irish glass in these seven windows make them the pick of all the windows in the church. John Hardman and Company, Birmingham (baptistery) John the Baptist (memorial window) Sanctuary windows: St Aloysius, St Bridget, St Patrick, Mother Immaculate, Sacred heart, St Joseph, St Anne, St John the Evangelist. The donors and those commemorated by the windows are named on marble tablets at the head of the nave, and in other parts of the Basilica.

The sanctuary

The high altar was installed in 1912. It is of alabaster and was selected from many designs submitted from leading marble works throughout the world. It is of Italian renaissance design, having a circular tabernacle with a brass sliding door, which is surmounted by a mosaic dome. It cost £1000. Behind the altar ranges a semi-circular colonnade of 13 richly moulded Ionic columns. On the south side is the sacristy, which has a tiled floor, and colonial kauri fittings. It was partially destroyed by fire in 1934. The altar boys were blamed! Insurance of £211.11.06 was claimed.

The sanctuary lamp

The brass sanctuary lamp was presented by Mrs C Byrne of Pleasant Point, at Chrisitmas 1911.

The Baptistry

Situated immediately under the north tower, the baptistery houses a beautiful marble and brass font. Hanging there is a rope for tolling the great bell, Nicholas. Entry is gained through the brass gates which originally were installed at the altar rails.

Statuary

The statues of the Sacred Heart and St Patrick are by the Bernadine Statuary Company, New York. The statue of St Peter Chanel is by Pelligrini of Melbourne.

The Madonna

The print of the Madonna, Madonna Della Sedia, is taken from the original by Raphael, which hangs in the Pitti Palace in Florence.

The tiles

The original roofing tiles from Marsailles, France, were transported to New Zealand as as ship’s ballast . . .They were replaced in 1985 at a cost of $19,000. The floor tiles were imported from England.

The pipe organ

The organ built by Arthurd Hobday, and installed in this church in 1912, was Hobday’s last work before his death. He was apprenticed to the prominent nineteenth century Australian organbuilder, George Fincham, about 1866, and later sent up his own organbuilding business in Wellington. He died on 9th October, 1912, at the age of sixty-one. Internal evidence suggests that this organ is a rebuild (and enlargement) of a previous instrument, made in England in 1848 and sent to Sydney. It was originally powered by bellows worked by an hydraulic system. An open pipe carried the water out on to the church grounds. The present organ makes use of pipework from an older instrument. John Stiller in his 1981 documentation of this organ, states that it is the “finest of the Hobday organs which have been preserved.” Excellent tonal qualities are enhanced by a splendid acoustic and visual setting. Its historical value is underlined by the following features. 1. The Hobday case has been preserved in original form, and displays design characteristics typical of his style. 2. The console has been retained and includes original fittings such as stopknobs, stop labels, keyboards, keyboard cheeks, pedal-board and organ bench. 3. The original double-rise bellows has been preserved. 4. The original actions have been preserved. It is one of the few remaining organs in N. Z. which has pneumatic action. 5. The pipework has not been altered since Hobday’s time and contains superb examples of voicing. The Organ was restored in 1986 by the South Island Organ Company. It now has 1516 pipes. They range from sixteen feet to a quarter of an inch, and are made from wood, tin-lead and zinc. In the 1986 restoration the following additions were made: • A trombone rank on the Pedal Organ; • A two rank mixture of the great Organ; • A three rank mixture on the Swell organ; • A sub and super octave coupler on the Swell organ. In this restoration the front pipes were altered in colour from silver to gold, and springs were added to the pneumatic actions to improve the organ’s responsiveness. The 1986 restoration cost $70,000.

Central dome

At the head of the nave is the internal dome, supported by Ionic columns, and buttressed by external walls. It rises to a height of 21.33 metres (70 feet) from the floor. The internal dome is one of the main artistic features, and over this dome rests the coppered cupola (the external dome). The cupola rises to a height of 35 metres (115 feet) and is in square tower-like fashion. There is a walk-round base from which, on a clear day, can be seen Mount Cook, and with the aid of binoculars, Temuka and Geraldine. The dome is 12.19 metres (40 feet) at the base. Access to the space between the internal dome and Cupola is gained by a concrete spiral staircase. A wooden staircase leads to the outer dome. The interior was retimbered at the time of the Silver Jubilee in 1936 as “Sufficient care was not taken during the building.” The copper for this dome alone cost £600.

The campanile

The north east tower houses a peal of a scale of c bells. They are named, starting at the top of the scale: Patrick, Thomas, Henry, Michael, John, Francis, Mary and Nicholas after the children of Nicholas Quinn who gave a bequest of £300 towards their cost. They were cast by the celebrated English firm John Warner and Sons, at a cost of £1000. The heaviest, Nicholas, weighs nearly a tonne. They were installed in July 1914, blessed by the Reverend Dean Hills on Sunday 12th July 1914 and first rung on 26th July 1914. They were originally played every hour, until complaints were received from the nurses’ home. Night nurses, trying to sleep during the day, were being kept awake. A popular hymn played was Faith of Our Fathers. The bells were at one time rung by an electric keyboard, but this proved unsatisfactory. Access to the campanile is by the south tower. A cast iron spiral staircase leads from the choir loft. Liturgical changes The liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council brought with them changes and controversy. The marble altar ceased to be used for Mass from 1965. The level of the sanctuary floor was raised in 1982. The main features of the sanctuary are the Altar, Lectern, and Presidential Chair at the front of the sanctuary. One of the confessionals was altared in 1978, and two were replaced with Reconciliation Rooms in 1981.

Stations of the Cross

Hampton’s studio of Christchurch was commissioned to make the Stations of the Cross, which were solemnly erected on 26th September 1967. They are of carved plaster with 70mm relief, and bronzed over lightly to give good outline of the figures. They have a flat gold mosaic background, and cost £50 each.

Main sources

• Seán Brosnahan, Thinking About Heaven: a history of Sacred Heart parish, Timaru, The Sacred Heart Basilica Centenary Book Committee, Timaru, 2011.
• Peter Wood, Sacred Heart Basilica, Timaru, NZ, Sacred Heart Parish, Timaru, 1986.