St Patrick's Basilica, Oamaru: 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
No edit summary
Line 120: Line 120:
==Construction==
==Construction==
The inspiration and effort behind the building of St Patricks came from Father (later Monsignor) John Mackay, who became Parish Priest in Oamaru ion 3 March 1890. He wished to build a Church that would suit the needs of his congregation and began fundraising. By April of 1893 he was had enough money to start on the building. On an earlier trip to Europe, he had seen buildings he considered would suit the needs of the Oamaru Parish and he had commissioned Francis Petre to put his observations and ideas into a practical design.<ref name="Centennial">{{cite book | last =Tom Gallagher et al | first = | year =1994 | title =St Patrick's Basilica Oamaru: Centennial 1894-1994 | publisher =St Patrick's Parish | location =Oamaru | page =3-7| isbn = }}</ref> The laying of the foundation stone coincided with the silver jubilee of ordination of Mackay, who was parish priest of Oamaru for 36 years (1890-1926) and who supervised the construction of the Basilica from its commencement in 1893 until its final completion 25 years later in 1918.<ref name="Historic"/> The foundation stone was laid on Trinity Sunday 1893, by [[Patrick Moran|Bishop Moran of Dunedin]]. The successful tender for the construction of the church had been made by D.W. Woods: £3,460 exclusive of the sanctuary and dome.<ref name="Historic"/>
The inspiration and effort behind the building of St Patricks came from Father (later Monsignor) John Mackay, who became Parish Priest in Oamaru ion 3 March 1890. He wished to build a Church that would suit the needs of his congregation and began fundraising. By April of 1893 he was had enough money to start on the building. On an earlier trip to Europe, he had seen buildings he considered would suit the needs of the Oamaru Parish and he had commissioned Francis Petre to put his observations and ideas into a practical design.<ref name="Centennial">{{cite book | last =Tom Gallagher et al | first = | year =1994 | title =St Patrick's Basilica Oamaru: Centennial 1894-1994 | publisher =St Patrick's Parish | location =Oamaru | page =3-7| isbn = }}</ref> The laying of the foundation stone coincided with the silver jubilee of ordination of Mackay, who was parish priest of Oamaru for 36 years (1890-1926) and who supervised the construction of the Basilica from its commencement in 1893 until its final completion 25 years later in 1918.<ref name="Historic"/> The foundation stone was laid on Trinity Sunday 1893, by [[Patrick Moran|Bishop Moran of Dunedin]]. The successful tender for the construction of the church had been made by D.W. Woods: £3,460 exclusive of the sanctuary and dome.<ref name="Historic"/>

Petre’s interest in the use of concrete for his buildings led to the nickname of “Lord Concrete.” He indulged this interest in the Oamaru church by using concrete on the outer lower portion of the main walls to a height of seven feet. He also specified that the floor of the organ loft be of poured concrete. This was viewed with much “head shaking and foreboding” at the time by many who were not initiated into the secrets of concrete construction, but history has proved these fears groundless as this concrete is still intact one hundred years later.
The concrete to build was signed on April 26th, 1893. Work commenced on the concrete foundations and May 29th was chosen as the date to lay the foundation stone.
Opportunely, this date coincided with the 25th anniversary of Father McKay’s ordination to the Priesthood in 1868. Appropriate ceremonies were held to celebrate both occasions and were fully reported in newspapers at the time.
Even though the whole concept was researched and designed to completion, it was realistically thought that there would be insufficient funds to complete the building in one operation, therefore the first contract was for the nave, organ loft and temporary sanctuary only.
It was estimated at the time that D W Wood’s price of 3460 pounds for this part of the work would be about half the cost of the whole project, when in fact it was found that in 1918 when the building was finally completed, the total cost was 13,000 pounds.
After about 15 months’ work this part of the contract was nearing completion. The stone masons had almost finished their part of the work, as had the plumbers, and the slate roof was completed. The carving of the capitals of the columns and pilasters was to be deferred in the meantime. The coffered ceilings also remained unfinished which meant that for some time, 4 years in fact, the congregation was able to look up through the rafters to the slate roof.
In May 1894, a fatal accident marred progress when a man working on the stringcourse of the cornice fell 40 feet, suffering injuries from which he died a week later.
By November of 1894 this principal part of the concept was finished and on the 18th day of that month appropriate dedication ceremonies were conducted, which were also fully described and reported in the newspapers together with much interesting technical information.
There yet remained to be built the “great” front portico, a flight of steps, the two front domes, the main dome, the permanent sanctuary, sacristies, tribunes and side chapels.
The intentions at that time were to finish the floor of the nave with “wood blocks” (parquetry), and the floors of the aisles, portico, and sanctuary with marble tiles. It was also hoped to have bronze panelled entrance doors, and the tympanum of the front portico pediment was to be filled in with a bas-relief representation in marble of the Sermon on the Mount. Father McKay also intended to have a chime of bells in the two front domes – a large bell in one, and a full octave of small bells in the other. In retrospect we now know that none of these intentions or “extras” were to be realised.
Four years on, in 1898, the coffer type ceiling that was originally designed in wood panels and mouldings, was completed in zinc supplied by Wunderlich & Co. of Sydney. The richly embossed zinc, while giving an impression of massiveness, was actually light and had the advantage of being an excellent resonator, greatly improving the acoustic of the Basilica. Five shades of colouring were utilised on the 78 squares of zinc and this work was undertaken by Father (now Very Rev. Dean) McKay assisted by some of the “best” pupils of the Convent school. This colouring work was done before the ceiling was erected.
Dean McKay, who was unremitting in his efforts to complete the building, pressed on with fundraising by means of bazaars and raffles to finance the next stage of the construction.
This involved the front portico, the flight of steps, the two front domes and the carving of the columns. Five years later, in March 1903, this work was well advanced and because Dean (now Monsignor) McKay was to leave for an extended holiday in the “Old Country” and Europe it was decided to hold commemorative celebrations for the completion of this stage of the project, on April 26th 1903, even though some plastering remained to be done.
The stone work for this stage was done by Messrs. Fergusson, Given & Co. and Mr David Given an “old boy of Oamaru” was highly praised for his carving work on the columns and pilasters.
It was noted at this time that the Oamaru Basilica was the first building in New Zealand in which domes had been adopted. Early descriptions of the building stated that it was as near as possible for modern purposes, severely Greek, not only in general design but also in its constructional features, but the introduction of domes and arches, meant that it deviated somewhat from the transom and colonnade of the old Greek models.
It was hoped to finish the building in 1912, but many years were to pass before the final stage of construction was reached in 1918.
In 1915, a further highlight in the Basilica’s history was the installation of a “Postive” pipe organ which added greatly to the meaning of the services as well as enhancing the skills of the choir. A full report on the first organ recital on October 14th 1915, included much technical information on this latest asset.
By 1917 the stage was set to begin construction of the final, and perhaps most impressive part of the Basilica, consisting of the permanent sanctuary, sacristies, tribunes, side chapels and the main dome. Considerable excavation was necessary to take the massive foundations needed to support the 150 foot dome.
On June 3rd, 1917, the “corner stone” (the second foundation stone for the building) was lowered into position. Bishop Viard “plied the trowel” and pronounced the usual ritual prayers for such a ceremony.
The following year, 1918, saw the completion of this last stage, 25 years after the first foundations were laid.
The opening ceremonies were observed on December 8th, 1918, with the prescribed rituals for such an important occasion.
Monsignor McKay, the driving force behind the whole concept from start to finish, was by now celebrating the golden jubilee of his ordination and on the day, was highly praised for his untiring work over so many years on the basilica project. He was presented with appropriate gifts to mark this most important milestone in St Patrick’s Oamaru history.
While there is some doubt as to Petre’s involvement in the last phase of the Basilica construction, there is no doubt that the final design or redesign was in full sympathy with his earlier work.
Two days after the official opening, Francis William Petre died on December, 10th, 1918.
There have been minor Alterations and additions in the ensuing years, such as removal of the main altar, the stone communion rails, the stone pulpit, the addition of confessionals, under floor heating and removal of the slater roof- renewing with long run iron, but these cosmetic changes have detracted little for the original concept.
In this, the centennial year of its construction, St Patrick’s basilica stands today as a magnificent and functional monument to the foresight and hard work of the early pioneers and its use of local stone relates well to the many other imposing buildings in the “White Stone City” of Oamaru.


==Completion==
==Completion==

Revision as of 20:28, 1 March 2015

St Patrick's Basilica
Map
LocationOamaru, North Otago
CountryNew Zealand
DenominationCatholic
History
Founded18 November 1894
DedicationSt Patrick
Consecrated1918
Architecture
Functional statusparish church
Heritage designationCategory I
Architect(s)Francis Petre
Architectural typePalladian Revival
StyleRoman Renaissance
Groundbreaking1893
Completed1918
Construction cost£13,000
Specifications
MaterialsOamaru stone
Administration
ProvinceWellington
DioceseDunedin
ParishSt Patrick's

The St Patrick's Basilica or Oamaru Basilica, as it is popularly known because of its style of architecture,[1] is a Catholic church in Oamaru, New Zealand. It was designed by the prominent New Zealand architect, Francis Petre and is one of his most celebrated works. It is one of the most important historic buildings of Oamaru and of the South Canterbury region. The Basilica's has three domes.

Basilica

See also: Francis Petre

St Patricks Basilica is a significant monument to the work of Francis Petre, one of the most talented of New Zealand's early architects, and one of the most important architects associated with the Catholic Church in New Zealand. The Basilica is an aesthetically imposing building that makes a vital contribution to the streetscape. Its bulk, form and architectural styling are impressive. The interior is richly decorated, with carved limestone columns, pressed tin ceilings, wooden pews and religious sculptures. The Basilica is culturally significant emphasising the importance of the Roman Catholic Church to Oamaru, and is a landmark for the town. The design is technically accomplished and forms a vital element in Petre's Basilican architectural ouvre which is among his most well known and iconic works. The Basilica is an important component in Oamaru's white-stone architecture, characteristic of the township, and is as well the key component of the group of buildings associated with the Catholic Church in Oamaru.[2]

Construction

The inspiration and effort behind the building of St Patricks came from Father (later Monsignor) John Mackay, who became Parish Priest in Oamaru ion 3 March 1890. He wished to build a Church that would suit the needs of his congregation and began fundraising. By April of 1893 he was had enough money to start on the building. On an earlier trip to Europe, he had seen buildings he considered would suit the needs of the Oamaru Parish and he had commissioned Francis Petre to put his observations and ideas into a practical design.[3] The laying of the foundation stone coincided with the silver jubilee of ordination of Mackay, who was parish priest of Oamaru for 36 years (1890-1926) and who supervised the construction of the Basilica from its commencement in 1893 until its final completion 25 years later in 1918.[2] The foundation stone was laid on Trinity Sunday 1893, by Bishop Moran of Dunedin. The successful tender for the construction of the church had been made by D.W. Woods: £3,460 exclusive of the sanctuary and dome.[2]

Petre’s interest in the use of concrete for his buildings led to the nickname of “Lord Concrete.” He indulged this interest in the Oamaru church by using concrete on the outer lower portion of the main walls to a height of seven feet. He also specified that the floor of the organ loft be of poured concrete. This was viewed with much “head shaking and foreboding” at the time by many who were not initiated into the secrets of concrete construction, but history has proved these fears groundless as this concrete is still intact one hundred years later. The concrete to build was signed on April 26th, 1893. Work commenced on the concrete foundations and May 29th was chosen as the date to lay the foundation stone. Opportunely, this date coincided with the 25th anniversary of Father McKay’s ordination to the Priesthood in 1868. Appropriate ceremonies were held to celebrate both occasions and were fully reported in newspapers at the time. Even though the whole concept was researched and designed to completion, it was realistically thought that there would be insufficient funds to complete the building in one operation, therefore the first contract was for the nave, organ loft and temporary sanctuary only. It was estimated at the time that D W Wood’s price of 3460 pounds for this part of the work would be about half the cost of the whole project, when in fact it was found that in 1918 when the building was finally completed, the total cost was 13,000 pounds. After about 15 months’ work this part of the contract was nearing completion. The stone masons had almost finished their part of the work, as had the plumbers, and the slate roof was completed. The carving of the capitals of the columns and pilasters was to be deferred in the meantime. The coffered ceilings also remained unfinished which meant that for some time, 4 years in fact, the congregation was able to look up through the rafters to the slate roof. In May 1894, a fatal accident marred progress when a man working on the stringcourse of the cornice fell 40 feet, suffering injuries from which he died a week later. By November of 1894 this principal part of the concept was finished and on the 18th day of that month appropriate dedication ceremonies were conducted, which were also fully described and reported in the newspapers together with much interesting technical information. There yet remained to be built the “great” front portico, a flight of steps, the two front domes, the main dome, the permanent sanctuary, sacristies, tribunes and side chapels. The intentions at that time were to finish the floor of the nave with “wood blocks” (parquetry), and the floors of the aisles, portico, and sanctuary with marble tiles. It was also hoped to have bronze panelled entrance doors, and the tympanum of the front portico pediment was to be filled in with a bas-relief representation in marble of the Sermon on the Mount. Father McKay also intended to have a chime of bells in the two front domes – a large bell in one, and a full octave of small bells in the other. In retrospect we now know that none of these intentions or “extras” were to be realised. Four years on, in 1898, the coffer type ceiling that was originally designed in wood panels and mouldings, was completed in zinc supplied by Wunderlich & Co. of Sydney. The richly embossed zinc, while giving an impression of massiveness, was actually light and had the advantage of being an excellent resonator, greatly improving the acoustic of the Basilica. Five shades of colouring were utilised on the 78 squares of zinc and this work was undertaken by Father (now Very Rev. Dean) McKay assisted by some of the “best” pupils of the Convent school. This colouring work was done before the ceiling was erected. Dean McKay, who was unremitting in his efforts to complete the building, pressed on with fundraising by means of bazaars and raffles to finance the next stage of the construction. This involved the front portico, the flight of steps, the two front domes and the carving of the columns. Five years later, in March 1903, this work was well advanced and because Dean (now Monsignor) McKay was to leave for an extended holiday in the “Old Country” and Europe it was decided to hold commemorative celebrations for the completion of this stage of the project, on April 26th 1903, even though some plastering remained to be done. The stone work for this stage was done by Messrs. Fergusson, Given & Co. and Mr David Given an “old boy of Oamaru” was highly praised for his carving work on the columns and pilasters. It was noted at this time that the Oamaru Basilica was the first building in New Zealand in which domes had been adopted. Early descriptions of the building stated that it was as near as possible for modern purposes, severely Greek, not only in general design but also in its constructional features, but the introduction of domes and arches, meant that it deviated somewhat from the transom and colonnade of the old Greek models. It was hoped to finish the building in 1912, but many years were to pass before the final stage of construction was reached in 1918. In 1915, a further highlight in the Basilica’s history was the installation of a “Postive” pipe organ which added greatly to the meaning of the services as well as enhancing the skills of the choir. A full report on the first organ recital on October 14th 1915, included much technical information on this latest asset. By 1917 the stage was set to begin construction of the final, and perhaps most impressive part of the Basilica, consisting of the permanent sanctuary, sacristies, tribunes, side chapels and the main dome. Considerable excavation was necessary to take the massive foundations needed to support the 150 foot dome. On June 3rd, 1917, the “corner stone” (the second foundation stone for the building) was lowered into position. Bishop Viard “plied the trowel” and pronounced the usual ritual prayers for such a ceremony. The following year, 1918, saw the completion of this last stage, 25 years after the first foundations were laid. The opening ceremonies were observed on December 8th, 1918, with the prescribed rituals for such an important occasion. Monsignor McKay, the driving force behind the whole concept from start to finish, was by now celebrating the golden jubilee of his ordination and on the day, was highly praised for his untiring work over so many years on the basilica project. He was presented with appropriate gifts to mark this most important milestone in St Patrick’s Oamaru history. While there is some doubt as to Petre’s involvement in the last phase of the Basilica construction, there is no doubt that the final design or redesign was in full sympathy with his earlier work. Two days after the official opening, Francis William Petre died on December, 10th, 1918. There have been minor Alterations and additions in the ensuing years, such as removal of the main altar, the stone communion rails, the stone pulpit, the addition of confessionals, under floor heating and removal of the slater roof- renewing with long run iron, but these cosmetic changes have detracted little for the original concept. In this, the centennial year of its construction, St Patrick’s basilica stands today as a magnificent and functional monument to the foresight and hard work of the early pioneers and its use of local stone relates well to the many other imposing buildings in the “White Stone City” of Oamaru.

Completion

The Basilica was finally completed in 1918. Two days after the official opening Architect Petre died.[2]


Features

Domes

Campanile

Sanctuary

Baptistry

Art

Reordering

Glass

See also: List of early Christian saints, List of saints of Ireland, and List of saints

Organ

See also

References

  1. ^ In Roman Catholic ecclesiastical terms, St Patrick's Basilica is not a Minor basilica. See: List of minor basilicas in the world.
  2. ^ a b c d New Zealand Historic Places Trust. "St Patrick's Basilica, Oamaru". NZHPT List No 58. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  3. ^ Tom Gallagher; et al. (1994). St Patrick's Basilica Oamaru: Centennial 1894-1994. Oamaru: St Patrick's Parish. p. 3-7. {{cite book}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |last= (help)

Main sources


/Category:1893 establishments in New Zealand /Category:1918 establishments in New Zealand /Category:Francis Petre buildings /Category:NZHPT Category I listings in Otago, New Zealand /Category:Places of worship in Otago, New Zealand /Category:Religious buildings completed in 1918 /Category:Roman Catholic churches completed in 1918 /Category:1893 in New Zealand /Category:1918 in New Zealand /Category:Basilica churches in Oceania /Category:Palladian Revival architecture /Category:Oamaru

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=St_Patrick%27s_Basilica,_Oamaru&oldid=649426103"