Christ Church Cathedral, Nelson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church Cathedral |
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| Nelson Anglican Cathedral | |
Christ Church Cathedral from Trafalgar Street, Nelson
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| 41°16′34″S 173°17′02″E / 41.27611°S 173.28389°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Founded | August 1925 |
| Dedicated |
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| Consecrated | 14 April 1972 by Bishop Peter Sutton |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Modernist Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1925 – 1965 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 350 people |
| Length | 58 metres (190 ft) |
| Width | 27 metres (89 ft) |
| Height | 35 metres (115 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Nelson Central |
| Diocese | Nelson |
| Province | Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia |
Christ Church Cathedral is a beautiful Anglican cathedral church located at 1 Trafalgar Square in Nelson, New Zealand. It is the main church for the Anglican Diocese of Nelson. It is also where the Bishop of Nelson, currently Steve Maina, has his special seat.
This impressive cathedral can seat about 350 people. It was built in a mix of Modernist and Gothic Revival styles. The building is 58 meters (about 190 feet) long and 27 meters (about 89 feet) wide. Its tall tower reaches 35 meters (about 115 feet) into the sky.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
The very first church building was put up in 1851 in a different spot. It was made bigger in 1859. In 1866, this church was officially named Christ Church Cathedral and was made even larger.
Building the Current Cathedral
Construction on the cathedral you see today started in 1925. It took many years to finish, finally being completed in 1965. The cathedral was officially opened and blessed by Bishop Peter Sutton on April 14, 1972.
Special Building Materials
Most of the beautiful marble used in the cathedral came from the Pakikiruna Range, which is near Tākaka. When they first started building, the plan was to use large blocks of marble. However, after a big earthquake in 1929 (the 1929 Murchison earthquake), using solid marble blocks was thought to be too risky and too expensive.
So, instead, the marble was ground down into a powder. This powder was then mixed with plaster. This special mix gives the cathedral its unique look and color. The steps leading up to the cathedral are made from strong granite. This granite came from Tonga Beach, which is now part of the famous Abel Tasman National Park. Today, there is a monument overlooking Trafalgar Street that celebrates 100 years since people first settled in Nelson.
The Cathedral Organ
The church has a very old and special pipe organ. The first organ was built in London in 1871 and then shipped all the way to Nelson. This organ was rebuilt in 1932.
After 30 more years of use, the organ was completely updated. It now has an amazing 2500 pipes! The organ is played using three keyboards (called manuals) and foot pedals. The part where the organist sits (called the console) is separate from the pipes and uses electricity to control them. It is located on a balcony across from the pipes.
Gallery
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Christ Church Cathedral looking east. The "Centre of New Zealand" is visible to the left of the tower.
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The cathedral stands at the end of Trafalgar Street, one of central Nelson's main shopping streets.
Cathedral Leaders
Over the years, many dedicated people have served as leaders at Christ Church Cathedral. These leaders include vicars, deans, and associate priests, who help guide the church community. The current Dean of the Cathedral is Dr. Graham O'Brien.
