Sacred Heart Basilica, Timaru facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sacred Heart Basilica |
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Sacred Heart Basilica, Timaru
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| 44°24′06″S 171°14′51″E / 44.4016°S 171.2475°E | |
| Location | Timaru, South Canterbury |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Website | Sacred Heart Church |
| History | |
| Founded | 25 October 1874 |
| Founder(s) | Father John Tubman S.M. |
| Dedication | Sacred Heart of Jesus |
| Dedicated | 1 October 1911 |
| Consecrated | 1 October 1911 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | parish church |
| Heritage designation | Category I |
| Designated | 2 April 1982 |
| Architect(s) | Francis Petre |
| Architectural type | Palladian Revival Byzantine Revival |
| Style | Roman Renaissance |
| Groundbreaking | 6 February 1910 |
| Completed | 1911 |
| Construction cost | £23,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1,000 seated |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Sacred Heart |
| Diocese | Christchurch |
| Province | Wellington |
The Sacred Heart Basilica, also known as the Timaru Basilica, is a large Catholic church located in Timaru, New Zealand. Even though it's called a "basilica," it hasn't been officially named one by the Catholic Church.
This amazing building was designed by a famous New Zealand architect named Francis Petre. It's considered one of his best works. Because of its size and grand look, it's one of the most important historic buildings in Timaru and the wider South Canterbury area. The church's two tall towers and its shiny copper dome (called a cupola) are easy to spot in the Timaru skyline, especially from the south. The Basilica is also known for its unique mix of Roman and Byzantine architecture styles, with some Art Nouveau touches. It's listed as a Category 1 historic place, meaning it's very important to New Zealand's history.
Contents
Building the Basilica
The Sacred Heart Basilica is actually the third church built on this spot in Timaru. The first church was a small wooden chapel that opened in 1874. Just three years later, a bigger church was built to replace it. As more and more people joined the church, an even larger building was needed.
The idea for the Basilica's design came from Father John Tubman, the local priest. He visited the United States and was very impressed by the Catholic cathedral in Reno, Nevada. The outside of the Timaru Basilica looks quite similar to the Saint Thomas Aquinas Cathedral in Reno.
Designing the Church
When Father Tubman returned to Timaru in 1907, he had plans drawn up based on photos he took. The famous Dunedin architect, Francis Petre, created these plans. Father Tubman thought the project was too big, but the Bishop of Christchurch, John Grimes, encouraged him to go ahead.
Father Tubman had £7,000 to start with. To keep costs down, workers were paid daily. A surveyor named Bart Moriarty helped manage the construction. Many local farmers also helped by donating their time and materials. Farmers from the Levels area cut down blue gum trees for scaffolding and brought them to the site. People from St Andrews transported sand and gravel to the railway, then helped move it to the church site using bullock teams. Father Tubman was often seen climbing ladders to check on the building's progress.
Laying the Foundation Stone
The first stone of the Basilica was laid on 6 February 1910. Bishop Grimes and Bishop Verdon of Dunedin led the ceremony. Inside a special container beneath the stone, newspapers, coins, and documents from that time were placed. After the ceremony, people donated £1100. Many generous people were there, including the Mayor and Member of Parliament, James Craigie, who gave ten pounds. John Cassidy gave the foundation stone and the silver tool used. A blessing was given from where the high altar would be, after a grand procession. The Latin words on the stone translate to: "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."
Finishing the Building
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It was good that the church was finished in 1911. The old wooden church had burned down in 1910, so Mass was held in the boys' school until the Basilica was ready. The building cost £23,000. It was almost completely finished and paid for by the time it opened and was dedicated on 1 October 1911. This was a huge achievement for the Catholic community, who were mostly Irish and not very wealthy.
Important guests at the dedication included Archbishop Francis Redwood of Wellington and the other three New Zealand bishops. All the local mayors also attended and were given special seats. The church was full of clergy and regular church members. A famous piece of music, the Messe solennelle en l’honneur de Sainte-Cécile by Charles Gounod, was sung by a sixty-person choir with a full orchestra. Bishop Cleary of Auckland gave the sermon. After the blessing, Father Tubman was surprisingly given the title of Dean. The building's shape is like a cross (called cruciform). Its style is Roman Renaissance with Ionic order features. Most of the building materials were ferro-concrete, Oamaru stone, and bricks made locally.
Key People Behind the Basilica
Father John Tubman
John Tubman was born in Ireland in 1856. He became a priest in 1882 and taught at the Catholic University of Ireland. He volunteered to teach at the new St. Patrick's College, Wellington and arrived in New Zealand in 1889. In 1893, he became a curate in Timaru, and in 1901, he was appointed Parish Priest. He was good friends with many people in South Canterbury. Building the Basilica was a great success for him. He was parish priest until 1921 and passed away in 1923.
Bart Moriarty
Bart Moriarty was the surveyor who managed the Basilica's construction. He later became a well-known builder in Melbourne, Australia. He even built a village there and has a street named after him. The Timaru Basilica was one of his most important projects. In 1915, the Archbishop of Sydney asked him to build a new church in Paddington, Sydney. Moriarty simply copied the design from Timaru, but only built parts of it.
Special Features of the Basilica
Domes
Inside the church, at the end of the main aisle (the nave), there is a beautiful inner dome. It is supported by Ionic columns and reaches 21.33 meters (70 feet) high from the floor. This inner dome is a key artistic part of the church. Above it is the central tower, from which the copper-covered cupola (the outer dome) rises.
The cupola is 35 meters (115 feet) tall and looks like a square tower. There's a walkway around its base. On a clear day, you can see Aoraki / Mount Cook from here, and with binoculars, you can spot Temuka and Geraldine. The dome is 12.19 meters (40 feet) wide at its base. You can reach the space between the inner and outer domes by a concrete spiral staircase. A wooden staircase leads to the very top of the outer dome. The copper for this dome alone cost £600. Two smaller domes sit on top of the towers at the front of the church. There's also another inner dome above the sanctuary, in the curved part of the church (the apse).
Bells (Campanile)
The north-east tower holds a set of eight bells. They are named Patrick, Thomas, Henry, Michael, John, Francis, Mary, and Nicholas. These names honor the children of Nicholas Quinn, who gave £300 towards their cost. The bells were made by a famous English company, John Warner & Sons, and cost £1000. The heaviest bell, Nicholas, weighs almost a tonne (about 1000 kg).
The bells were put in place in July 1914 and first rung on 26 July 1914. They used to ring every hour, but nurses from a nearby home complained that the noise kept them awake during the day. A popular hymn played on the bells was Faith of Our Fathers. The bells were once played using an electric keyboard, but this didn't work well. You can reach the bell tower by a cast iron spiral staircase from the choir loft in the south tower.
Sanctuary
The high altar was added in 1912. It is made of alabaster and was chosen from many designs from around the world. It has an Italian Renaissance style, with a round tabernacle (a special box for the Eucharist) that has a sliding brass door and a mosaic dome on top. It cost £1000.
Behind the altar, there's a beautiful semi-circular row of 13 graceful Ionic columns. These represent St Paul and the Twelve Apostles. The floor of the sanctuary is decorated with mosaic tiles, and the windows have lovely stained glass. On the south side, near the sanctuary, is the sacristy, which has a tiled floor and colonial kauri wood fittings. It was partly damaged by fire in 1934. The brass sanctuary lamp was given by Mrs C Byrne in 1911.
Baptistry
The baptistry is located directly under the north tower. It holds a beautiful marble and brass font, which is used for baptisms. A rope for ringing the large bell, Nicholas, hangs here. You enter through brass gates that were originally part of the altar rails. The most striking feature of the baptistry is a large stained glass window showing the Baptism of Jesus. This window is part of a war memorial and is known as the "Memorial window."
Art and Decorations
The statues of the Sacred Heart and St Patrick were made by the Bernadine Statuary Company in New York. The statue of St Peter Chanel was made by Pelligrini in Melbourne, Australia. A print of the Madonna, Madonna della Sedia, is a copy of the original painting by Raphael in the Pitti Palace in Florence.
The original roof tiles came from Marseille, France, and were brought to New Zealand as ship's ballast. They were replaced in 1985. The floor tiles were imported from England. Hampton's studio in Christchurch created the Stations of the Cross, which were put up on 26 September 1967. These are carved plaster figures with a gold mosaic background.
Changes Over Time
After the Second Vatican Council, some changes were made to the church's interior. The marble altar stopped being used for Mass from 1965. The sanctuary floor was raised in 1982. The main parts of the sanctuary now include the Altar, Lectern, and Presidential Chair at the front. Some confessionals were changed in 1978, and two were replaced with Reconciliation Rooms (for face-to-face confessions) in 1981.
Stained Glass Windows
The Basilica's windows, installed between 1911 and 1936, are considered some of New Zealand’s best. Before these were put in, the more than 100 windows had plain glass. The artists and their windows include:
- F.X. Zettler, Munich, Germany (north side, St Joseph's altar): showing the Sermon on the Mount, Christ the Good Shepherd, the Annunciation, and the Nativity.
- H. Credington, Catholic Art Gallery Melbourne (above the altar): showing the Crucifixion and the Coronation of Our Lady.
- Matheson and Gibson, Melbourne (south side, Our Lady's altar): showing Calming the waters, Loaves and Fishes, Presentation in the Temple, and the finding the child Jesus in the temple.
- James Watson and Son, Éire (main aisle windows): showing St Margaret Mary, St Therese, St Ita, St Michael, St Matthew, St Vincent de Paul, and St Colmcille (Columba). Many people think these Irish glass windows are the best in the church.
- John Hardman and Company, Birmingham (baptistry and sanctuary windows): showing John the Baptist (the memorial window), St Aloysius, St Bridget, St Patrick, Mother Immaculate, Sacred Heart, St Joseph, St Anne, and St John the Evangelist.
The names of the people who donated these windows, or who they honor, are written on marble tablets inside the Basilica.
The Organ
The organ in the church was built by Arthur Hobday and installed in 1912. It was his last work before he passed away. He learned his craft from a famous organ builder in Australia and later started his own business in Wellington.
This organ seems to be a rebuilt and enlarged version of an older instrument from England, made in 1848. It was originally powered by bellows using a hydraulic system. The current organ uses pipes from this older instrument. Experts say it is the "finest of the Hobday organs which have been preserved." Its sound is excellent, and it looks great in the church. The original design of the organ case and the console (where the organist plays) have been kept. The organ's pneumatic action (how the air moves the pipes) is a special feature.
The organ was restored in 1986 by the South Island Organ Company. It now has 1516 pipes, ranging from very long (sixteen feet) to very short (a quarter of an inch). They are made from wood, tin-lead, and zinc. During the restoration, the front pipes were changed from silver to gold, and springs were added to make the organ more responsive. The 1986 restoration cost $70,000.
Earthquake Strengthening
The Basilica was closed for two years to make it stronger against earthquakes. It reopened on 8 November 2020. Bishop Paul Martin SM of Christchurch led a special Mass to mark the reopening. Many priests and 560 people attended. Besides being strengthened for earthquakes, the Basilica also got a new heating system and a new sound system.
See also
In Spanish: Basílica del Sagrado Corazón (Timaru) para niños
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch
- Roncalli College
