St. Christopher's Cathedral, Manuka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Christopher’s Cathedral |
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| The Cathedral of St Christopher | |
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 St Christopher’s Cathedral
Location in Australian Capital Territory
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| 35°19′08″S 149°07′58″E / 35.31896°S 149.13271°E | |
| Location | 55 Franklin Street, Forrest/Manuka, Australian Capital Territory |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St Christopher's Church |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Founded |
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| Founder(s) |
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| Dedication | Saint Christopher |
| Consecrated | 5 February 1948 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | ACT Heritage Register |
| Designated | 1998 |
| Architect(s) |
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| Architectural type | Spanish Romanesque |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | c. 1,000 worshippers |
| Other dimensions | Organ: Hill, Norman & Beard |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Canberra and Goulburn |
St Christopher's Cathedral, also known as The Cathedral of St Christopher, is an important Catholic church in Canberra, Australia. It is the main church for the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn. This means it's where the Archbishop, the main leader of the church in this area, has his special seat.
The Cathedral of St Christopher is located in the area of Canberra called Manuka.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
Building Canberra's First Catholic Church
St Christopher's was the very first Catholic parish church built in Canberra. A priest named Father Patrick Haydon helped build it. Catholic worship in this region began much earlier, around 1862.
In 1927, Archbishop Kelly laid a special foundation stone for the church and a school. The next year, St Christopher's became its own parish. Classes for the school started in a building next door. The Prime Minister, Stanley Bruce, even attended the opening day.
Plans for a Larger Cathedral
In 1930, there were plans to build a much larger cathedral. However, tough economic times and World War II made this impossible. A new foundation stone for the cathedral was laid in 1938 by Archbishop Gilroy from Sydney. Important leaders like Joseph Lyons and James Scullin were there.
The church was named after Saint Christopher. He is known as the patron saint of travellers. This name was chosen because Canberra was expected to be a place many people would visit. The parish church officially opened in 1939.
Growth and Expansion
Father Haydon also oversaw the building of a convent and school, which opened in 1928. The first part of St Christopher's Cathedral was finished in 1939. The Catholic community had hoped to build an even bigger cathedral. But the Great Depression made it hard to raise enough money.
In 1947, the first priest was ordained (officially made a priest) in St Christopher's Church. His name was Vivian Morrison. The Morrison family, who were pioneers in the area, later donated the tower and bells for the church.
In 1948, the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn was created. St Christopher's then became a "pro-cathedral," which is a temporary main church.
Becoming the Main Cathedral
Later, when Archbishop Eris O'Brien moved to Canberra, St Christopher's became a "co-cathedral." This meant it shared the main church role with St Peter and St Paul in Goulburn.
St Christopher's was then made twice as big, so it could hold about 1,000 people. This work finished in 1973. The original stained glass windows were kept. The expanded church also included a bell tower, a special chapel, and a crypt (an underground room).
After these changes, St Christopher's became the only main cathedral for the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn. In 2008, the cathedral was updated to celebrate 60 years of the archdiocese.
Important Visitors
Many important people have visited St Christopher's. Three Australian Prime Ministers who were Catholic regularly attended services there: Joseph Lyons, James Scullin, and Frank Forde.
The Organ
The large pipe organ in the cathedral was built in Melbourne. It was installed in 1972 and its size was doubled. It has 1,100 pipes made of wood and metal.
Heritage Listing and Future Plans
In 1998, the cathedral was added to the ACT Heritage Register. This means it is a special historical building. In 2010, there were plans to redevelop the area around the cathedral. This would include church offices and homes for older people.
Two former Archbishops, Eris O'Brien and Thomas Cahill, are buried in the crypt of the cathedral.
About the Cathedral Today
Members of the Parliament of Australia often attend special prayers at St Christopher's. These usually happen in February when Parliament first meets for the year.
St Christopher's also hosts important national and church services for Canberra. It is the largest church of any Christian group in the national capital. This makes it a place for major services that bring different Christian groups together.
See also
- Roman Catholicism in Australia
