St Peter's Cathedral, Hamilton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Peter's Cathedral |
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| The Waikato Cathedral Church of St Peter | |
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Māori: Te whare karakia matua o Pita Tapu ki Waikato
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St Peter's Cathedral, Hamilton
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| 37°47′32.54″S 175°17′10.86″E / 37.7923722°S 175.2863500°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Dedication | Peter the Apostle |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Warren and Blechynden |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Completed | 1916 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Waikato and Taranaki |
| Province | Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia |
St Peter's Cathedral is an important Anglican church in Hamilton. It is called a cathedral because it is the main church for the Bishop of the Waikato region. You can find it on a small hill known as Cathedral Hill (Māori: Pukerangiora) in the southern part of the city.
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What is St Peter's Cathedral?
St Peter's Cathedral is the central church for the Diocese of Waikato, which is the Anglican Church area covering the Waikato region. This diocese is one of seven in Aotearoa (New Zealand), and they are all part of the larger Anglican Communion found all over the world.
The cathedral has a mixed-voice choir made up of 24 singers. They help lead the music during church services.
Nearby Places to Visit
The cathedral is located near other interesting places in Hamilton. Just across the street to the north, you'll find the Waikato Museum. If you cross the Waikato River using the Victoria Bridge, you can see the Roman Catholic cathedral, called the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Hamilton.
The main priest in charge of St Peter's Cathedral is known as the Dean. Currently, the Dean is The Very Rev'd Julian Perkins.
History of St Peter's Cathedral
The current St Peter's Cathedral is not the first Anglican church built in Hamilton. It has an interesting history with several churches built before it.
Early Churches in Hamilton
- The first Anglican church in Hamilton was almost finished in 1867, but it sadly burned down that same year.
- A second church was built in 1871, but people were not very happy with it.
- A third church was built on land near where the current cathedral stands. It was officially opened in 1884 and made sacred in 1887.
The St Peter's Cathedral we see today is the fourth Anglican church building in this line. It was finished in 1916. Its design was inspired by a church from the 15th century in Norfolk, England. The building was designed using a strong material called ferro-concrete by architects Warren and Blechynden from Hamilton.
The Cathedral Bells
The cathedral has eight special bells that can be rung in different patterns. These bells were made by the Mears & Stainbank company in Whitechapel, London.
- The largest bell, called the tenor bell (which has the lowest sound), was bought in 1931 and put into place in 1933.
- The other six bells were added in October 1948, after people worked hard to raise money for them.
- Members of The Australian and New Zealand Association of Bellringers are the ones who ring the bells.
Historic Building Status
St Peter's Cathedral is recognized as an important historic building in New Zealand. On 5 September 1985, it was officially registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (now called Heritage New Zealand) as a Category II historic building. Its registration number is 4206.
Recent Events
In recent years, the cathedral has been a place for community events. For example, it hosted a meeting for the Hamilton mayoral election, 2016. There were also plans for a colourful light show at the cathedral in December 2016.
