St John's Cathedral (Brisbane) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St John's Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Saint John the Evangelist
Western façade from Cathedral Square.
27°27′50″S 153°01′48″E / 27.46398°S 153.030061°E / -27.46398; 153.030061
Location	405 Ann Street, Brisbane, Queensland
Country	Australia
Denomination	Anglican Church of Australia
Churchmanship	Broad church
History
Dedication	John the Evangelist
Consecrated	29 October 2009
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	John Loughborough Pearson
Style	Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	1901
Completed	2009
Specifications
Length	79.2 metres (260 ft)
Width	37.0 metres (121.4 ft)
Number of spires	2
Spire height	49.7 metres (163 ft)
Materials	Brisbane Tuff, sandstone
Bells	12
Tenor bell weight	16 long cwt 1 qr 17  lb (1,837 lb or 833 kg)
Administration
Diocese	Brisbane
Province	Queensland

St John's Cathedral is a very important church in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is the main church for the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane. The cathedral is named after St John the Evangelist. You can find it on Ann Street in the city center. Before this church, there was an older one from 1854 to 1904. St John's is the second-oldest Anglican church in Brisbane. Only All Saints church, built in 1862, is older. This cathedral is so special that it's listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.

The cathedral is a busy place. It hosts big church events like when new priests are welcomed. Many people come to these services. It's also a local church for people living in Brisbane. St John's is a major spot for arts and music. It has its own orchestra, the Camerata of St John's. They hold many concerts there each year. Plus, over 20,000 visitors come from all over the world every year.

The church has a choir of men and boys. They sing traditional church music and new songs. St John's also has a huge pipe organ. It's the biggest cathedral organ in Australia. Many organ players from around the world come to perform here. The way the building is designed makes the organ music sound amazing.

St John's Cathedral is special because it took almost 100 years to build. Many people worked together on the design. This includes church leaders, stonemasons, and architects. This long building process was similar to how old cathedrals were built in the Middle Ages. Other modern cathedrals, like Liverpool Cathedral in England, also took a long time to finish.

History of St John's Cathedral

How the Cathedral Was Planned

Apse from Adelaide Street around 1910

The idea for the Brisbane cathedral started with William Webber. He was the third Bishop of Brisbane. In 1885, he asked John Loughborough Pearson to draw plans for the new church. People started raising money for the cathedral in 1887. This was to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. But building the whole cathedral at once was too expensive. So, it was built in three main stages. These stages happened over two centuries, from 1906 to 2009.

In 1889, Pearson's plans were approved. The first site was on George, Elizabeth, and William Streets. John Pearson passed away in 1897. His son, Frank Loughborough Pearson, took over the project. In 1899, the government bought the original site. So, a new location on Ann Street was chosen. This spot was "central, spacious and had the natural advantage of being able to make the building erected on it a landmark for miles around." Frank Pearson spent a year redesigning his father's plans. On May 22, 1901, the Duke of Cornwall and York laid the first stone. He later became King George V. Bishop Webber died in 1903. In 1904, Frank Pearson gave his final plans for the cathedral.

Building the First Part

The apse and crossing in 1927

Pulpit of St. John's Cathedral in 1928

The first part of the cathedral was built from 1906 to 1910. This included the chancel, sanctuary, and parts of the nave. The Lady Chapel was also built. This first section was officially opened on October 28, 1910. The building was blessed again after each new stage of construction was finished.

Building the Second Part

After World War II, money was raised to finish the cathedral. It was meant to be a memorial to the war. In 1947, Field-Marshal Viscount Montgomery of Alamein laid a stone for two more sections of the nave. But construction stopped after the foundations were laid.

Work on the second stage began in 1965. It continued for four years. This stage involved laying foundations for new parts. It also added two more sections to the nave. The temporary west wall was removed.

Building the Third Part

The third and final stage of building started in 1989. It was completed in 2009. This stage added the south-west porch and the last part of the nave. The west front, north and south towers, and the central tower were also built. Peter Dare, a Master Mason from Exeter Cathedral in England, oversaw this work. Stonemasons from Wagners did the building.

To get enough stone, the church bought a sandstone quarry at Helidon. This is about 100 kilometers from Brisbane. Each stone was cut and shaped there. Then, it was trucked to the cathedral. The quarry was sold in 2012.

The third stage cost about A$40 million. This money came from donations, gifts, and government grants. The copper spires on the west side were put in place on March 1, 2008. Bishop John Parkes blessed them. In 2009, St John's Cathedral was named one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland. This was for its role as a great "structure and engineering feat."

Official Opening and Repairs

The Archbishop of Brisbane, Phillip Aspinall, officially opened the completed cathedral. This happened on October 29, 2009. About 1,500 people attended. This was 108 years after the first stone was laid.

On November 27, 2014, a big hailstorm hit Brisbane. It caused a lot of damage across the city. St John's Cathedral was badly damaged. Its roof tiles and stained-glass windows were hit. The copper on the spires and bell tower was also damaged. The eastern wall of the cathedral bent slightly from the strong wind. This put it at risk of falling. Repairs started in June 2015 and finished in November 2018.

In 2015, new statues were added to the cathedral's front. These statues were carved by Rhyl Hinwood. Each one cost $45,000. Archbishop Aspinall blessed them before they were put up. On September 20, 2022, St John's Cathedral held a special service. It was to remember the reign of Elizabeth II, the Queen of Australia.

Cathedral Design and Features

Nave facing liturgical west

Nave and altar of St John's Cathedral

The cathedral was designed in the Gothic revival style. This style was popular in the late 19th century. The architect was John Loughborough Pearson. St John's looks similar to Truro Cathedral in England, which Pearson also designed. However, St John's has more of a French Gothic look.

The outside walls are made of different colored Brisbane tuff stone. This stone came from a quarry in Windsor. The inside is mostly made of dressed sandstone from Helidon. The foundations use granite and basalt. The stone for the windows and doorways came from Pyrmont, New South Wales.

When you walk inside, you'll notice the high ceilings. The columns are tall and slender. The lighting is soft. The design uses many columns to create layers. This makes the space feel grand. The inside design reflects church practices from the 1840s. Frank Pearson changed the design of the main nave. He made it longer. He also changed a window in the north transept to a rose window. He simplified some details to save money.

The north and south aisles are like a bird's folded wings. They are separated from the main nave by thin columns. The nave ends at the crossing. The central tower sits right above this spot. The north and south transepts are like outstretched arms. They cross the nave at right angles. The most sacred part of the cathedral is straight ahead.

High altar

St John's architecture is similar to old Cistercian churches in Europe. These monks believed churches should be simple and useful. They preferred stone buildings. They focused on elegant design and natural materials. You can see this in St John's. The many stone pillars, ceilings, and arches create a special feeling. The sandstone quality and simple design add to this. There is minimal decoration, except for the west front.

The choir area is raised, showing a move from the public nave to a more holy space. This is where the clergy sit in carved stalls. The archbishop's throne, called a cathedra, is also here. It shows the archbishop's authority. This throne was carved by Hedley Smith in the 1930s.

Beyond the choir is the high altar. It is a free-standing structure. It has a large stone canopy, called a baldacchino. This canopy is meant to rise high above the altar. Bishop Webber's remains are buried beneath the high altar.

The baldacchino has not been built yet. In front of the altar, there are two mosaic pieces in the floor. They came from the Holy Land. Australian soldiers found them during World War I. One piece is from a 6th-century synagogue in Jericho. The other is from a 6th-century Christian church in Gaza. This piece is part of a larger mosaic in the Australian War Memorial. Beyond the high altar, the cathedral ends in a semicircular apse and ambulatory. This is a walkway for processions.

Many features, like the altar, cross, and pulpit, were designed by Frank Pearson. He also designed the carved organ case and the rose window. Many Brisbane architects designed furniture for the cathedral's three chapels. These are the Lady Chapel, the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, and the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament. The original plans called for a metal roof. This was changed to terracotta tiles in 1907. Some parts of the design are still being worked on. The old pews are being replaced with chairs. The baptismal font has been moved to the west end of the nave.

Cathedral Bells

Interior of the bell tower

The cathedral has 12 bells. They are rung using a method called full circle ringing. The heaviest bell weighs about 16 hundredweight. The first bells were made in 1876. Money for them was raised by public donations.

The bells are rung before the 9:30 am Sunday service. They are also rung for special events and weddings. Members of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Bellringers ring the bells. The bell tower has special equipment to control sound. It also has an electronic simulator. This is used for practice on Monday nights. It helps teach new bell ringers.

The bells are named after the deans and administrators of the cathedral. This tradition started in 1925. Here are the names, weights, and musical pitches of the bells:

Other Buildings Around the Cathedral

Several other buildings are part of the St John's area. These include Webber House, Church House, The Deanery, and St Martin's House. These buildings are placed so you only get a full view of the cathedral when you are very close. This adds to its grand feeling.

Webber House

Webber House, 2020

Webber House was built in 1904. It was designed by Robin Dods. The stone used for Webber House came from the old St John's Pro-Cathedral. Webber House used to be called School House. It was home to St John's Primary School until 1941. That school later became Anglican Church Grammar School.

Church House

Church House, 2020

Church House was built in 1909. It was also designed by Robin Dods. It was made to fit with Pearson's design for St John's Cathedral. You can see a heart design on the iron gates, which is common in Dods' buildings. Both Webber House and Church House have a Gothic style. They also have details from Art Nouveau. They are placed to hide the cathedral from the north side.

Adelaide House (The Deanery)

The oldest building in the area is The Deanery. It is also called Adelaide House. It was built in 1853. From its verandah, the first Governor of Queensland, Sir George Bowen, announced that Queensland was a separate colony. This happened on December 10, 1859. The building then became Queensland's first government house.

St Martin's House

St Martin's House is another unique building in the area. It has Gothic touches. It used to be St Martin's Hospital. It was built as a memorial after the First World War. It is named after St Martin of Tours because November 11 (Remembrance Day) is his feast day. Lang Powell designed it. The design was greatly influenced by the cathedral and nearby buildings. This is clear in the materials used and the building's shape. St Martin's helps protect St John's from city noise. It creates a quiet courtyard next to the cathedral.

Leaders of St John's Cathedral

The role of the dean was separated from the bishop's role in 1925. Here are some of the deans of Brisbane:

• 2008–present: Peter Charles Catt
• 2004–2008: Anthony John Parkes
• 1999-2003: David Thomas
• 1985–1998: Arthur John Grimshaw
• 1983–1985: Robert Butterss
• 1973–1981: Ian Gordon Combe George
• 1967–1972: Cecil Emerson Barron Muschamp
• 1958–1967: William Pye Baddeley
• 1932–1952: William Edward Colvile Barrett
• 1931–1932: Horace Henry Dixon
• 1925–1931: Francis de Witt Batty

See also

• List of new ecclesiastical buildings by J. L. Pearson