St Patrick's Basilica, South Dunedin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Patrick's Basilica |
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St Patrick's Basilica, South Dunedin, interior
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| 45°53′42″S 170°30′11″E / 45.89510°S 170.50315°E | |
| Location | Dunedin, Otago |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Website | St Patrick's Basilica, South Dunedin |
| History | |
| Founded | 1878 |
| Dedication | St Patrick |
| Dedicated | 1894 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | parish church |
| Architect(s) | Francis Petre |
| Architectural type | Palladian Revival |
| Style | Roman Renaissance |
| Groundbreaking | 20 March 1892 |
| Completed | 7 October 1894 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Patrick's |
| Diocese | Dunedin |
| Province | Wellington |
St Patrick's Basilica is a beautiful Catholic church in South Dunedin, New Zealand. It first opened its doors in 1894. A famous architect named Francis Petre designed it. This church was special because it was his first building that wasn't in the old Gothic style.
Contents
A Special Church Design
The outside of St Patrick's Basilica is not fully finished. It is "only a shadow of what the architect intended." But the inside is truly amazing and complete. For this church, Francis Petre chose a style called Palladian Revival. This style is what he became most known for.
The inside of the church looks very different from his earlier Gothic designs. It has many beautiful classical details. One of the most impressive parts is the ceiling. It has a deeply carved High Renaissance style. Petre used this ceiling design in many of his later churches. These include St Patrick's Basilica, Oamaru and Sacred Heart Cathedral, Wellington.
St Patrick's Basilica also gave a hint of what Petre's future churches would look like. It shares many features with the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch. It also looks similar to his last big church, Sacred Heart Basilica, Timaru.
Inside the Basilica: Key Features
The inside of the church has a large main area called a nave. This area has arches and two side aisles. A big arch also leads into the sanctuary, which is the holy part of the church. The walls are built with many arches. Above these arches is a stone cornice, which is a decorative ledge.
Rows of stone pillars, called pilasters, stand against the walls. The tops of these pillars are in the Corinthian order style. The Basilica still has its original main altar. There are also many beautiful statues inside.
Stained Glass and Art
The church has 14 large stained glass windows. These windows were made in Munich, Germany. They show scenes from the mysteries of the Rosary. One scene, "The Crowning with Thorns," is not included.
The sanctuary features a large oil painting. It was created by Giuseppi Brazi. The painting shows St Patrick and St Brigid praying to Our Blessed Lady and her Divine Son. The Stations of the Cross are also special. They are made of terracotta and framed in oak. They were made in Paris in 1901.
Thomas Heffernan and his wife Margaret helped pay for much of the church. One of the beautiful windows remembers their important contributions.
A Place of Prayer
St Patrick's is well-known as a center for Catholic prayer in Dunedin. Many people visit the church to pray. They come on their way to work, on their way home, or while out shopping.
The Novena Tradition
A special prayer service called the Novena was very popular here. This was especially true from the 1950s to the 1970s. It happened every Saturday night at 7:00 PM. The service included prayers, hymns, and a short talk. People would also place special requests in a box at the shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.
Many people came to the novena from all over the city. They filled the seats and stood in the aisles. After the service, many would go to the four confessionals to talk with priests. The novena was so popular that a special bus brought people from other areas to attend.
Celebrating History
St Patrick's celebrated its 125th anniversary in October 2019. The celebration lasted a whole weekend. More than 500 people attended a special Sunday Mass. Bishop Michael Dooley and Bishop Paul Martin led the service. Afterward, everyone enjoyed a shared lunch outside. There was food, music, and even a bouncy castle for children.
On Friday night, a current church member, Jo Bell, organized a special event. It was a recreation of the old novena celebration. About 130 people attended this event.
On Saturday night, Sean Brosnahan gave a talk about the church's history. He is a curator at Toitu Otago Settlers Museum. He explained that the church's early history was shaped by the many different people living in South Dunedin. Many Irish Catholic families lived in the "flats" area. He also spoke about two important people in the church's history. One was Thomas Heffernan, who was a successful road builder and gave a lot to the church. The other was Francis Petre, the architect who designed St Patrick's Basilica.
See also
In Spanish: Basílica de San Patricio (Dunedin) para niños
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Dunedin
- South Dunedin
- Otago
- Francis Petre
