St Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Paul's Cathedral |
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| The Cathedral Church of St Paul the Apostle | |
St Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin
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| 45°52′25″S 170°30′09″E / 45.87361°S 170.502539°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Liberal Anglo-Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Founded | 8 June 1915 |
| Founder(s) | Samuel Nevill |
| Dedication | Paul the Apostle |
| Consecrated |
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| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) |
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| Architectural type | Church |
| Years built | 1915 – 2003 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Concrete, Oamaru limestone, Italian marble, Australian jarrah |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Dunedin |
St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral church located in The Octagon in the heart of Dunedin, New Zealand. It is near the Dunedin Town Hall. The cathedral is the main church for the Bishop of Dunedin and the most important church in the Anglican Diocese of Dunedin.
This important building was added to the Heritage New Zealand list of Historic Places on November 11, 1987. It is a Category 1 historic place.
Contents
History of St Paul's Cathedral
The land for St Paul's Church was a gift from Johnny Jones. He was a sealer and whaler from Waikouaiti.
The First Church Building
The first church building for St Paul was built on this spot between 1862 and 1863. It was made from Caversham stone. The church could hold up to 500 people.
However, the building was not very strong. The stone wore away quickly. Its tall spire had to be removed after only a few years.
Becoming a Cathedral
In 1871, Samuel Nevill became the Bishop of Dunedin. He believed the area needed a main cathedral church. After many discussions, it was finally agreed in 1894 that St Paul's would become the cathedral. This was 18 years after the idea was first brought up!
A special group called the cathedral chapter was formed in 1895. They took on the job of managing the new cathedral. Thomas Whitelock Kempthorne, a generous supporter, has a memorial inside the church.
Building the New Cathedral
In 1904, a rich Dunedin businessman named William Harrop passed away. He left most of his money to build a new cathedral. But there was a condition: the church had to raise £20,000 first.
Bishop Nevill worked hard to raise the money. By 1913, they had enough to start building. The final design for the new cathedral was created by Edmund Harold Sedding from England. Basil Hooper was the architect who oversaw the building work in Dunedin.
On June 8, 1915, the first stone of the new cathedral was laid. Large foundations and huge pillars were built. A massive vaulted ceiling, made of stone, was also created. This was the only one of its kind in New Zealand. These parts formed the main area of the new cathedral, called the nave.
However, there wasn't enough money to build the entire church as planned. They couldn't afford the central crossing or the chancel (the area around the altar). So, a temporary chancel was built using materials from the old St Paul's church. Bishop Nevill officially opened the new cathedral on February 12, 1919.
Changes in the 1930s
During the 1930s, the church focused on helping people. The leaders of the church spoke out against the government's policies during the Great Depression. St Paul's Cathedral ran a food bank. They gave out food parcels to families in Dunedin who needed help.
Adding a New Chancel
In the 1950s, the church decided not to finish the cathedral exactly as it was first designed. Instead, they looked for ways to add an extension. In 1966, they decided to build a new chancel.
The plans for this new part were drawn by Ted McCoy. Construction began in December 1969. The old temporary chancel was removed. New columns were built in its place. The building work finished on July 24, 1971. The cathedral reopened the very next day.
The new chancel had a modern style. It was as tall as the existing vaulted ceiling. It had tall windows that went almost from the floor to the ceiling. The altar was free-standing, which was unusual at the time. The new area also featured clear glass windows and special candle holders.
In 2003, the sanctuary area was changed again. The altar was moved forward into the nave, closer to the people.
Fire of 2020
On August 11, 2020, a fire started in the roof of the new chancel. This caused a lot of damage to the apse (a rounded part of the church) and the Raphael Hall below it.
Work is now underway to fix the roof and rebuild the sanctuary. A new organ console is also being installed. This work is expected to be finished in 2023. It is part of a bigger plan to make the Cathedral more welcoming for everyone.
Church Life and Traditions
Inclusive Church
St Paul's describes itself as an "Inclusive Church." This means they believe in a church that welcomes everyone. They do not discriminate based on culture, money, gender, mental health, physical ability, or race.
Music at the Cathedral
The Choir
St Paul's Cathedral is well-known for its church music. The choir is famous for its high-quality performances and wide range of songs. Many choir members have gone on to become professional singers. Some have sung in famous English cathedrals. Others, like Anna Leese, have become international opera stars.
The main job of the Cathedral Choir is to make church services better. They also reach out to the wider community. The choir has 22 singers who are chosen by audition. They sing at Sunday services, midweek Choral Evensong, and special events. The choir also performs concerts and goes on tours. They have been featured on radio and television.
The choir sings many different types of music. This includes very old songs and music by modern composers. The Director of Music, Michael Grant, is in charge of all music at St Paul's.
The Organ
The organ at St Paul's Cathedral was built in 1919 by Henry Willis III in London. It was installed the next year. In 1972, it was taken apart and moved by the South Island Organ Company.
The organ has four keyboards: great, swell, choir, and solo. It has more than 3,500 pipes! The organ is often used for public concerts and performances.
Images for kids
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Stained glass window
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Exterior view
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Exterior sculpture
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Interior
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St Paul's Cathedral and Dunedin Town Hall in winter
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At night
