St Mary's Cathedral: Sydney's oldest Catholic church
One of Australia’s grandest churches is the Gothic Revival style St Mary’s Cathedral, dedicated in 1882 by Archbishop Vaughan after 14 years of construction.
Set in the heart of the central business district, opposite the north eastern end of Hyde Park, St Mary’s is the largest church in Australia, and the oldest Catholic house of worship. The very first Catholic chapel was built on the same site earlier in the century, but was destroyed by fire in 1865.
An imposing sandstone structure of ornate geometric design, the cathedral’s extraordinary exterior, with its twin 74 metre (243 feet) high spires, makes it one of the most visible landmarks in the city. It embodies everything beautiful about classic European religious architecture – grand arched doorways, flying buttresses, towers, turrets, gargoyles and saintly statues.
Inside, St Mary’s is equally sublime, with stunning mosaic flooring and soft sunlight streaming through the heavenly stained glass windows. St Mary’s Cathedral holds the title of minor basilica, bestowed upon it by Pope Pius XI in 1930. The last papal visit to St Mary’s was in 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI presided over the World Youth Day mass here.
The church holds daily masses and reconciliation services, and there are also regular choral services on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. There are free guided tours every Sunday at 12pm – no photographs are permitted inside however.
Posted by Fiona Davies
