St John's Cathedral (Brisbane)
St John's Cathedral | |
---|---|
Cathedral Church of Saint John the Evangelist | |
Brisbane Tuff, sandstone | |
Bells | 12 |
Tenor bell weight | 16 long cwt 1 qr 17 lb (1,837 lb or 833 kg)[1] |
Administration | |
Province | Queensland |
Diocese | Brisbane |
Clergy | |
Archbishop | Jeremy Greaves |
Dean | Peter Catt[2] |
St John's Cathedral is the
The cathedral is the centre for big diocesan events such as the ordinations of priests and deacons which attract large congregations; a parish church catering for a diverse congregation of worshipers from around the city of Brisbane; a major centre for the arts and music with its own orchestra, the Camerata of St John's, which holds several concerts in the cathedral each year; and an international centre of pilgrimage attracting over 20,000 visitors annually from around the world.[citation needed]
The choir of men and boys sing the traditional Anglican repertoire as well as more adventurous fare. The cathedral also possesses a four manual pipe organ, the largest cathedral organ in Australia, which hosts many recitalists from across the world: Pearson's design (and stone-vaulting) creates a five-second reverberation making organ-music particularly resonant.[citation needed]
St John's Cathedral is unique in Australia as the completion of the building design was achieved through collaboration between clergy, stonemasons and architects over a period of almost 100 years, as with Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals in the Middle Ages and, more recently, 20th-century cathedrals such as
History
Vision and design
In April 1889, Pearson's plans for the cathedral were approved for the original site bounded by George, Elizabeth and William Streets.
It was a cruciform church with a wide nave, double aisles, apse and ambulatory, short transepts about halfway along the length of the building and an apsidal side chapel on the north. The west front had towers close to the end of the nave. The upper part of the west wall was supported by a relieving arch, which continued the line of the interior cross arches. The towers had massive buttresses. Their strong vertical lines carried on into corner turrets set before pyramidal spires.[5]
Pearson died in November 1897, two weeks before Webber presented fresh plans to the cathedral chapter. In 1898, Frank Loughborough Pearson (John Pearson's son and partner) was entrusted to carry out his father's design.
First stage
The first stage of construction began in 1906 and took four years to complete. This included the chancel, sanctuary and ambulatory, the quire and its aisles, the transepts and crossing, the Lady Chapel to the liturgical north of the quire, the double aisles and the first bay of the nave.[4] This first stage was consecrated as the Anglican Cathedral of St John the Evangelist on Friday 28 October 1910.[7][8][9] (The building was re-consecrated after each stage of its construction.[10])
Second stage
After the
In 1965 the second stage was commenced.[12] Work on the second stage proceeded for a further four years and consisted of the laying of foundations for the extensions, a two-bay extension to the nave and demolition and removal of the temporary west wall.[4]
Third stage
The third stage of construction commenced in 1989 and was completed in 2009 (with the exception of 29 life-sized statues on the west front and a set of cloisters on the north side of the cathedral which have yet to be commissioned). The third stage of construction comprised the erection of the south west porch, the final bay of the nave, the west front, the north and south towers and the central tower. This stage of work was overseen by Peter Dare,
The third stage of construction cost A$40 million which was raised by public donations, bequests and grants from the federal, state and local governments.[citation needed]
The copper-clad western spires were lifted into position on 1 March 2008 and subsequently blessed by Bishop John Parkes.[citation needed]
In 2009 as part of the
Consecration
The Archbishop of Brisbane, Phillip Aspinall, officially reconsecrated the completed cathedral on 29 October 2009, attended by about 1,500 people, 108 years after the laying of the foundation stone.[17]
On 27 November 2014, a hailstorm struck Brisbane causing widespread damage throughout the city totaling $1.1 billion.[18] St John's Cathedral suffered extensive damage to its roof-tiles and leadlights, as well as damage to the copper sheeting on the front spires and the southern and eastern sides of the bell tower. The cathedral's eastern wall had also bowed approximately 2.5 mm from the force of the wind, leaving it in danger of structural failure. Restoration repairs commenced in early June 2015, and were not completed until November 2018.[19]
In 2015, a series of statues carved by Rhyl Hinwood, costing $45,000 each, were purchased and blessed by Archbishop Aspinall before being installed on the cathedral's facade.[20]
On the 20th September 2022, St John's Cathedral held a service of thanksgiving marking the reign of Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia.
Design elements
The cathedral was designed in the
The initial architectural impact is achieved via its lofty ceilings, tall and delicately proportioned columns and low level lighting. The architects achieve a layering effect through the masking of external walls via colonnades (a colonnade denotes a long sequence of columns joined by their entablature which is the superstructure of mouldings and bands which lies horizontally above the columns) often free-standing.[10] The interior (by Frank Loughborough Pearson) reflects liturgical arrangements favoured by the Oxford movement from the 1840s.[4] The design of the central nave toward the east end was reworked by Frank Pearson (1898–1904). He lengthened the nave and exchanged the lancet windows in the north transept for a rose window, simplified the details of the east end and omitted much of the cathedral's internal decoration to meet financial constraints.[23] The north and south aisles, representing a bird's folded wings, are separated from the nave, or body, by Pearson's slender piers. The nave terminates at the crossing. The central tower rests on four large piers and is directly above. The north and south transepts (the transverse part of a cruciform church, crossing the nave at right angles) representing outstretched arms are to the left and right and the most sacred part of the cathedral is ahead.[23]
In many respects, the architecture of St John's resembles the great
According to Cleary, Pearson's elevated choir symbolically marks the passage from the secular nave into the higher and more holy choir. Here the clergy are also accommodated in their "elaborately carved" stalls and the archbishop's throne or cathedra (symbolising the archbishop's authority and pastoral responsibilities) – designed by Pearson resides. The episcopal throne was carved in situ by Brisbane carver and cabinet maker Hedley Smith in the 1930s. Two statuettes by Smith were added in 1948.
Beyond the choir is the presbytery and then the high altar and its surrounding sanctuary. The high altar is a free-standing structure with a great Byzantine-style stone
However, as yet the baldacchino has not been constructed. In front of the altar in the sanctuary floor are two pieces of mosaic from the Holy Land, brought back after being uncovered during the First World War by the Australian Light Horse Regiment. One of these is part of the floor of a 6th-century synagogue at Jericho. The other is a fragment from the floor of a 6th-century Christian church at Gaza and is part of a larger mosaic now housed in the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.[12] Beyond the high altar the cathedral ends in a semicircular apse and ambulatory (processional aisle), a link to the architecture's French-Norman past.[23] Many features beyond the crossing including the altar, cross, candle sticks, pulpit, canopy, clergy stalls, pendant lights and litany desk were designed by Frank Pearson. He also designed the carved organ case and the rose window in the north transept.[23]
Many Brisbane architects were commissioned to design liturgical furniture for the cathedral's three chapels, the Lady Chapel, the Chapel of the Holy Spirit and the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament.[23]
The initial design called for a galvanised iron roof; this was changed to terracotta roof tiles in 1907.[21] The resolution of unfinished design elements continues to pose challenges.[4]
Pews are being replaced by free-standing chairs. The baptismal font, previously in the north transept, has been moved to the west end of the nave.
Bells
The cathedral has a
Number | Name | Mass | Pitch | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
long measure | lb | kg | |||
1 (Treble) | John | 4 long cwt 3 qr 8 lb | 540 | 245 | B |
2 | David | 5 long cwt 0 qr 26 lb | 586 | 266 | A |
3 | Francis | 5 long cwt 1 qr 2 lb | 590 | 268 | G# |
4 | Horace | 5 long cwt 2 qr 6 lb | 622 | 282 | F# |
5 | William | 5 long cwt 3 qr 12 lb | 656 | 298 | E |
6 | Denis | 6 long cwt 2 qr 0 lb | 728 | 330 | D# |
7 | William Pye | 6 long cwt 3 qr 16 lb | 772 | 350 | C# |
8 | Cecil | 7 long cwt 2 qr 13 lb | 853 | 387 | B |
9 | Ian | 9 long cwt 1 qr 7 lb | 1,043 | 473 | A |
10 | Ralph | 11 long cwt 1 qr 20 lb | 1,280 | 581 | G# |
11 | Robert | 12 long cwt 1 qr 20 lb | 1,392 | 631 | F# |
12 (Tenor) | Arthur | 16 long cwt 1 qr 17 lb | 1,837 | 833 | E |
Other buildings
Buildings associated with St John's include Webber House, Church House, The Deanery (formerly Adelaide House) and St Martin's House. These buildings provide the traditional experience of only having a full view of the cathedral when quite close (after having wound one's way through narrow medieval city streets) thus adding to the impact and feeling of grandeur.[26]
Webber House
Webber House was built in 1904. It was designed by
Church House
Church House was built in 1909. Also designed by
Adelaide House
The oldest building in the precinct is The Deanery, also known as called Adelaide House, built in 1853. From the verandah of this building the first Governor of Queensland, Sir George Bowen, read the proclamation declaring Queensland a separate colony on 10 December 1859. The building then became Queensland's first government house.[12]
St Martin's House
The other more eclectic building with Gothic touches found in the precinct is
Deans of Brisbane
The role of dean was separated from that of bishop in 1925.
- 2008–present: Peter Charles Catt (previously Dean of Grafton)
- 2004–2008: Anthony John Parkes (afterwards Bishop of Wangaratta, 2008)
- 1999-2003: David Thomas
- 1985–1998: Arthur John Grimshaw[29]
- 1983–1985: Robert Butterss (afterwards assistant bishop, Melbourne, 1985–1993)
- 1973–1981: Ian Gordon Combe George (afterwards Archdeacon of Canberra, 1981)
- 1967–1972: Bishop of Kalgoorlie, 1950–1967)
- 1958–1967: William Pye Baddeley
- 1932–1952: William Edward Colvile Barrett
- 1931–1932: Horace Henry Dixon (previously headmaster of The Southport School, 1901–1929, and afterwards assistant bishop of Brisbane, 1932–1961)[30]
- 1925–1931: Francis de Witt Batty (afterwards Bishop of Newcastle, 1931)
See also
References
- ^ a b "History of the bells of St John's Cathedral, Brisbane" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
- ^ "Cathedral Staff". St John's Cathedral. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
- ^ "600076". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f Cleary, p.1
- ^ a b c d e f Cleary, p.2
- ^ Sayer et al., p.12
- The Telegraph. No. 11, 840. Queensland, Australia. 28 October 1910. p. 2 (Second Edition). Archivedfrom the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
- The Brisbane Courier. No. 16, 474. Queensland, Australia. 29 October 1910. p. 4. Retrieved 18 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
- The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXV, no. 19, 958. South Australia. 29 October 1910. p. 14. Archivedfrom the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b c Hogan, p.37
- ^ Cleary, p.5
- ^ a b c d e f Sayer et al., p.13
- J.H. Wagner & Sons. Archivedfrom the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
- J.H. Wagner & Sons. Archivedfrom the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
- ^ Needham, Jack (16 April 2019). "Sandstone quarry in Queensland's Helidon region for sale". Commercial Real Estate. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
- ^ Bligh, Anna (10 June 2009). "Premier Unveils Queensland's 150 Icons". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 24 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
- ^ Andree Withey (11 November 2008). "100-year construction completed on Brisbane cathedral". ABC News. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
- ^ Atfield, Cameron (18 February 2015). "St John's Cathedral's $3 million storm damage bill". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
- ^ "Repairs at St John's Cathedral complete - Anglican Church Southern Qld : Anglican Church Southern Queensland". Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ Watson, Matt (28 January 2015). "Hand-carved statues raised into place at St John's Cathedral in Brisbane". ABC News. Archived from the original on 8 February 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
- ^ a b c Cleary, p.4
- ^ "O'Connelltown". Brisbane History. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Cleary, p.3
- ^ "Brisbane: Cath Ch of S John". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
- ^ "Bell Ringers". St John's Cathedral. Archived from the original on 27 January 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
- ^ a b Hogan, p.39
- ^ Hogan, p.38
- ^ Sayer et al., p.14
- ^ "Parish records created by the provenance of Hamilton". Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
- ^ "Australian Dictionary of Biography: Horace Henry Dixon". Archived from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
Sources
- Cleary, Tania (2001). Cathedral Church of St John The Evangelist. Cleary & Kennedy Pty Ltd and The Cathedral Chapter.
- Hogan, Janet; Stringer, Richard; National Trust of Queensland (1978). Building Queensland's heritage. Richmond Hill Press. ISBN 978-0-908157-02-0.
- Jenner, Margaret; Sayer, Paul; Corey, Pam (1994). Brisbane City churches heritage tour. Brisbane History Group. ISBN 978-0-646-21210-4.
- St John's Cathedral Brisbane- An Historical Guide. John Johnstone. Pumpkin Books, Coorparoo, Brisbane. 1985
Further reading
- Church of England. Diocese of Brisbane (1899), Need of a cathedral : reasons for helping to build it, The Diocese