St. Mary’s Cathedral, standing tall in the heart of Sydney, is a testament to the beauty and significance that architecture can bring to a city. As the most prominent Cathedral in Australia, it embodies the spirit of inspiration and creativity.
Architecture
The Cathedral’s design is truly remarkable and left a lasting impression on us. Its Gothic-style decoration, created with precision in the 13th century, is a testament to the designer’s skill.
Incorporating elements from earlier cathedrals has resulted in a unique and stunning masterpiece.
The Cathedral has three types of arched openings. The main arcade has tall arches, the triforium has gallery-like openings, and the clerestory has windows.
There are also triple archways along the nave walls that lead to the confessional rooms.
These features add to the Cathedral’s beauty and provide a peaceful atmosphere for visitors.
We were truly amazed by its beauty and grandeur.
The Crypt
The Crypt is a breathtaking underground area with magnificent architecture and intricate designs.
The Melocco Brothers brought a type of flooring called terrazzo to Australia.
They created a beautiful mosaic floor that is still admired today.
The Crypt is a special part of the Cathedral with a big Celtic cross on the floor.
The cross has five circles that show the days of Creation and 18 smaller circles that tell us about Mary, the Cathedral’s namesake.
It’s an exciting and vital part of the Cathedral.
The Crypt is a peaceful final resting spot for Australia’s Catholic leaders, including John Joseph Therry and eight Sydney Archbishops. The graves have delicately inscribed slabs highlighting the lives of the men buried there.
The Crypt’s altars are rich in symbolism and depict scenes from Jesus’ life.
Although often used for events, it’s also a remarkable work of art.
History
The British established this cathedral as a convict settlement in 1788 upon the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney. It still stands today and remains a beautiful cathedral. In this settlement, there were many Catholics among the convicts and the soldiers. So, they needed to build a church to cater to their needs.
St. Mary’s Cathedral was initially built in 1821, but the original Cathedral was destroyed by fire in 1865. Archbishop John Polding commissioned architect William Wardell to design a new St Mary’s Cathedral, giving him complete artistic freedom.
St. Mary’s construction took almost a century to complete in two stages. The original design by Wardell was finally completed in June 2000. Southern Spires’ metal frames were lowered into place with a helicopter and covered with Gosford sandstone to achieve this.
Is it Worth visiting the St. Mary’s Cathedral?
St. Mary’s Cathedral is a great place to visit if you enjoy art, architecture, and history.
It’s the longest church in Australia and differs from most cathedrals because it faces north to south instead of east to west. It’s also the seat of the Archbishop of Sydney and was built where the first Catholic Chapel in Australia once stood.
That’s why it’s a popular tourist destination in Sydney.