The History of St Patrick’s Cathedral and St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne
Both St Patrick’s Cathedral and St Paul’s Cathedral have a fascinating history. While St Patrick’s is a Roman Catholic Church, St Paul’s is Anglican. These two places of worship are popular with tourists in Melbourne. If you are making a trip to Melbourne and are interested to visit churches with historical significance, it’s a must- do to visit both these churches with our efficient and comfortable bus hire services in Melbourne. See the majestic appeal of these two cathedrals for yourself!
Down the Memory Lane: St Patrick’s Cathedral
St Patrick’s Cathedral offers glimpses of the Gothic Revival architecture and is the tallest and largest church in Australia. Being built from bluestone and sandstone, it stands out amidst the skyline of Melbourne. It is interesting to note that in 1974, Pope Paul VI titled the cathedral with the name of a minor basilica and in 1986, Pope John Paul II addressed the clergy during a visit to Melbourne.
This beautiful building was dedicated to and named after St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, because at the time of it being built, there was a huge Irish community here. Due to the Gold Rush in 1851, William Wardell, who was commissioned to design the cathedral had to delay his plans as many of the labour force were drawn to the goldfields. However a foundation stone was laid in 1858. St Patrick’s Cathedral has a statue of Daniel OConnell, an Irish nationalist leader, in its grounds. Inside, the spectacular stained glass windows which had cracked were restored by craftsmen who used lime mortar and other materials from a bygone age.
Down the Memory Lane: St. Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s Cathedral is to be found right in the centre of Melbourne and was built in 1852. The cathedral was consecrated in 1891 with previous buildings on the site being a corn market then a church called St Paul’s Parish Church. St Paul’s cathedral has a similar interesting history as St. Patrick. It was built on a site that held the first public Christian services in Melbourne and demolished in 1885 where the present cathedral now sits. This magnificent cathedral is situated in a very busy area, enticing visitors and worshippers from all around to attend the many services held.
Designed by William Butterfield, an eminent English architect, the construction of St Paul’s had many problems as the designer refused to visit Melbourne to see how the work was proceeding. In the end, he resigned from the project and Joseph Reed took over. Reed was responsible for designing some of Melbourne’s fabulous buildings although the cathedral still remains as William Butterfield’s last masterpiece. The spires were constructed in 1926 with most of the exterior work being finished off in the 1960s. In 1989, the organ in the cathedral was restored with the help of an appeal by the National Trust and is still going strong today.