Old Saint Mary's by Moonlight

 

Old Saint Mary's by moonlight
Image : The Saint Bede Studio.

Eastward of this Park [Hyde] without trees is the Catholic Chapel and a view of Port Jackson, with its numerous bays and woody shores.  The Gothic edifice, though a plain structure without the usual architraves, fretwork, moulding and sculpture, is a surprising piece of work, standing where it does ... This building, begun in 1820, and now roofing in, is in the form of a cross having at each corner octagonal buttresses rising above the roof with high-pointed caps, ornamented with turrets.  There, a circular projection in the transept for the altar constitutes the principal decorations, yet the whole has a fine effect, and by moonlight, but that the stone is fresh, you might fancy it is some old abbey.

Excerpt from the article "New Holland" by Dr Roger Oldfield in the South-Asian Register, May 1828.

NOTE

The image of Old Saint Mary's accompanying this post is digital artwork prepared by The Saint Bede Studio.  It depicts the Western facade and the northern transept of the old Cathedral, looking across from Hyde Park, which is divided from the road (later College Street) by a post and rail fence.  To the left of the Cathedral are those buildings which comprised the residence of the Archbishop and the clergy of the Cathedral, built in the 1820s.