Historic Images of Sydney's Catholic Cathedrals : 16

Image : State Library of NSW

We continue our series of historic photographs commemorating the bi-centenary of Saint Mary's Cathedral (1821-2021) with this wonderfully clear photograph, recently discovered in the collections of the State Library of NSW.

This is one of two photographs taken from Hyde Park in 1883 by a professional photographer.  It shews the completed first stage of the Cathedral, which was carried out between 1868 and 1882, being commenced by Archbishop Polding and completed by his successor, Archbishop Vaughan.

The photograph depicts the chancel of the new Cathedral, with its flanking aisles and the transept on the right.  The walls were built in this first stage no higher than the aisles. Peaking out above the aisles can be seen the nave, with a temporary roof of galvanised iron enclosing the building.  The timber structure resting on top of the nave and transept roofs is a builder's scaffold, which was put in place in order that further work on heightening the walls could be carried out when funds were available.  This took place after 1885.

The temporary galvanised iron roofing can also be seen over the Northern and Western masonry gables and over the aisle.

At the time this photograph was taken, only a few of the Cathedral magnificent English stained glass windows were in place, one being seen on the North end of the aisle (left of the structure).  This was the window dedicated to the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, adjacent to the altar of Saint Joseph.  The remainder of the glazing was clear glass in diamond panes. 

In our previous articles, we posted photographs illustrating the stages of the construction of the present Saint Mary's Cathedral, to be found at the following links :

1871              1882             1883             1886

1887              1890             1892             1895

1896               1901             1902            1905

1907               1910            1914

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

AMDG

NOTES

The photographs in this series are taken from a variety of sources, some in online Archival collections, some from books, some original images in the editor's collection.  They are presented here in a "modernised" digital form, and with as much detail of the structure of the Cathedrals enhanced in order to make them more accessible to a new generation of Australian Catholics.  The original image on which this digital rendering is based is held by the State Library of NSW.  Thanks are due to Special Collections of the State Library for undertaking a search to locate this and other rare images.  Please do not reproduce these unique images without permission. 

Historic Images of Sydney's Catholic Cathedrals : 15

We continue our series of historic photographs commemorating the bi-centenary of Saint Mary's Cathedral (1821-2021).

In our previous articles, we posted photographs illustrating the stages of the construction of the present Saint Mary's Cathedral :

1871              1882             1883             1886

1887              1890             1892             1895

1896               1901             1902            1905

1910              1914

The image posted above was originally issued as a postcard around 1907.  

When the Cathedral was commenced 1867-68, a definite footprint of the building was laid-out, extending from Prince Albert Road southward to where the remnant of Old Saint Mary's remained.  Step by step, the cathedral was constructed until in 1900 it was raised to its completed state on the 1868 footprint.  

In the second half of the 1890s, work continued at the Crossing (that point where the nave, chancel and transepts intersect).  The transepts were raised to their full height, complete with their clerestories and massive buttressing and finally the construction of the Central tower over the crossing.  

The photograph shews the Cathedral looking from Prince Albert Road towards Hyde Park.  The remnant of the old Cathedral can be glimpsed behind the trees on the right side of the photograph.  In the foreground is the bronze statue of H.R.H. Prince Albert, Consort of Queen Victoria,  which was erected by public subscription in 1866 following his untimely death.  The statue and its based were re-sited in 1922 and again in 1987 to its present position.  

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

AMDG

NOTES

The photographs in this series are taken from a variety of sources, some in online Archival collections, some from books, some original images in the editor's collection.  They are presented here in a "modernised" digital form, and with as much detail of the structure of the Cathedrals enhanced in order to make them more accessible to a new generation of Australian Catholics.  The original image on which this digital rendering is based is held in a private collection.  Please do not reproduce these unique images without permission. 

Historic Images of Sydney's Catholic Cathedrals : 14

We continue our series of historic photographs commemorating the bi-centenary of Saint Mary's Cathedral (1821-2021).

In our previous articles, we posted photographs illustrating the stages of the construction of the present Saint Mary's Cathedral :

1871              1882             1883             1886

1887              1890             1892             1895

1896               1901             1902            1905

1910

When the Cathedral was commenced 1867-68, a definite footprint of the building was laid-out, extending from Prince Albert Road southward to where the remnant of Old Saint Mary's remained.  Step by step, the cathedral was constructed until in 1900 it was raised to its completed state on the 1868 footprint.  

The photograph was taken circa 1914 looking across from Hyde Park and it shews the remnant of Old Saint Mary's adjacent to the present Cathedral.  From the angle of this photograph, it is possible to see the blank stone wall to the right of the Crossing Tower, which marked the limit of construction reached some years before.

The photograph appears to shew the small tower of the old Cathedral without its roof covering, the timber structure of the roof is visible.  After this time, the beautiful old stone remnant of Old Saint Mary's was demolished to make way for the continuation of construction of the present building.

The stone walls of old Saint Mary's were taken down with great care and stored in another area of the Cathedral precinct.  It was announced that the stonework would be reconstructed to form the facade of a new Cathedral Hall.  But for reasons that are not clear, that hall was not constructed and those hallowed stones were subsequently dispersed : a terrible outcome.  Research has not yet revealed what happened to them.

The 1914 photograph above may be compared with the previously-published image circa 1882, shewing the Cathedral in a less complete state.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

AMDG

NOTES

The photographs in this series are taken from a variety of sources, some in online Archival collections, some from books, some original images in the editor's collection.  They are presented here in a "modernised" digital form, and with as much detail of the structure of the Cathedrals enhanced in order to make them more accessible to a new generation of Australian Catholics.  The original images on which the digital renderings are based are held in the Special Collections of the State Library of NSW.  Please do not reproduce these unique images without permission.

Historic Images of Sydney's Catholic Cathedrals : 13

We continue our series of historic photographs commemorating the bi-centenary of Saint Mary's Cathedral (1821-2021).

In our previous articles, we posted photographs illustrating the stages of the construction of the present Saint Mary's Cathedral :

1871              1882             1883             1886

1887              1890             1892             1895

1896               1901             1902            1910

When the Cathedral was commenced 1867-68, a definite footprint of the building was laid-out, extending from Prince Albert Road southward to where the remnant of Old Saint Mary's remained.  Step by step, the cathedral was constructed until in 1900 it was raised to its completed state on the 1868 footprint.  

The photograph was taken circa 1905 from Prince Albert Road.  As the building of the new Cathedral progressed, professional photographers were regularly taking images of the stages of construction.  It was an imposing sight which attracted much interest.  From illustrated magazines of those times, residents of Sydney and beyond knew what the completed the design for the building would look like, even though the building process would take an indeterminate length of time.

Trundling along the road and flanked by horses and carts is a cable tram.  This tram route from Edgecliff to Darling Harbour via King Street had been opened in 1894.  The view may be compared with the previously-published image circa 1895, shewing the Cathedral in a less complete state.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

AMDG

NOTES

The photographs in this series are taken from a variety of sources, some in online Archival collections, some from books, some original images in the editor's collection.  They are presented here in a "modernised" digital form, and with as much detail of the structure of the Cathedrals enhanced in order to make them more accessible to a new generation of Australian Catholics. The original images on which these digital renderings are based are held by the State Archives of NSW and Special Collections of the State Library of NSW.  Please do not reproduce these unique images without permission.

Lent 2022 with Archbishop Polding

During the forthcoming Season of Lent, we will regularly be publishing extracts from the Lenten Letters of Archbishop Polding, which were written over the forty years of his ministry in Australia.

"Each time he [Archbishop Polding] wrote he tried to draw his audience closer to God, to encourage upright human conduct and to counter evil, sin and the false ideologies which challenged God’s presence in Australia.  His letters present a consistently-based view of the state of religion and of private and public morals in Australia throughout the crucial years of the nineteenth century."

From The Eye of Faith, the collected pastoral letters of Archbishop Polding.

NOTES

The Eye of Faith was printed by the Lowden Publishing Co., Kilmore Victoria in 1977.  The editors were Gregory Haines, Sister Mary Gregory Foster and Frank Brophy.  Special contribution to the volume were made by Professor Timothy Suttor and James Cardinal Freeman.

The engraving of Archbishop Polding was published by the newspaper The Sydney Mail in the late 1860s, based on a contemporary photograph.  The engraving has been digitally enhanced by the Saint Bede Studio.

AMDG

Historic Images of Sydney's Catholic Cathedrals : 12

 We continue our series of historic photographs commemorating the bi-centenary of Saint Mary's Cathedral (1821-2021).

In our previous articles, we posted photographs illustrating the stages of the construction of the present Saint Mary's Cathedral :

1871              1882             1883             1886

1887              1890             1892             1895

1896               1901             1902

The image posted above was originally issued as a postcard around 1910.  

When the Cathedral was commenced 1867-68, a definite footprint of the building was laid-out, extending from Prince Albert Road southward to where the remnant of Old Saint Mary's remained.  Step by step, the cathedral was constructed until in 1900 it was raised to its completed state on the 1868 footprint.  

In the second half of the 1890s, work continued at the Crossing (that point where the nave, chancel and transepts intersect).  The transepts were raised to their full height, complete with their clerestories and massive buttressing and finally the construction of the Central tower over the crossing.  

The photograph shews the Cathedral looking across Hyde Park.  The remnant of the old Cathedral can be glimpsed behind the trees on the right side of the photograph.  In the foreground is the bronze statue of the Catholic statesman, William Bede Dalley (1831-1888) which was erected in 1898.  It is very fitting that such a statue stands adjacent to Saint Mary's, because of his lifelong support of the Church and his friendship and collaboration with the Archbishops of Sydney, J B Polding OSB, R B Vaughan OSB and P F Cardinal Moran.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

AMDG

NOTES

The photographs in this series are taken from a variety of sources, some in online Archival collections, some from books, some original images in the editor's collection.  They are presented here in a "modernised" digital form, and with as much detail of the structure of the Cathedrals enhanced in order to make them more accessible to a new generation of Australian Catholics.  The original image on which this digital rendering is based is held in a private collection.  Please do not reproduce these unique images without permission.

Historic images of sydney's catholic cathedrals : 11

 

We continue our series of historic photographs commemorating the bi-centenary of Saint Mary's Cathedral (1821-2021).

In our previous articles, we posted photographs illustrating the stages of the construction of the present Saint Mary's Cathedral :

1871              1882             1883             1886

1887              1890             1892             1895

1896               1901

The photograph posted above was taken after work was completed on the next phase of building the Cathedral in 1900.  This particular image was issued as a postcard.  

When the Cathedral was commenced 1867-68, a definite footprint of the building was laid-out, extending from Prince Albert Road southward to where the remnant of Old Saint Mary's remained.  Step by step, the cathedral was constructed until in 1900 it was raised to its completed state on the 1868 footprint.  

In the second half of the 1890s, work continued at the Crossing.  The transepts were raised to their full height, complete with their clerestories and massive buttressing.  Rising gloriously from the intersection of the transepts was the Central Tower which for a period of years was referred to as The Cardinal's Tower in honour of the Cardinal Moran, who gave the impetus for the construction of the stages of the Cathedral between 1884 and 1900.

The photograph shews the Northern facade of Saint Mary's Cathedral together with the sacristies, the newly-completed central tower.  Also depicted is the Frazer Memorial fountain, which was constructed at the corner of Saint Mary's Road and Prince Albert Road in 1884.

As the building of the new Cathedral progressed, professional photographers were regularly taking images of the stages of construction.  The number of photographs taken - often used for postcards - dramatically increased after the completion of the Central Tower.  No longer did the Cathedral look incomplete, but a finished and noble building.  

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

AMDG

NOTES

The photographs in this series are taken from a variety of sources, some in online Archival collections, some from books, some original images in the editor's collection.  They are presented here in a "modernised" digital form, and with as much detail of the structure of the Cathedrals enhanced in order to make them more accessible to a new generation of Australian Catholics.  The original image on which this digital rendering is based is held in a private collection.  Please do not reproduce these unique images without permission.

Historic images of Sydney's Catholic Cathedrals : 10

We continue our series of historic photographs commemorating the bi-centenary of Saint Mary's Cathedral (1821-2021).

In our previous articles, we posted photographs illustrating the stages of the construction of the present Saint Mary's Cathedral :

1871              1882             1883             1886

1887              1890             1892             1895

The photograph posted above was taken after work was completed on the next phase of building the Cathedral in 1900.  When the Cathedral was commenced 1867-68, a definite footprint of the building was laid-out, extending from Prince Albert Road southward to where the remnant of Old Saint Mary's remained.

Step by step, the cathedral was constructed until in 1900 it was raised to its completed state on the 1868 footprint.  In the second half of the 1890s, work continued at the Crossing.  The transepts were raised to their full height, complete with their clerestories and massive buttressing.  Rising gloriously from the intersection of the transepts was the Central Tower which for a period of years was referred to as The Cardinal's Tower in honour of the Cardinal Moran, who gave the impetus to the construction of the stages of the Cathedral between 1884 and 1900.

The photograph also shews the remnant of old Saint Mary's Cathedral signified by its squat tower surmounted by a pyramidal copper roof.  It was in this small tower that the Cathedral's peal of bells was housed, until it was relocated to the Central Tower of the new building after its completion in 1901.

As the building of the new Cathedral progressed, professional photographers were regularly taking images of the stages of construction.  The number of photographs taken - often used for postcards - dramatically increased after the completion of the Central Tower.  No longer did the Cathedral look incomplete, but a finished and noble building.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

AMDG

NOTES

The photographs in this series are taken from a variety of sources, some in online Archival collections, some from books, some original images in the editor's collection.  They are presented here in a "modernised" digital form, and with as much detail of the structure of the Cathedrals enhanced in order to make them more accessible to a new generation of Australian Catholics.  The original image on which this digital rendering is based is held by the State Archives of NSW.  Please do not reproduce these unique images without permission.

historic images of sydney's catholic cathedrals : 9

We continue our series of historic photographs commemorating the bi-centenary of Saint Mary's Cathedral (1821-2021).

In our previous articles, we posted photographs illustrating the stages of the construction of the present Saint Mary's Cathedral :

1871              1882             1883             1886

1887              1890             1892             1895

The photograph posted above was taken after work was completed on the next phase of building the Cathedral, continuing from where construction was brought to a close in 1885.   Only two years elapsed before a further contract was entered into, which was carried out between 1887 and 1889 and consisted of constructing the upper sections of the side walls (known as the clerestory), the accompanying flying buttresses and finally by the construction of the roof of the sanctuary, from the Northern gable to the Crossing.  The new roof was finished in slate.

The photograph was taken within the Gates of the Domain, looking south-west.  The lofty stone wall of the Northern facade (completed in 1885) can be seen in all its richness, with the new clerestory walls, flying buttresses and slate roof structures beyond it (completed 1889).  The central tower and roof of the transepts are notably absent.  

As the building of the new Cathedral progressed, professional photographers were regularly taking images of the stages of construction.   One such was  Henry King (1855-1923), an English-born photographer, known for his studies of Australian Aborigines and his views of Sydney.  King was one of Australia's most significant late 19th century photographers.  The clarity of this image is due to the fact that the original large glass plate negative survived and was electronically scanned to give high resolution.  It is one of many negatives taken by Henry King preserved by the State Library of NSW.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

AMDG

NOTES

The photographs in this series are taken from a variety of sources, some in online Archival collections, some from books, some original images in the editor's collection.  They are presented here in a "modernised" digital form, and with as much detail of the structure of the Cathedrals enhanced in order to make them more accessible to a new generation of Australian Catholics.  The original image on which this digital rendering is based is held by the State Archives of NSW.  Please do not reproduce these unique images without permission.