St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta

Catholic cathedral in Australia

Church in Australia

Church (1836 – 1986)
Cathedral (since 1986)^[1]
Chapel (Old cathedral partially destroyed by 1996 fire)

Founded17 March 1836 (1836-03-17)
(as St Patrick's Church)Founder(s)Bishop Bede Polding^[2]Consecrated

28 May 1837
(as St Patrick's Church)^[3]
13 August 1954^[3]
29 November 2003
by Cardinal Edward Clancy (as St Patrick's Cathedral)

ArchitectureFunctional statusCompletedArchitect(s)

A.W.N. Pugin (1856)
Romaldo Giurgola (2003)

Architectural typeChurchCompleted29 November 2003
(rebuild following fire)AdministrationDioceseParramattaParishSt Patrick's Cathedral ParishClergyBishop(s)Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM ConvDeanVery Rev. Robert RiedlingAssistant priest(s)Fr Christopher Del Rosario

St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta is the Roman Catholic cathedral church of the Diocese of Parramatta and the seat of the Catholic Bishop, located in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia, currently the Most Reverend Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv.

Established as a church in 1836, the site was modified several times and consecrated as a cathedral in 1986. Destroyed by a 1996 fire, the old St Patrick's Cathedral became a Blessed Sacrament Chapel and adjoining it is a large contemporary Cathedral, completed in 2003.^[3]

History

With origins of the first Mass occurring on the present day site of the cathedral dating from 1803, St Patrick's was extensively rebuilt after a 1996 fire devastated the original church that was established in 1854.

A tower was built on the original St Patrick's Church which was consecrated in 1880 and blessed in 1883. A cast bronze bell was installed in the tower in 1904. As the needs of the parish grew, a new church was built on the site in 1936 incorporating the existing tower and spire. When the Diocese of Parramatta was established in 1986, St Patrick's Church was designated as St Patrick's Cathedral.^[4]^[5]^[6]

Redesign and works following fire

Under Bishop Kevin Manning and dean Peter G. Williams, the building was designed by Romaldo Giurgola and the firm MGT Architects. Giurgola was commissioned in 1997 for the restoration and design of a new cathedral complex after a fire destroyed the previous building. Giurgola was the architect of the new Australian Parliament House in Canberra.^[5]

A program of major art works, craft and special design for the cathedral was also undertaken at the same time so that the art, architecture and furnishings of the new cathedral would be in harmony. The commissioned artists included Sydney sculptor Anne Ferguson (who worked in stone), Tasmanian designer Kevin Perkins (who worked in timber) and Sydney sculptor and jewellery designer Robin Blau (who worked in metal). The new Parramatta Cathedral was consecrated on 29 November 2003 by Cardinal Edward Clancy.^[4]

The building design and construction team were awarded the 2003 Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Buildings by the Australian Institute of Architects.^[7]

Organ

The Norman and Beard late-Victorian English romantic pipe organ, built in 1898, was installed in 2006.^[2] This 19th-century organ was transferred from St Saviour's Anglican Church in Knightsbridge, London. Stephen Bicknell designed a new organ case in collaboration with Romaldo Giurgola and the instrument was restored and installed in Parramatta Cathedral by Peter Jewkes and Associates.^[6] The organ specifications were further enhanced in 2014 with the addition of several digital ranks of pedal pipes, including 32' Contra-Bourdon, 32' Contra-ophicleide, 16' Major bass; and additional switching devices for the transfer of swell reeds to pedal.^[2]

References

^ "St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta". GCatholic.org. 15 January 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c "St Patrick's Catholic Cathedral, Parramatta". Organ Historical Trust of Australia. October 2005. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c "History". St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta. Diocese of Parramatta. 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
^ ^a ^b "St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta" (PDF). Cathedral Parish of Parramatta. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ ^a ^b Crittenden, Stephen (4 December 2002). "A new cathedral for Parramatta". The Religion Report. Australia. Archived from the original (transcript) on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
^ ^a ^b Crittenden, Stephen (3 December 2003). "New Cathedral for Parramatta (Part 2)". The Religion Report. Australia. Archived from the original (transcript) on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
^ "St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta". Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Buildings. Australian Institute of Architects. 2003. Retrieved 26 September 2011.

External links

Official website
Diocese of Parramatta website

Catholic Church in Australia

A list of the Catholic dioceses, chapels, churches, and cathedrals in Australia.

Province of Sydney

Metropolitan Archdiocese of Sydney	Cathedral Church and Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Mother of God, Help of Christians St Philip Howard, Kingston St Anne's, North Bondi St Anne's, South Strathfield St Brigid's, Millers Point St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Paddington Cardinal Cerretti Chapel Garden Island Naval Chapel Mary Immaculate, Waverley Mary Mackillop Memorial Chapel and Museum Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Randwick St Patrick's, The Rocks St Peter Julian's, Sydney
Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle	Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Diocese of Armidale	Cathedral of Saint Mary and Saint Joseph
Diocese of Bathurst	Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint John St Mary's, Mudgee
Diocese of Lismore	Cathedral of Saint Carthage
Diocese of Wagga Wagga	Cathedral of Saint Michael Our Lady of Pompeii, Yoogali
Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes	Cathedral of the Sacred Heart St Ignatius, Bourke
Diocese of Wollongong	Cathedral of Saint Francis Xavier St John Vianney Co-Cathedral St Francis Xavier's, Berrima St John's, Campbelltown St Michael's, Nowra
Diocese of Parramatta	Cathedral of Saint Patrick St Thomas Aquinas, Springwood
Diocese of Broken Bay	Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary

Province of Melbourne

Metropolitan Archdiocese of Melbourne	Cathedral Church and Minor Basilica of Saint Patrick Our Lady of Victories Basilica, Camberwell Sacred Heart, St Kilda St Ambrose, Brunswick St Ignatius', Richmond St Mary of the Angels, Geelong St Mary's, Williamstown St Mary Star of the Sea, West Melbourne St Francis', Melbourne
Diocese of Sale	Cathedral of Saint Mary
Diocese of Sandhurst	Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Diocese of Ballarat	Cathedral of Saint Patrick

Province of Brisbane

Metropolitan Archdiocese of Brisbane	Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Stephen St Stephen's Chapel Corpus Christi, Nundah Our Lady of Victories, Bowen Hills Marist Brothers College, Rosalie Mary Immaculate Church, Annerley Mount Carmel Convent, Wynnum Mount St Mary's Convent, Toowong St Brigid's, Red Hill Church Convent St Brigid's Church, Rosewood St Francis Xavier, Goodna St Ignatius Loyola, Toowong St Mary's, Ipswich St Mary's, Maryborough St Mary's, South Brisbane St Patrick's, Fortitude Valley St Patrick's, Gympie St Patrick's, Mount Perry
Diocese of Toowoomba	Cathedral of Saint Patrick Our Lady of the Assumption, Warwick First Church Second Church Convent Presbytery St Patrick's, Rosevale
Diocese of Cairns	St Monica's War Memorial Cathedral Old Cathedral St Monica's Priory/Bishop's House Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Thursday Island St James', Malanda St Joseph's, Cairns St Mary's by the Sea Church, Port Douglas St Patrick's, Yungaburra
Diocese of Rockhampton	Cathedral of Saint Joseph Old St Patrick's, Brandon Our Lady Star of the Sea, Gladstone
Diocese of Townsville	Cathedral of the Sacred Heart St Brigid's, Stuart St Joseph's, North Ward St Mary's, Townsville St Patrick's, North Ward St Patrick's, Ravenswood

Province of Perth

Metropolitan Archdiocese of Perth	Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Pro-Cathedral of Saint John Aquinas College Chapel New Norcia, Western Australia Redemptorist Monastery, North Perth St Brigid's, Perth St Denis, Joondanna St Mary Star of the Sea, Peppermint Grove St Patrick's Basilica, Fremantle St John the Baptist, Toodyay St John the Baptist, Toodyay (1863–1963) St Joseph's, Subiaco
Diocese of Broome	Cathedral of Our Lady Queen of Peace
Diocese of Bunbury	Cathedral of Saint Patrick
Diocese of Geraldton	Cathedral of Saint Francis Xavier

Province of Adelaide

Metropolitan Archdiocese of Adelaide	Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Francis Xavier St Augustine's, Salisbury St Ignatius' Church, Norwood St Patrick's, Adelaide
Diocese of Port Pirie	Cathedral of Saint Mark
Diocese of Darwin	Cathedral of Saint Mary, Star of the Sea Christ the King, Tennant Creek

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Archdiocese of Hobart	Cathedral of Saint Mary Church of the Apostles, Launceston
Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn	Cathedral of Saint Christopher St Peter and Paul's, Goulburn Christ the King, Taralga
Military Ordinariate of Australia	Cathedral of Saint Christopher as Principal Church
Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross	Principal Parish of St Bede the Venerable

Immediately subject to a patriarch or major archbishop

Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Ss Peter and Paul	Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul
Maronite Catholic Eparchy of St Maroun	Cathedral of Saint Maroun
Melkite Catholic Eparchy of St Michael	Cathedral of Saint Michael and All the Angels
Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St Thomas	St Thomas the Apostle Chaldean Catholic Church (Seat of the Eparch's Cathedra)
Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of St Thomas	St Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (Seat of the Eparch's Cathedra)

Catholicism portal

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A list of Catholic dioceses in Australia and their cathedrals
Province of Sydney	Archdiocese of Sydney (Cathedral Church and Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Mother of God, Help of Christians) Armidale (St Mary and St Joseph) Bathurst (St Michael and St John) Broken Bay (Our Lady of the Rosary) Lismore (St Carthage) Newcastle (Sacred Heart) Parramatta (St Patrick) Wagga Wagga (St Michael) Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes (Sacred Heart) Wollongong (St Francis Xavier)
Province of Melbourne	Archdiocese of Melbourne (Cathedral Church and Minor Basilica of Saint Patrick) Ballarat (St Patrick) Sale (St Mary) Sandhurst (Sacred Heart)
Province of Brisbane	Archdiocese of Brisbane (Cathedral of Saint Stephen) Cairns (St Monica & St Monica's Old Cathedral) Rockhampton (St Joseph) Toowoomba (St Patrick) Townsville (Sacred Heart)
Province of Perth	Archdiocese of Perth (Cathedral Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary) Broome (Our Lady Queen of Peace) Bunbury (St Patrick) Geraldton (St Francis Xavier)
Province of Adelaide	Archdiocese of Adelaide (Cathedral of Saint Francis Xavier) Darwin (St Mary Star of the Sea) Port Pirie (St Mark)
Immediately subject to the Holy See/Patriarch	Archdiocese of Hobart (Cathedral of Saint Mary) Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn (Cathedral of Saint Christopher) Military Ordinariate of Australia Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy (Sts Peter and Paul) Maronite Eparchy (St Maroun) Melkite Catholic Eparchy (St Michael and All the Angels) Chaldean Catholic Eparchy (St Thomas the Apostle) Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross (St Ninian and St Chad)
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