Sts Mary and Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral was packed on Sunday, October 21, as clergy and parishioners converged on the centrepiece of the Armidale Diocese to mark its centenary. A special mass of thanksgiving was led by Bishop Michael Kennedy, with a luncheon in the Cathedral grounds afterwards.
A special guest for the weekend was 90-year-old Peggy Becke, whose father was George Frederick Nott, the builder of the Cathedral.
Celebrations began on Friday, October 19, with a mass for religious brothers and sisters, along with school children of the Diocese. There was a Cathedral Centenary Dinner on Friday night at the Armidale Ex-Services Club. On Saturday, October 20, there was a Cemetery Prayer Service for deceased benefactors of the Cathedral at the Armidale Cemetery, followed by an afternoon garden party at St Mary’s Primary School.
The Cathedral was a major achievement of the third bishop of Armidale, Bishop Patrick Joseph O’Connor. It cost about £32,000 to build and was opened debt-free.
The current Cathedral was built adjacent to the first cathedral on the corner of Barney and Dangar Streets, which had been used from its erection in 1872. The Cathedral was designed by the Sydney firm of architects, Sherrin and Hennessy and built by prominent local builder George Frederick Nott, under the supervision of his Clerk of Works, Mr S Davidson.
The Gothic Revival Cathedral has been the focal point of Catholic worship in Armidale for the past century. It is noted for its artistic sanctuary, its stained glass windows and impressive spire. It has undergone only minor modification since its inception, including the replacement of the original wooden pulpit with a marble one, installation of a new altar following the Second Vatican Council, the laying of made-to-order carpet with a fleur de lis motif in the 1980s and the introduction of infra-red heating in the 1990s.
To commemorate the historic milestone, a book titled ‘Our Cathedral; second century thoughts’ has been compiled by Rob and Wendy Baker, which is a collection of memories and viewpoints by parishioners and others of the Cathedral Church of Saints Mary and Joseph.
The formalities wrapped up with a Mass of thanksgiving for Clergy on Monday, October 29.
