The Cathedral was completed and opened in October 1912 and was a major achievement of the third bishop of Armidale, Bishop Patrick Joseph O’Connor. 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 Mr George Nott, and 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.
Nick Hanson, Chair of the Cathedral Centenary Committee, is encouraging the Armidale community to come along and enjoy the celebrations.
“The Centenary Committee has been working towards this weekend for around three years and it has been a lot of hard work, but also very pleasurable,” Nick Hanson said.
“It was very important for us to tell the story of this cathedral, as it is 100 years old and our forefathers have left us the legacy of this magnificent building.
“As present day parishioners and members of this community, we have a responsibility to ensure that it is well looked after and the story behind the cathedral also is well worth celebrating.”
To commemorate this special event, a book titled ‘Our Cathedral; second century thoughts’ has been compiled by Rob and Wendy Baker and is a collection of memories and viewpoints by parishioners and others of the Cathedral Church of Ss Mary and Joseph.
“Rob and Wendy Baker, working within the structure of a committee dedicated to the celebration of this imminent centenary, have been the driving force for ‘Our Cathedral; second century thoughts’,” said Dr John Atchison.
“The craftsmanship, time and effort involved in knitting together a continuous narrative based on numerous interviews over a couple of years is monumental, indeed awe-inspiring.”
‘Our Cathedral; second century thoughts’ will be available to purchase throughout the weekend celebrations.
