WAIAPU CATHEDRAL
OF ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST
NAPIER, NZ ANGLICAN
PAUL SCOTT
OLD ST JOHN’S CATHEDRAL RUINS
A visitor to Waiapu Cathedral may be struck by its stark and austere exterior. However, this Cathedral gradually rose from the rubble of an older, traditional and beautiful cathedral which was destroyed by the massive Napier earthquake of 1931. The congregation too must have been devastated, as they contemplated rebuilding a Cathedral for the glory of God which would withstand further earthquake shocks. The building still stands! And I believe God is well pleased with the result ... .
This is the plan produced by the Cathedral showing various numbered items of interest. Our coverage is not exactly the same, but we shall include these plan numbers in the text for reference.
A brief history of the Cathedral is given below. However, if you want to begin your tour of the Cathedral immediately, tap / click on START . You can also access intermediate points in the tour by a tap / click on the following links:
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HISTORY
[Wikipedia]
The Waiapu Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, Napier, is the formal name of the Anglican Cathedral of the Diocese of Waiapu. It is more commonly called either Waiapu Cathedral or Napier Cathedral. The Waiapu cathedral is situated at the north end of the central business district of Napier, New Zealand. Construction of the present building was completed in 1965, and the Cathedral was consecrated on 8th October 1967. It is built in an Art Deco style.
The church has the unusual distinction of hosting the cathedra of both the Bishop of Waiapu and of Te Pihopa o Aotearoa/Bishop of Aotearoa (currently Brown Turei). This is a distinctive aspect of Waiapu Cathedral (differing from St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, which also serves two dioceses but does not house two cathedra).
History
The present-day building replaced an earlier cathedral that was destroyed by the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake. Begun in 1886, consecrated in December 1888, and largely complete by 1890, the original cathedral of St John was a brick construction designed by Christchurch architect Benjamin Mountfort. Two lives were lost in the Cathedral as a result of the 1931 earthquake. Edith Barry was trapped beneath fallen beams, and was euthanized as flames from the post-earthquake conflagration approached the building. Kate Williams died the following day of injuries sustained in the quake.
Following the total destruction of the first Cathedral a temporary building was erected on the site, standing from 1931 until it was closed in 1960.
The current building is widely regarded as a fine example of Art Deco architecture. The design was largely drawn up by Napier architect Kingwell Malcolm, of the firm Malcolm and Sweet, following the untimely death of the selected architect R. S. D. Harman.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiapu_Cathedral_of_Saint_John_the_Evangelist,_Napier
