Sacred Heart Cathedral lies at the corner of Sulphide Street and Lane Street, Broken Hill. Our liturgical East (we shall use such directions) lies approximately at geographical north-nor-west. Let’s see what we can determine from this rather grainy image. The main nave is clear, with the square bell tower at bottom left. A lop-sided transept sits across the top. We shall find that there is a chapel in the smaller end at left. Half way along the nave on the right side is a small chapel, and outside, beyond that lies a small garden feature which we shall explore. INDEX
2. NORTH WALL
We begin our walk around the Cathedral looking at the North wall. The doorway at extreme left is connected to the North transept. At centre we have the confessionals, with short stained glass windows above, and a side door to the nave. The bell tower sits at right. We shall find that the lower part of the bell tower is a beautiful baptistry.
3. TOWER
The Cathedral is built in Gothic style with fine rock face stone walls. The square bell tower has an interesting crenellated parapet. The Cathedral sits in an urban setting, but has an elevated position.
4. TOWER AND EAST WALL
We notice here at left the small North transept with the adjacent Cathedral entrance. The stone crosses on the gables are of a general Celtic design with a combination of cross and circle. We notice too the large number of stained glass windows – a joy in store!
5. SOUTH WALL
Moving around to the South wall, we note again the fine stonework of the walls. This wall differs from the North wall with the small chapel extending out in the middle. Between the windows the wall is strengthened by buttresses, countering the outward force where the roof supports are attached to the inside wall.
6. SOUTH VIEW
A more distant view of the South wall ...
7. SOUTH GARDEN AND TRANSEPT
On the South side of the Cathedral is a garden grotto with two female figures. There are two small plaques on the rock face which unfortunately I am unable to read! However, the scene is very similar to the grotto near the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Bendigo which shows Bernadette of Lourdes in prayer to the Virgin Mary. At right we see the South face of the Cathedral transept.
8. EAST WALL
The East wall of the Cathedral is fenced off and not easily accessible to the general public. This view shows the long extended South transept, where the sacristies for priests and choir are located. The open door leads through to the choir area, adjacent to the sanctuary.
9. SOUTHWEST ENTRY
The Western entrances to the Cathedral are not designed for the aged and infirm! This Southern entrance to the narthex passes an historic commemoration stone. Major renovations were carried out on the Cathedral in 1959 – 1960. This stone commemorates the solemn consecration of these renovations in September 1960 by Bishop Thomas Martin Fox.
10. NORTHWEST ENTRY
The steep Northern approach to the Western entrance is no less daunting, and also passes a memorial stone. John Dunne was the first (and only) Bishop of Wilcannia, enthroned in 1887and holding the position until his death in December 1916. (The Diocese later became the Diocese of Wilcannia – Forbes.) The date ‘1903’ on the stone is an unsolved mystery!
11. NARTHEX WINDOW
We now enter the small Cathedral narthex and find two attractive stained glass windows. These depict the Sorrowful Mother, and St Joseph holding the Christ child. The inscriptions at bottom read respectively: ‘Mater Dolorosa Pray for John and Barbara Walsh’, and ‘ St Joseph Pray for William and Zillah Brennan’. Mary is holding seven swords – the Seven Sorrows. These are: 1. The Prophecy of Simeon. 2. The Flight into Egypt. 3. The loss of the child Jesus in the Temple. 4. Mary meets Jesus on the way to Calvary. 5. Jesus dies on the cross. 6. Mary receives the body of Jesus in her arms. 7. The body of Jesus is placed in the tomb.
12. NAVE
My favourite moment when visiting a cathedral: the initial view of the nave! This must be a candidate for the most beautiful cathedral in Australia. Graceful high Gothic arches, ornamentation – but with simplicity, beautifully cared for, a sense of peace and the presence of God. Our eyes are drawn to the sanctuary area with its simple lines, the ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Help’ at left, and the Sacred Heart altar at right. Along the nave walls are the confessionals and Stations of the Cross, and above, the soaring timber ceiling. Definitely worth exploring further!
13. NAVE ROOF
The nave roof is lined with panels of timber planks forming a zig-zag pattern and supported by hammer beam trusses. A different, darker timber appears to have been used close to the ridge line.
14. NORTHWEST NAVE
Turning left, we view the North West corner of the nave. Here a Gothic arch doorway leads through to the base of the bell tower, separated from the nave by a pair of decorative wrought iron gates. We note too on this side, the two Stations of the Cross, and the large crucifix. Above us we glimpse the wooden balcony which bisects our view of the tall West window. I wonder if this was the architect’s original intention?
15. WINDOW AND CRUCIFIX
Looking more closely, we observe that this West window carries the number III. The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows, also known as the Chaplet of Seven Sorrows or the Servite Rosary, is a Rosary based prayer. According to St. Bridget of Sweden, seven promises were made by the Blessed Virgin to those who meditate on Our Lady's Tears and Sorrows. The third of these promises, illustrated here, is: I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work. At right is a large depiction of Christ on the cross, with the traditional ‘INRI’ label above standing for ‘Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews’.
16. BAPTISTRY
The room at the base of the bell tower is an ideal location for the baptistry. The marble font stands on a broad marble base, and is topped with a copper cover in the shape of an octagonal pyramid with a Celtic cross at its summit. Notice too the Celtic cross set in the wrought iron gate. The paschal candle stands nearby. The six baptistry windows form a set. Of these, the West windows (at left) are a pair, linked by the stream and the top decoration. The scene is of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus and the Spirit descending like a dove, while various others look on. Across the bottom of the scene is the inscription: ‘Pray for the soul of’... .
17. BAPTISTRY WINDOWS
The remaining baptistry windows – the North wall (left) and the East wall (right) – complete the set. The inscriptions at the bases of the main scenes read: ‘... The Most Rev William Hayden 2nd Bishop of Wilcannia In whose memory this Baptistry was erected.’ The left windows show mothers bringing their children to Jesus to be blessed, and the Bishop’s crest is pictured below. The right windows show the boy Jesus in his home setting: standing by Joseph and carrying a small symbolic cross, and carrying firewood with his mother Mary standing nearby. The left windows also have the scroll: ‘In omnibus caritas’ meaning ‘in all things love’.
18. NORTH NAVE WALL
Moving out of the baptistry, we return to the nave and view the Northern wall. We see two more lovely windows, three Stations of the Cross, the Northern entrance to the cathedral, and at right the confessionals.
19. WINDOWS AND STATION
The left window features St Patrick. Below the top praying figure is written ‘St Patrick on Iara’ – presumably ‘Tara’ as it was on the Hill of Tara that Patrick is supposed to have made his first Irish converts. The more traditional image of St Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland is shown below. The right window features St Vincent de Paul. In his early life he was sold as a slave, and later began his ministry to the poor – both depicted here. Inscriptions: (left) ‘Pray for Jack Juan Ramon and Susan Mary Thielgard RIP’; (right) Pray for Michael and Emma Jane Cornwall RIP’. At centre is Station V in which Simon of Cyrene is made to bear the Cross of Christ. I have no details about the artist.
20. NORTH NAVE WALL EAST
This is a view of the Eastern end of the North wall of the nave ... There are three more shorter stained glass windows, and we note too the golden decorations at the bases of the hammer beam roof supports. Beyond the confessionals there is a walkway through to an outside door and the Lady Chapel.