This single feature appears in the tiling of the narthex. We shall see later that it is repeated in the sanctuary floor. The central tile shows a pelican nourishing her chick with blood from her breast. The text is ‘Redemisti nos, Domine, in sanguine tuo’, which translates to: ‘You have redeemed us Lord with your blood’. PLAN
22. WEST WINDOWS
The two central windows are in the narthex, the outer two in the lobbies on either side of the narthex. The outer two show Jesus as Light of the World, and Risen in Glory. The delightful inner pair depict Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
23. MODEL CATHEDRAL
Many cathedrals have a model on display. This model of St Saviour’s in the narthex includes the completed spire.
24. ST SAVIOUR’S CHURCH
This painting in the narthex shows St Saviour’s Parish Church which once stood on the site of the present Cathedral. This church was commenced in 1839, and consecrated in 1845. It became the pro-cathedral for the Diocese of Goulburn in 1864 when Bishop Mesac Thomas arrived to take charge of his Diocese.
25. CATHEDRAL SKETCH
This sketch of the Goulburn Cathedral, hanging in the narthex, was donated by John Michael Wheeldon. Notice that the bell tower is missing from the sketch.
26. ART AND ARCHITECT
Before we leave the narthex we notice the 1995 embroidery at left, of letters and the text Isaiah 11:6. At right is a sketch of the Cathedral architect, Edmund T Blackett (1817 – 1883), by Liz Wilkinson. Blackett designed a hundred churches in NSW, and many other buildings.
28. PELICAN ARTWORK
The glorious artwork featured on the West wall may well be thought of as a substitute for the standard rose or wheel window. Sixteen colourful plumes radiate out from the central disk, and a small cross features at the top. The black central disk contains a stylized pelican with chicks, picking up the legendary theme of the tiles in the narthex and in the sanctuary.
29. ARCHANGEL
In the South West corner of the balcony stands this statue of the Archangel Michael, ‘dedicated to the memory of William Stronge, School Master of St Saviour’s Day School 1860s – 1886 (and in the Goulburn district) and his wife Jane. Presented by their great grandson J. L. Hannan, “Rosslyn Station” ’.
30. BALCONY ALTAR
This simple altar, with cross and two candlesticks, stands at the back of the balcony.
31. BALCONY VIEW
From the balcony we get our first view of the nave. At first sight, it seems fairly traditional with Gothic arches marching down each side to the chancel and sanctuary, some colourful clerestory windows, and the fine East window. We notice too the chapel at left, and the roundels between the arches.
32. NAVE – A LOWER VIEW
Coming down to floor level, we obtain a similar view, but here we can appreciate the stained glass nave windows, as well as the organ and Lady Chapel at right.
33. NAVE ROOF
Above us is the very special nave roof with its decorated hammer-beam construction. The actual ‘hammer beams’ are the short horizontal beams on which the structure is based: essentially tie-beams with the middle section removed.
34. NORTH NAVE
We first turn our attention to the North side of the nave. Here we find the baptismal font. We notice that this main section of the nave has just three arches with corresponding windows.
35. BAPTISMAL FONT
Baptism is a Christian sacrament of admission and adoption into the Christian Church. The canonical Gospels report that Jesus was baptized—as an example to his followers, and an act of identification.
36. FONT DETAIL
The Cathedral font was carved by John Roddis of Birmingham, UK. The stone came from Caen in Normandy, France, from the same quarries used in many of the great French and English cathedrals. The canopy is made of Queensland maple.
37. NORTH WEST CORNER
Looking past the font towards the West wall, we note the interesting protruding stone arches at left, the framed icon, and the brass plate.
38. ICON
The icon is signed by Tony Rezk, 2015. It is the first icon of the 21 young Egyptian Coptic Christians decapitated by jihadists Daesh (or EI for Islamic state) in Libya, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015. This icon, true to the style of Coptic icons, shows the victims as martyrs, wearing the red scarf of martyrdom (brought here by angels and also by Christ), and under the crowns worn by the angels. Notice the Sudanese martyr at centre..
39. JOPLIN MEMORIAL
This brass plate is in memory of Robert Croudace Joplin who acted as Honorary Treasurer to the Building Fund of this Cathedral for 15 years. He was born in Durham in 1822 and died in Goulburn in 1907.
40. FIRST NORTH NAVE WINDOW
We now proceed along the North nave wall, looking at the windows and other items. This 1883 window erected in memory of Thomas Gate, shows the Prodigal Son leaving home, becoming disenchanted, and returning to his father. The stained glass in this Cathedral includes windows by two of England’s major firms: John Hardman & Co. and Heaton, Butler and Bayne, and Sydney's two leading firms: Lyon and Cottier and Falconer and Ashwin.