1. CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Chinese: 聖母無原罪主教座堂) is a late 19th-century English Gothic revival church that serves as the Cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong. It is located in the Mid-Levels area of the city at 16 Caine Road, Hong Kong Island. PLAN
2. SATELLITE VIEW
The Cathedral is close to the Botanical/Zoological Gardens, and has a roughly north-south axis. It is basically cruciform in shape with a central tower, and with four chapels and a sacristy at the sanctuary end. We shall use liturgical directions here, denoting the sanctuary end by East (with a capital E).
3. CATHEDRAL APPROACH
The Cathedral is on a very restricted site, surrounded by high-rise buildings. The result is that you come upon it unexpectedly via this narrow approach lane..
4. TOWER AND WELCOMING CHRIST
A large square tower stands above the crossing, acting as a lantern and giving light to the centre of the Cathedral. Above the main West door is a statue of Christ holding a large cross, and with his right hand extended in welcome.
5. SOUTH WALL
We make our way around the Cathedral. This was not the first Catholic Cathedral, but the cornerstone of this church was laid on 8 December 1883. Crawley and Company of London were hired to be the architects and five years later, construction was completed. The church opened on 7 December 1888, the vigil of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and was blessed one day later.
6. SOUTH TRANSEPT
The construction of the cathedral cost US$15,400, and since a Catholic church can only be consecrated once it has become free from debt, the Cathedral did not have its rite of consecration held until 8 December 1938, exactly fifty years after it first opened.
7. BACK ENTRY
This entry to the Cathedral is in the South East corner. Perhaps it is St John above the door? The Cathedral was damaged in 1941 during WWII, when a Japanese shell dropped onto it during the Battle of Hong Kong. However, it survived the war relatively unscathed due to a decree made a century before of the Cathedral being under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Italy. Since the Japanese were not at war with Italy, the Cathedral was spared from being ransacked and plundered by the occupying forces.
8. SOUTH EAST WALL AND GROTTO
On this side of the Cathedral is a grotto with the Virgin Mary. This is related to a happening in Lourdes, France. On 11 February 1858, Bernadette Soubirous went with her sisters to collect some firewood near the Grotto of Massabielle. She said she heard the sound of two gusts of wind, and then ...
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9. ‘OUR LADY OF LOURDES’ GROTTO
... “As I raised my head to look at the grotto, I saw a lady dressed in white, wearing a white dress, a blue girdle and a yellow rose on each foot, the same color as the chain of her rosary; the beads of the rosary were white. ... From the niche, or rather the dark alcove behind it, came a dazzling light.”
10. PAST THE EAST WALL
The Cathedral, built in an English Gothic style, is cruciform in the shape of the Latin cross. The exterior walls of the church were built from brick and stone, while its base and columns were made of granite. Its dimensions are 82 m (269 ft) long, 40 m (131 ft) wide and 23.7 m (78 ft) tall, with the tower at the centre rising to 33.7 m (111 ft).
11. FISH POOL
On the North side of the Cathedral is an unexpected and attractive fish pool with several koi fish. A statue stands on the rocks behind.
12. STATUE
The statue is attractive and unnamed. It depicts a monk holding a dove, and is almost certainly St Francis of Assisi.
13. NORTH WALL
We complete our circuit of the Cathedral by looking back along the North wall. The pool is at far left. This side of the Cathedral is not very attractive, but then it is not very visible either!
14. NAVE
We enter the Cathedral and stand near the back, appreciating the nave. The Gothic arches march to the front, separating the side aisles, and supporting a plain gable roof. The windows are also relatively plain. The side walls are lined with stations of the cross and a large icon cross is a focal point at the front. This is a peaceful place of worship in the midst of Hong Kong’s bustle.
15. WEST WALL AND ORGAN
Facing back along the nave we observe a Western balcony supported by three arches, and supporting some fine organ pipes. In fact, the musical instrument has been replaced by an electronic organ.
16. FONT AND PASCHAL CANDLE
The Paschal candle is a reminder of the Passover and God’s saving grace in Christ. The font is placed at the entrance to the Cathedral as a reminder that entry to the Church is via the waters of baptism and baptism in the Holy Spirit.
17. SPIRAL STAIR
In the North West corner of the Cathedral is an elegant spiral staircase giving access to the balcony.
18. NORTH AISLE
From this corner we can look right along the North aisle with its simple Gothic lines. Stations of the cross line the outer wall.
19. STATIONS OF THE CROSS
The fourteen stations of the cross are placed around the walls of the Cathedal. These depict the journey Christ makes on his way to the Cross, and are used particularly around Easter time as an aid to meditation. These particular stations are embossed marble set in ornate stained matching wooden frames.
20. SOUTH NAVE
As we arrive at the crossing, we look back across the nave. The Cathedral is very light, with illumination through the many clear windows. The South aisle is exactly like the North aisle.