The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary sits at a busy T-junction at the east end of Bridge Street. Its axis is slightly angled to the east-west direction, with the altar essentially east, making our geographical and liturgical directions almost coincident. This is a modern cathedral, but from above the traditional imprint of the Cross is still evident. PLAN
2. WEST VIEW
The Cathedral stands out across busy Grey Street. We notice the prominent stained glass tower feature, and also the five crosses across the front. These help to abate traffic noise, but also represent the five regions of the Cathedral Diocese.
3. CHRIST AND MARY
The white Carrera limestone Sacred Heart statue stands to the left of the West façade. It was given by the Hawke family in memory of their son Freddie who died in 1929. The grotto on the right side contains a statue of Mary and was given by the Townsend family of Tamahere.
4. CATHEDRAL SIGN
The original church on this site was the Church of our Lady of the Rosary, opened in 1912. A second church of the same name was opened in 1975. The church appears to have also been named St Mary’s, after the local parish. Five years later it became the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with the formation of the Diocese of Hamilton. The remodelled Cathedral was opened in 2008.
5. STAIRWAY
The Cathedral rolls out the welcome mat in the form of broad stairs connecting the building to the street and city below. It is reminiscent of the traditional ascent to the place of worship. The steps are laid with cream Jura limestone tiles from Germany, and these flow through to the entrance way and baptistry.
6. SOUTH WEST VIEW
We now begin our exploration of the Cathedral by walking around the building in an anti-clockwise direction. The Cathedral has attractive clean lines, and the tower looks to be of special interest.
7. SOUTH WALL
The Cathedral is constructed largely using local materials. The walls are made of local honey-coloured Huntly brick.
8. SOUTH EAST VIEW
The Cathedral is also constructed using local native timbers. Architects and builders came from the Waikato region.
9. NORTH EAST VIEW
By the mid-1960s the old 1912 church was found to have serious structural problems, and had started to deteriorate. A new earthquake proof church was constructed on the site, featuring the distinctive tower.
10. NORTH WALL DETAILS
We shall find later that this stained glass window belongs to the Lady Chapel. Planted greenery adds to the Cathedral’s appeal.
11. WEST WALL ENTRY
We return to the West wall with its inviting glass doors and portico.
13. OUTER FOYER II
On the right as we enter the foyer is this statue of Jesus given by the Hamilton Polish Community on the occasion of the opening of the 1975 Church. The wall plaques trace the history of the Cathedral from the Church opening on December 1975.
14. ICON OF MARY
Leaving the outer foyer, we look across the narthex to the entry to the Cathedral proper, and this icon of Mary. The congregation who built the church in 1912 named it the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, and dedicated the building to Mary. This icon depicting the Annunciation was made for the building by Michael Pervan.
15. TUKUTUKU PANELS
These floor-to-ceiling Maori tukutuku panels were designed and made especially for the remodelled Cathedral. They stand on either side of the Icon of Mary. The stars are the Southern Cross and the seven stars of Matariki (the Pleiades). The lower patterns depict the stairway to the gods.
16. MEETING ROOM
This pleasant meeting room opens up off the North narthex. There is a painting near the window ... .
17. ST PETER CHANEL
The oil painting is of St Peter Chanel, a French Marist missionary who was martyred on Futuna Island in the Pacific in 1841. He was canonized in 1955 and is the patron saint of the Diocese of Hamilton. The painting is by Faith Broughton of Cambridge, NZ.
18. SOUTH NARTHEX
The narthex is a large open area suitable for people gathering together, and as a means of access to the Cathedral. There are two pictures hanging on the right wall.
19. TWO POPES
The pictures are of Pope Francis at left, and Pope Benedict XVI at right. The picture at right celebrates the 2005 Silver Jubilee of the Diocese of Hamilton, and records a special apostolic blessing.
20. NARTHEX
Looking back along the South narthex we see the main entry doors, and the Cathedral shop on the left.