St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney

The Saint Mary's Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral in Sydney and seat of the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Sydney.

History

The cathedral is located in the center of Sydney, Sydney City, and was planned due to the city map in the unusual north-south direction. Hyde Park and the metro station St James in the West, the government building in the north, The Domain in the northeast and the Phillip Park in the south. The neo-Gothic building from Hawkesbury Sandstone is one of the largest churches in Australia, where the towers 74.6 meters they only make it the fourth highest. The foundation stone of the first built in the Gothic style Cathedral of St. Mary was laid in 1821 by Governor Lachlan Macquarie. However, this first cathedral burnt down in 1865. The foundation stone of the present cathedral was laid in 1868. From 1913 began the construction of the nave, the crypt was completed in 1961. Two original plan envisaged by Wardell towers were completed only in 2000.

In 1932 the Church by Pope Pius XI. the title of a papal basilica minor. It is dedicated to Mary Help of Christians (Mary Help of Christians ).

Equipment

The history of the organ dates back to the 19th century. Today, located in the cathedral three instruments. The main organ in the stands under the great rose window was built in 1997-1999 by the organ builder Orgues Létourneau ( Saint Hyacinthe, Quebec ). It has 46 registers on three manual and pedal works.