It can be a struggle finding brown signs in Australia’s capital cities but they can be found in Brisbane. Hopping off the train at Central and heading to the river, we came across the brown sign. On our way back we called by to check it out.
St John’s Cathedral is of the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane and dedicated to St John the Evangelist, one of the original twelve apostles, believed to be the only one who wasn’t killed for his faith.
The cathedral is a parish church as well as the centre for big diocesan events such as the ordinations of priests and deacons.
100 Years of Gothic Revival Style
St John’s Cathedral was designed in Gothic Revival Style. Medieval Gothic was an architectural style that began in 1740s England and became popular in the early part of the 19th century. Gothic revival draws on medieval decorative patterns and remained in fashion until the 1890s.
St John’s Cathedral was built between 1906 through three stages and over 100 years until 2009. The project commenced nearly 20 years earlier in the 1880s as a celebration of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.
Costs of construction was to be paid by public subscription. The design meant it was too expensive to do at once, necessitating it to be built over the three stages.
Construction of the first stage began in 1906. The first stage included the chancel, sanctuary, ambulatory, quire and its aisles, The Lady Chapel, the two aisles, and the first bay of the nave.
In 1910, the first stage was completed and consecrated in October as the Anglican Cathedral of St John the Evangelist.
The second stage had a false start. After raising money in 1947 after World War II, the foundation stone for two additional bays of the nave were laid before construction was ceased. It was recommenced in 1965, demolishing the temporary west wall and completing the extensions. The two additional bays of the nave were completed.
The third stage was the longest construction, starting in 1989 and taking 20 years to complete, in time to be part of the Q150 celebrations and inclusion as one of the Q150 icons of Queensland.
St John’s Cathedral Music
Music and the arts is an important part of St John’s Cathedral, centred around the Cathedral Choir which sings at most of their choral services.
The cathedral organ was built between 1906 and 1910 and is the largest cathedral organ in Australia. It is unique in Australia in that it was build over a period of almost 100 years as a collaboration between clergy, stonemasons, and architects.
The cathedral’s bells were made in 1876, before plans for it had been sketched. There are 12 bells rung by bellringers before the 9.30 Sunday service. Ringing is also performed for special occasions and for weddings.
The bells weight from 245kg for the treble bell and up to 833kg for the tenor bell. Each bell has a name, after deans and administrators of the cathedral. The bell names are John, David, Francis, Horace, William, Denis, William Pye, Cecil, Ian, Ralph, Robert, and Arthur.
