SAINT MARY’S CATHEDRAL

Description

Essentials about Saint Mary’s Cathedral in brief

Saint Mary’s Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral and seat of the Archbishop of Sydney. It is located in the heart of the city, nestled between the green spaces of The Domain and Hyde Park. The longest church in Australia is famous above all for its beautiful stained glass windows.

The history of Saint Mary’s Cathedral

Because of Sydney’s usual north-south street grid, the church was unusually built in a north-south direction. It is the longest church in Australia, but neither the tallest nor the largest. The foundation stone of the first neo-Gothic style Cathedral of St. Mary was laid by Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1821; however, it burned down in 1865. Construction of the present cathedral began in 1868, but dragged on for many decades. It was not until 1961 that the crypt was completed and two towers envisioned in the original plan were finally completed in 2000. In 1932, the church was given the title of papal basilica minor by Pope Pius XI.

The interior of Saint Mary’s Cathedral

Although the cathedral is still very young by historical standards, you should still take a look inside the nave. This is because Saint Mary’s is most famous for its stained glass windows, which are qualitative masterpieces and are among the most beautiful stained glass windows created in the 19th century in the world.