Sacred Heart Cathedral ~ Bendigo ©

Sacred Heart Cathedral ~ Bendigo ©

Sacred heart Cathedral, Bendigo, Australia’s largest provincial church, is dramatically sited and impressive in scale. It was designed by Reed, Smart & Tappin in the Decorated Gothic style and built of sandstone and granite. The nave was built in 1896-1901 and the building completed 1954-77. It comprises a seven bay nave, narthex, crossing, apsidal sanctuary, three-bay transepts, and four octagonal chapels flanking the crossing. The exterior is dominated by a crossing tower and spire, and the west front with prominent flanking turrets. It is believed to be the only cathedral completed in the 20th century in an authentic Decorated Gothic style. [Victorian Churches: their origins, their story & their architecture, edited by Miles Lewis. East Melbourne; National Trust of Australia (Victoria), 1991, p.105]

The interior is notable for its hammerbeam roof, west window by Hardman of Birmingham, and divided organ by Bishop & Son, London (1904). The twentieth century work was largely executed by sixteen craftsmen, most of whom were Italians brought to Australia for the purpose.

Bishop and Son’s world-wide connection with the Catholic Church was further extended in 1904 by their gaining the contract for a large new organ for the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Bendigo, Australia, the building of which was commenced in September 1896 and opened on 29 September 1901. Lewis and Company, together with the Bishop firm, were invited to tender and the contract was worth some £2,000 ex works plus £500 for packing, freight charges and erection in the Cathedral. The contract for the instrument was signed on 16 January 1904; the official opening took place on 7 December 1905 and the opening recital, by Ernest Wood, on 6 May 1906.

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