Sacred Heart Cathedral, Wellington

The Sacred Heart Cathedral, also known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and of Saint Mary His Mother, is a significant Roman Catholic place of worship. Initially, the site housed Saint Mary's Cathedral, which was constructed and blessed in 1851. Unfortunately, in 1898, during renovation work, a fire devastated the building. As the Catholic community in Wellington primarily resided in the Te Aro and Newtown areas, it was decided to construct a new cathedral in that vicinity and to build a functional brick church on the grounds of the former cathedral.

However, the resulting new church, named the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, turned out to be more elaborate than intended. Its construction began in 1899, and it was inaugurated two years later. The funds allocated for the new cathedral were redirected to build the Sacred Heart Basilica instead, and consequently, the intended cathedral was never realized. Subsequently, in 1983, the Basilica was designated as a cathedral by Cardinal Thomas Williams.

The Sacred Heart Cathedral boasts a rich musical heritage, with two instrumental and vocal ensembles leading hymn-singing during Sunday Mass. Additionally, a boys' choir, comprising approximately 15 boys from the nearby Sacred Heart Cathedral School, received scholarships covering vocal and theory lessons. They occasionally performed Choral Masses during the school term.

The Cathedral houses the Grand Organ in the choir loft, with the console located in the whispering gallery. Originally designed and constructed by Arthur Hobday in 1905, the organ has undergone revisions and expansions over the years to meet the cathedral's evolving needs.

Within the Cathedral, visitors can find small statues of the Four Evangelists at the entrance, which were originally positioned under the first High Altar. Near the sanctuary stands a statue of Saint Brigid, the patron of Saint Brigid's Church in Wadestown, which closed in 2007. In the sanctuary, there is a Processional Cross by Graham Stewart made for Pope John Paul II's 1986 visit. Notable mosaics decorate the area, and beneath the Stations of the Cross are fourteen bronzes titled Mater Dolorosa, crafted by sculptor Eve Black, showing Mary's anguish during her son's journey.