Situated high on City Rise stands the Catholic Cathedral. It was designed by Francis Petre. Construction of the Cathedral started in 1878, during the episcopacy of Bishop Patrick Moran. The first church service was held in February 1886, and was completed in its unfinished state in May 1886, at a cost of £22,500. The original design, however, was for a much larger building,
with a tall spire with a height of 100 meters over the transept.
The first organ was purchased by Fr Moreau in 1866 from George Fincham and Son of Melbourne for the first St Joseph’s Church. After the new Cathedral was built it was transferred
in 1886 before the opening of the cathedral. The organ did sterling service but time eventually caught up with it; a complete rebuild was planned which included a new positive organ which is divided on either side of the Rose window, only the pipework was retained from the Fincham organ. The work was completed in 1976 by the South Island Organ Company of Timaru. A
second organ was obtained, installed and first used at the Mass of the “Veneration of the Cross”, on Good Friday 2023. It has one manual and is a Casson's Patent, Opus 226, made by the Positive Organ Company Limited, London. The organ was originally housed in Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Lawrence.
with a tall spire with a height of 100 meters over the transept.
The first organ was purchased by Fr Moreau in 1866 from George Fincham and Son of Melbourne for the first St Joseph’s Church. After the new Cathedral was built it was transferred
in 1886 before the opening of the cathedral. The organ did sterling service but time eventually caught up with it; a complete rebuild was planned which included a new positive organ which is divided on either side of the Rose window, only the pipework was retained from the Fincham organ. The work was completed in 1976 by the South Island Organ Company of Timaru. A
second organ was obtained, installed and first used at the Mass of the “Veneration of the Cross”, on Good Friday 2023. It has one manual and is a Casson's Patent, Opus 226, made by the Positive Organ Company Limited, London. The organ was originally housed in Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Lawrence.
Need directions to St Josephs Cathedral? Click here
There is no onsite parking. Best to park on the road. St Josephs is on a hill, so if do be prepared to be dropped off if you need assistance going up hills
Specifications
Great
Quintaten 16 Open Diapason 8 Claribel Flute 8 Quintaten 8 Dulciana 8 Principal 4 Flute 4 Twelfth 2⅔ Fifteenth 2 Mixture 19.22.26.29 IV Trumpet 8 Pedal
Open Diapason 16 Bourdon 16 Quintaten 16 Quint 10⅔ Principal 8 Bass Flute 8 Quintaten 8 Quint 5⅓ Octave 4 Quintaten 4 Trumpet 16 Accessories
Five thumb pistons to Great Five thumb pistons to Swell Five thumb pistons to Positive Reversible thumb pistons for Swell to Great Reversible thumb pistons for Swell to Pedal Reversible thumb pistons for Great to Pedal Five toe pistons to Pedal Five toe pistons to Swell Great Pistons to Pedal pistons Swell Pistons to Pedal pistons Reversible toe piston for Swell to Great Reversible toe piston for Swell to Pedal Reversible toe piston for Great to Pedal General Cancel thumb piston Balanced mechanical action swell pedal |
Swell
Open Diapason 8 Stopped Diapason 8 Salicional 8 Celeste 8 TC Principal 4 Fifteenth 2 Mixture 26.29.33 III Trumpet 8 Oboe 8 Tremulant Positive
Rohr Flute 8 Koppel Flute 4 Gemshorn 2 Sesquialtera II Larigot 1⅓ Couplers
Swell Octave Swell Sub Octave Swell to Great Swell Octave to Great Swell Sub Octave to Great Swell to Positive Swell Octave to Positive Swell Sub Octave to Positive Swell to Pedal Swell Octave to Pedal Great to Pedal Positive to Pedal |