The Sacred Heart Basilica or Timaru Basilica, is a Catholic church in

Timaru Timaru (; ) is a port city in the southern Canterbury Region of New Zealand, located southwest of Christchurch and about northeast of Dunedin on the eastern Pacific Ocean, Pacific coast of the South Island. The Timaru urban area is home to peo ...

, New Zealand. The term ''

basilica In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica (Greek Basiliké) was a large public building with multiple functions that was typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek Eas ...

'' is used to describe the building's Roman basilican style. style. It was designed by the New Zealand architect,

Francis Petre Francis William Petre (27 August 1847 – 10 December 1918), sometimes known as Frank Petre, was a New Zealand-born architect based in Dunedin. He was an able exponent of the Gothic revival style, one of its best practitioners in New Zea ...

and is one of his most celebrated works. Its size and appearance make it one of the most important historic buildings of Timaru and of the

South Canterbury South Canterbury is the area of the Canterbury Region of the South Island of New Zealand bounded by the Rangitata River in the north and the Waitaki River (the border with the Otago Region) to the south. The Pacific Ocean and ridge of the S ...

region. The Basilica's twin towers and copper

cupola In architecture, a cupola () is a relatively small, usually dome-like structure on top of a building often crowning a larger roof or dome. Cupolas often serve as a roof lantern to admit light and air or as a lookout. The word derives, via Ital ...

are highly visible features of the Timaru skyline, especially from the south. The Basilica is also one of the "most noteworthy examples of ecclesiastical architecture" in New Zealand with elements of "

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...

and

Byzantine architecture Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire, or Eastern Roman Empire, usually dated from 330 AD, when Constantine the Great established a new Roman capital in Byzantium, which became Constantinople, until the Fall of Cons ...

with touches of

Art Nouveau Art Nouveau ( ; ; ), Jugendstil and Sezessionstil in German, is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. It was often inspired by natural forms such as the sinuous curves of plants and ...

decoration." It is a registered historic place, category 1.

Basilica

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart is the third church built on the Craigie Avenue property. A wooden chapel was opened on 25 October 1874, and was replaced three years later by a larger church. Increasing numbers of parishioners dictated the need for a further, and even larger building. The inspiration for the design of the Basilica came during a visit to the United States by the Parish Priest Father John Tubman. His brother was a priest at the Catholic cathedral of

Reno, Nevada Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada–California border. It is the county seat and most populous city of Washoe County, Nevada, Washoe County. Sitting in the High Eastern Sierra foothills, ...

, and Fr Tubman was impressed with the design of that church. So it is that the exterior of the Timaru Basilica bears resemblance to the

Saint Thomas Aquinas Cathedral Saint Thomas Aquinas Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno, Nevada, United States. It is located at 310 W. 2nd Street in Reno, Nevada, Reno. It was built in 1908 as the rise in Reno's Catholic population warranted ...

in Reno, Nevada. Upon his return to Timaru in 1907 Fr. Tubman had plans drawn up, based on photographs he brought back with him. The plans were drawn by the noted

Dunedin Dunedin ( ; ) is the second-most populous city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from ("fort of Edin"), the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of S ...

architect,

. Although Fr. Tubman thought the plan for the proposed building too ambitious, he was encouraged to continue the large project by the Bishop of Christchurch, John Grimes S.M. Fr. Tubman had at the time £7,000. In order to maintain the budget, the tradesmen were paid at the end of each day. Bart Moriarty, a surveyor, was engaged to oversee the construction. Many district farmers contributed their labour and materials. Farmers at the Levels felled

blue gum Blue gum is a common name for subspecies or the species in ''Eucalyptus globulus'' complex, and also a number of other species of ''Eucalyptus'' in Australia. In Queensland, it usually refers to ''Eucalyptus tereticornis'', which is known elsewher ...

s to use as scaffolding, and transported them to the site. Parishioners from

St Andrews St Andrews (; ; , pronounced ʰʲɪʎˈrˠiː.ɪɲ is a town on the east coast of Fife in Scotland, southeast of Dundee and northeast of Edinburgh. St Andrews had a recorded population of 16,800 , making it Fife's fourth-largest settleme ...

carted sand and shingle to the railhead and at Timaru, off-loaded, and carted it by bullock teams to the site. It was not uncommon to see Father Tubman climbing ladders and scaffolding to check progress.

Foundation

The foundation stone was laid by Bishop Grimes, assisted by Bishop Verdon of Dunedin on 6 February 1910. In a sealed receptacle beneath the stone, newspapers, coins and documents of the time were placed. A collection amounting to £1100 was taken up after the ceremony. There were many generous benefactors present, including the Mayor and Member of Parliament James Craigie, who gave ten pounds. John Cassidy of the Levels gave the foundation stone and the silver

trowel A trowel is a small hand tool used for digging, applying, smoothing, or moving small amounts of viscous or particulate material. Common varieties include the masonry trowel, garden trowel, and float trowel. A power trowel is a much larger ga ...

used in the ceremony.

Benediction A benediction (, 'well' + , 'to speak') is a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually at the end of worship service. It can also refer to a specific Christian religious service including the exposition of the eucharisti ...

was given from the site of the

high altar An altar is a table or platform for the presentation of religion, religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, Church (building), churches, and other places of worship. They are use ...

, after a "very fine procession". Translated from Latin, the stone reads: "To the Most Sacred heart of Jesus This foundation stone was blessed and laid by the Most Rev. J. J. Grimes S.M. D.D. Bishop of Christchurch, On 6th February 1910. Parish Priest, Rev. J. Tubman S.M."

Completion

It was timely that the church was completed in 1911. The wooden church had burnt down in 1910 and Mass had been celebrated in the boys’ school until the Basilica was ready. The building cost £23,000 and was practically completed and paid for by the time of the opening and

consecration Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects ( ...

, on Rosary Sunday, 1 October 1911. This was an enormous effort by a relatively poor, largely Irish, Catholic community. Dignitaries who attended the consecration included Archbishop Francis Redwood of Wellington, and the three other New Zealand bishops. All the district's mayors were in attendance, being given seats of honour. The church was packed with clergy and

laity In religious organizations, the laity () — individually a layperson, layman or laywoman — consists of all Church membership, members who are not part of the clergy, usually including any non-Ordination, ordained members of religious orders, e ...

. The '' Messe solennelle en l’honneur de Sainte-Cécile'' (St Cecilia Mass or Mass in G), composed by

Charles Gounod Charles-François Gounod (; ; 17 June 181818 October 1893), usually known as Charles Gounod, was a French composer. He wrote twelve operas, of which the most popular has always been ''Faust (opera), Faust'' (1859); his ''Roméo et Juliette'' (18 ...

, was sung by the

choir A choir ( ), also known as a chorale or chorus (from Latin ''chorus'', meaning 'a dance in a circle') is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform or in other words ...

of sixty, supported by a full orchestra. The sermon was preached by Bishop Cleary of Auckland. Following the blessing ceremony an unexpected honour was bestowed on Father Tubman. He was elevated to the office of Dean. The honour was a complete surprise to all in attendance. The plan of the building is

cruciform A cruciform is a physical manifestation resembling a common cross or Christian cross. These include architectural shapes, biology, art, and design. Cruciform architectural plan Christian churches are commonly described as having a cruciform ...

. The style is

Roman Renaissance The Renaissance in Rome occupied a period from the mid-15th to the mid-16th centuries, a period which spawned such masters as Michelangelo and Raphael, who left an indelible mark on Western figurative art. The city had been a magnet for artist ...

of the

Ionic order The Ionic order is one of the three canonic classical order, orders of classical architecture, the other two being the Doric order, Doric and the Corinthian order, Corinthian. There are two lesser orders: the Tuscan order, Tuscan (a plainer Doric) ...

. Most of the material used was

ferro-concrete Reinforced concrete, also called ferroconcrete or ferro-concrete, is a composite material in which concrete's relatively low ultimate tensile strength, tensile strength and ductility are compensated for by the inclusion of reinforcement having ...

, Oamaru stone, and locally made bricks.

Builders

John Tubman S.M.

Born in Ireland in 1856, John Tubman was ordained in 1882, and taught at the

Catholic University of Ireland The Catholic University of Ireland (CUI; ) was a private Catholic Church, Catholic university in Dublin, Ireland. It was founded in 1851 following the Synod of Thurles in 1850, and in response to the Queen's University of Ireland and its assoc ...

founded by

Cardinal Newman John Henry Newman (21 February 1801 – 11 August 1890) was an English Catholic theologian, academic, philosopher, historian, writer, and poet. He was previously an Anglican priest and after his conversion became a cardinal. He was an ...

. He volunteered to teach at the new St. Patrick's College, Wellington and arrived in New Zealand in 1889. In 1893 he was appointed

curate A curate () is a person who is invested with the ''care'' or ''cure'' () of souls of a parish. In this sense, ''curate'' means a parish priest; but in English-speaking countries the term ''curate'' is commonly used to describe clergy who are as ...

in Timaru, and in 1901 was appointed Parish Priest. He was a close friend of many South Canterbury people, especially Archdeacon Harper, later Anglican Bishop of Christchurch, and of

Henry Orbell Henry may refer to: People and fictional characters * Henry (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters * Henry (surname) * Henry, a stage name of François-Louis Henry (1786–1855), French baritone Arts and entertainment ...

. Tubman was parish priest until 1921. The building of the basilica was a great achievement. He died in Meeanee, Hawkes Bay in 1923.

Bart Moriarty

Bart Moriarty, the surveyor contracted to supervise the construction of the basilica, later became a well-recognised builder in Melbourne, where he built a village for investment and has a street named after him. His recommendations were the basilica and other Timaru buildings he worked on. In 1915 the Archbishop of Sydney commissioned him to replace the church of St Francis Church, Paddington, Sydney. Moriarty simply replicated the Petre design in Timaru, although in Paddington only the sanctuary,

transept A transept (with two semitransepts) is a transverse part of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In cruciform ("cross-shaped") cruciform plan, churches, in particular within the Romanesque architecture, Romanesque a ...

s and

sacristies A sacristy, also known as a vestry or preparation room, is a room in Christian churches for the keeping of vestments (such as the alb and chasuble) and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records. The sacristy is usually located ...

were built. They are attached to the

Neo Gothic Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic) is an architectural movement that after a gradual build-up beginning in the second half of the 17th century became a widespread movement in the first half of the 19th century ...

nave of the original church.

Features

Sacred Heart Basilica Timaru front side 2015

Domes

At the head of the

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

is the internal dome, supported by

Ionic column The Ionic order is one of the three canonic orders of classical architecture, the other two being the Doric and the Corinthian. There are two lesser orders: the Tuscan (a plainer Doric), and the rich variant of Corinthian called the composite o ...

s, and

buttress A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall. Buttresses are fairly common on more ancient (typically Gothic) buildings, as a means of providing support to act ...

ed by external walls. It rises to a height of 21.33 metres (70 feet) from the floor. The internal dome is one of the main artistic features, and over this dome rests the central tower out of which rises the coppered cupola (the external dome) of the church. The cupola rises to a height of 35 metres (115 feet) and is in square tower-like fashion. There is a walk-round base from which, on a clear day, can be seen

Aoraki / Mount Cook Aoraki / Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. Its height, , is listed as . It is situated in the Southern Alps, the mountain range that runs the length of the South Island. A popular tourist destination, it is also a favourite ch ...

, and with the aid of binoculars,

Temuka Temuka is a town on New Zealand's Canterbury Plains, 15 kilometres north of Timaru and 142 km south of Christchurch. It is located at the centre of a rich sheep and dairy farming region, for which it is a service town. It lies on the north ...

and Geraldine. The dome is 12.19 metres (40 feet) at the base. Access to the space between the internal dome and cupola is gained by a concrete spiral staircase. A wooden staircase leads to the outer dome. The interior was retimbered at the time of the Basilica's

Silver Jubilee Silver Jubilee marks a 25th anniversary. The anniversary celebrations can be of a wedding anniversary, the 25th year of a monarch's reign or anything that has completed or is entering a 25-year mark. Royal Silver Jubilees since 1750 Note: This ...

in 1936 as "Sufficient care was not taken during the building." The copper for this dome alone cost £600. Two small domes surmount the towers that flank the façade and there is another internal dame above the sanctuary centring the

apse In architecture, an apse (: apses; from Latin , 'arch, vault'; from Ancient Greek , , 'arch'; sometimes written apsis; : apsides) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical Vault (architecture), vault or semi-dome, also known as an ' ...

of the basilica.

Campanile

The north east tower houses a peal of scale C bells. They are named, starting at the top of the scale: Patrick, Thomas, Henry, Michael, John, Francis, Mary and Nicholas after the children of Nicholas Quinn who gave a bequest of £300 towards their cost. They were cast by the celebrated English firm of

John Warner & Sons John Warner and Sons was a metalworks and bellfoundry based in various locations in the UK, established in 1739 and dissolved in 1949. Previous businesses A company was founded by Jacob Warner, a Quaker, in 1739 and originally produced water p ...

, at a cost of £1000. The heaviest, Nicholas, weighs nearly a tonne. They were installed in July 1914, blessed by the Reverend Dean Hills on Sunday 12 July 1914 and first rung on 26 July 1914. They were originally played every hour, until complaints were received from the nurses’ home. Night nurses, trying to sleep during the day, were being kept awake. A popular

hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' d ...

played was '' Faith of Our Fathers'', at that time a very popular Catholic hymn (by Father Faber). The bells were at one time rung by an electric keyboard, but this proved unsatisfactory. Access to the campanile is by the south tower, a cast iron spiral staircase leading from the

choir loft A choir, also sometimes called quire, is the area of a church (building), church or cathedral that provides seating for the clergy and church choir. It is in the western part of the chancel, between the nave and the Sanctuary#Sanctuary as area a ...

Sanctuary

The

was installed in 1912. It is of

alabaster Alabaster is a mineral and a soft Rock (geology), rock used for carvings and as a source of plaster powder. Archaeologists, geologists, and the stone industry have different definitions for the word ''alabaster''. In archaeology, the term ''alab ...

and was selected from many designs submitted from leading marble works throughout the world. It is of Italian renaissance design, having a circular

tabernacle According to the Hebrew Bible, the tabernacle (), also known as the Tent of the Congregation (, also Tent of Meeting), was the portable earthly dwelling of God used by the Israelites from the Exodus until the conquest of Canaan. Moses was instru ...

with a brass sliding door, which is surmounted by a mosaic dome. It cost £1000. Of particular beauty, behind the altar, is the semi-circular colonnade of 13 graceful

Ionic columns The Ionic order is one of the three canonic orders of classical architecture, the other two being the Doric and the Corinthian. There are two lesser orders: the Tuscan (a plainer Doric), and the rich variant of Corinthian called the composite ...

representing

St Paul Paul, also named Saul of Tarsus, commonly known as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul, was a Christian apostle ( AD) who spread the teachings of Jesus in the first-century world. For his contributions towards the New Testament, he is generally ...

and the

Twelve Apostles In Christian theology and ecclesiology, the apostles, particularly the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Twelve Disciples or simply the Twelve), were the primary disciples of Jesus according to the New Testament. During the life and minist ...

. The floor of the sanctuary is decorated with mosaic tiles while the windows are adorned with attractive stained glass. On the south side near the sanctuary is the

sacristy A sacristy, also known as a vestry or preparation room, is a room in Christianity, Christian churches for the keeping of vestments (such as the alb and chasuble) and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records. The sacristy is us ...

, which has a tiled floor, and colonial kauri fittings. It was partially destroyed by fire in 1934. The

altar boy An altar server is a lay assistant to a member of the clergy during a Christian liturgy. An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar such as fetching and carrying, ringing the altar bell, helping bring up the gifts, and bringing up ...

s were blamed! Insurance of £211.11.06 was claimed. The brass

sanctuary lamp Chancel lamp in the Rotunda of Mosta, Sanctuary Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady, Malta A sanctuary lamp, chancel lamp, altar lamp, everlasting light, or eternal flame is a light that shines before the altar of sanctuaries in many Jewish and ...

was presented by Mrs C Byrne of Pleasant Point, at Christmas 1911.

Baptistry

Situated immediately under the north tower, the

baptistry In Christian architecture the baptistery or baptistry (Old French ''baptisterie''; -4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ... ''baptisterie''; Latin ''baptist ...

houses a beautiful marble and brass font. Hanging there is a rope for tolling the great bell, Nicholas. Entry is gained through the brass gates which originally were installed at the altar rails. Dominating the baptistry is the great

stained glass Stained glass refers to coloured glass as a material or art and architectural works created from it. Although it is traditionally made in flat panels and used as windows, the creations of modern stained glass artists also include three-dimensio ...

window of the ''Baptism of Jesus'', which forms part of a war memorial and is known as the "Memorial window".

Art

The statues of the

Sacred Heart The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus () is one of the most widely practised and well-known Catholic devotions, wherein the heart of Jesus Christ is viewed as a symbol of "God's boundless and passionate love for mankind". This devotion to Christ is p ...

and

St Patrick Saint Patrick (; or ; ) was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, the other patron saints being Brigid of Kildare and Columba ...

are by the Bernadine Statuary Company, New York. The statue of St Peter Chanel is by Pelligrini of

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

, Victoria. The print of the Madonna, '' Madonna della Sedia'', is taken from the original by

Raphael Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (; March 28 or April 6, 1483April 6, 1520), now generally known in English as Raphael ( , ), was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. List of paintings by Raphael, His work is admired for its cl ...

, which hangs in the Pitti Palace in Florence. The original roofing tiles from

Marseille Marseille (; ; see #Name, below) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Bouches-du-Rhône and of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region. Situated in the ...

, France, were transported to New Zealand as ship's

ballast Ballast is dense material used as a weight to provide stability to a vehicle or structure. Ballast, other than cargo, may be placed in a vehicle, often a ship or the gondola of a balloon or airship, to provide stability. A compartment within ...

. They were replaced in 1985 at a cost of $19,000. The floor tiles were imported from England. Hampton's studio of Christchurch was commissioned to make the

Stations of the Cross The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, also known as the Via Dolorosa, Way of Sorrows or the , are a series of fourteen images depicting Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ on the day of Crucifixion of Jesus, his crucifixion and acc ...

, which were solemnly erected on 26 September 1967. They are of carved plaster with 70mm relief, and bronzed over lightly to give good outline of the figures. They have a flat gold

mosaic A mosaic () is a pattern or image made of small regular or irregular pieces of colored stone, glass or ceramic, held in place by plaster/Mortar (masonry), mortar, and covering a surface. Mosaics are often used as floor and wall decoration, and ...

background, and cost £50 each.

Reordering

The liturgical reforms of the

Second Vatican Council The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly known as the or , was the 21st and most recent ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. The council met each autumn from 1962 to 1965 in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City for session ...

brought with them changes and controversy. The marble altar ceased to be used for Mass from 1965. The level of the sanctuary floor was raised in 1982. The main features of the sanctuary are the Altar,

Lectern A lectern is a standing reading desk with a slanted top, on which documents or books are placed as support for reading aloud, as in a scripture reading, lecture, or sermon. A lectern is usually attached to a stand or affixed to some other form of ...

, and Presidential Chair at the front of the sanctuary. One of the

confessional A confessional is a box, cabinet, booth, or stall where the priest from some Christian denominations sits to hear the confessions of a penitent's sins. It is the traditional venue for the sacrament in the Roman Catholic Church and the Luther ...

s was altered in 1978, and two were replaced with Reconciliation Rooms (for face-to-face confessions) in 1981.

Glass

Installed between 1911 and Silver Jubilee in 1936, the windows are "some of New Zealand’s finest." Before their installation the windows, which number over 100, were glazed with

cathedral glass Cathedral glass is the name given commercially to monochromatic sheet glass. It is thin by comparison with 'slab glass', may be coloured, and is textured on one side. The name draws from the fact that windows of stained glass were a feature of me ...

. The creators of the windows and their windows were: * F.X. Zettler, Munich, Germany (on the north side of the Basilica - St Joseph's altar): the

Sermon on the Mount The Sermon on the Mount ( anglicized from the Matthean Vulgate Latin section title: ) is a collection of sayings spoken by Jesus of Nazareth found in the Gospel of Matthew (chapters 5, 6, and 7). that emphasizes his moral teachings. It is th ...

, Christ the Good Shepherd, the

Annunciation The Annunciation (; ; also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Annunciation of Our Lady, or the Annunciation of the Lord; ) is, according to the Gospel of Luke, the announcement made by the archangel Gabriel to Ma ...

and the Nativity. * H. Credington, Catholic Art Gallery Melbourne (above the altar): the

Crucifixion Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which the condemned is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross, beam or stake and left to hang until eventual death. It was used as a punishment by the Achaemenid Empire, Persians, Ancient Carthag ...

and the Coronation of Our Lady. * Matheson and Gibson, Melbourne (on south side of the Basilica – Our Lady's altar): Calming the waters, Loaves and Fishes,

Presentation in the Temple The Presentation of Jesus is an early episode in the life of Jesus Christ, describing his presentation at the Temple in Jerusalem. It is celebrated by many churches 40 days after Christmas on Candlemas, or the "Feast of the Presentation of Jes ...

, The finding the child Jesus in the temple. * James Watson and Son,

Éire ( , ) is the Irish language name for "Ireland". Like its English counterpart, the term is used for both the island of Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the sovereign state that governs 85% of the island's landmass. The latter is distinc ...

(

windows): St Margaret Mary, St Therese, St Ita, St Michael, St Matthew, St Vincent de Paul, St Colmcille (Columba). "To the 'purist' the superb Irish glass in these seven windows make them the pick of all the windows in the church." * John Hardman and Company, Birmingham (baptistry) John the Baptist (memorial window) and the Sanctuary windows: St Aloysius, St Bridget, St Patrick, Mother Immaculate, Sacred heart, St Joseph, St Anne, St John the Evangelist. The donors and those commemorated by the windows are named on marble tablets at the head of the nave, and in other parts of the Basilica. Sacred Heart Primary School Timaru Craigie St sign 2015

Sacred Heart Primary School Timaru Craigie St sign 2015

Organ

The

organ Organ and organs may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a group of tissues organized to serve a common function * Organ system, a collection of organs that function together to carry out specific functions within the body. Musical instruments ...

built by Arthur Hobday, and installed in this church in 1912, was Hobday's last work before his death. He was apprenticed to the prominent nineteenth-century Australian organbuilder,

George Fincham George Fincham (20 August 1828 – 21 December 1910) was an organ builder active in Australia. Fincham was born in London; his father (Jonathan George Fincham) and grandfather were both organ builders and so it is not surprising he practised t ...

, about 1866, and later sent up his own organbuilding business in

Wellington Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the third-largest city in New Zealand (second largest in the North Island ...

. He died on 9 October 1912, at the age of sixty-one. Internal evidence suggests that this organ is a rebuild (and enlargement) of a previous instrument, made in England in 1848 and sent to

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

. It was originally powered by

bellows A bellows or pair of bellows is a device constructed to furnish a strong blast of air. The simplest type consists of a flexible bag comprising a pair of rigid boards with handles joined by flexible leather sides enclosing an approximately airtig ...

worked by an

hydraulic Hydraulics () is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids. At a very basic level, hydraulics is the liquid counterpart of pneumatics, which concer ...

system. An open pipe carried the water out on to the church grounds. The present organ makes use of pipework from an older instrument. John Stiller in his 1981 documentation of this organ, states that it is the "finest of the Hobday organs which have been preserved." Excellent tonal qualities are enhanced by a splendid acoustic and visual setting. The Hobday case has been preserved in original form, and displays design characteristics typical of his style and also the

console Console may refer to: Computing and video games * System console, a physical device to operate a computer ** Virtual console, a user interface for multiple computer consoles on one device ** Command-line interface, a method of interacting with ...

has been retained and includes original fittings such as stopknobs, stop labels, keyboards, keyboard cheeks, pedal-board and organ bench. The

pneumatic Pneumatics (from Greek 'wind, breath') is the use of gas or pressurized air in mechanical systems. Pneumatic systems used in Industrial sector, industry are commonly powered by compressed air or compressed inert gases. A centrally located a ...

action of the organ is a unique feature. The organ was restored in 1986 by the

South Island Organ Company The South Island Organ Company is a manufacturer of pipe organs in Timaru, New Zealand. The company, in business since 1968, has manufactured and restored over 300 pipe organs throughout New Zealand, Australia and Oceania. Founders South Island ...

. It now has 1516 pipes. They range from sixteen feet to a quarter of an inch, and are made from wood, tin-lead and

zinc Zinc is a chemical element; it has symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a shiny-greyish appearance when oxidation is removed. It is the first element in group 12 (IIB) of the periodic tabl ...

. In that restoration the front pipes were altered in colour from silver to gold, and springs were added to the pneumatic actions to improve the organ's responsiveness. The 1986 restoration cost $70,000.

Seismic strengthening

The basilica was closed for two years for

seismic Seismology (; from Ancient Greek σεισμός (''seismós'') meaning "earthquake" and -λογία (''-logía'') meaning "study of") is the scientific study of earthquakes (or generally, quakes) and the generation and propagation of elastic ...

strengthening and was reopened on 8 November 2020 by Bishop Paul Martin SM of Christchurch with a Mass concelebrated with Father Christopher Friel, the parish priest, Father Brian Fennessy (his predecessor) and Father Do Nguyen, an assistant priest in the parish, and in the presence of 560 people. In addition to earthquake strengthening, the basilica was also fitted with a new heating system as well as a new sound system.Rowena orejana, "Delight as Timaru’s basilica reopens", ''NZ Catholic'', 14 December 2020
(Retrieved 7 September 2023)

Notes

References

* * *

External links

*
Rootsweb-ancestry Sacred Heart Basilica, Timaru
' (Retrieved 21 February 2015) description and photographs. *
360x180 degree Panorama showing the interior of Sacred Heart Basilica, Timaru
' (Retrieved 22 February 2015) {{DEFAULTSORT:Sacred Heart Basilica, Timaru 1911 establishments in New Zealand 1910s churches in New Zealand Basilica churches in New Zealand Byzantine Revival architecture in New Zealand Francis Petre church buildings Heritage New Zealand Category 1 historic places in the Canterbury Region Listed churches in New Zealand Palladian Revival architecture Religious buildings and structures in the Canterbury Region Roman Catholic churches completed in 1911 Stone churches in New Zealand Terminating vistas in New Zealand Timaru 20th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in New Zealand