Oamaru - Church Architecture

Nothing inspires me more than a great big brute of a church - and I'm talking about architecture here, not religion. Any regular visitor to this blog will know that I love church architecture and I've featured some stunning Australasian churches on this blog previously - click on Churches in the label line below if you're interested. Today, I'm giving you a peek through the doors of Oamaru's marvellous St Patrick's Basilica.

This hefty Catholic Church was designed by Dunedin architect, F.W Petre, who was well known for the beautiful churches - many featured on this blog (click on F.W.Petre) - he designed throughout the South Island of New Zealand. This one, located in Reed Street, Oamaru has a bulk and stature that befits a small town known for its handsome Victorian streetscapes, it's wealth of unique historic Oamaru stone buildings.

Like many large churches, St Patrick's was built in several stages - the first in 1893 and the last in 1918. At first glance, the interior seems austere and restrained compared to many, but when you look up at the beautiful coffered Renaissance ceiling and the great dome over the sanctuary, you can't help but admire the workmanship and the spendour of it all. The columns too, give the whole interior a sense of grandeur.

And then, across the street, the humble little box that is the church's Holy Shop.

An austere little 1930s (?) concrete box where churchgoers can acquire their bibles and church paraphernalia.

One Cathedral, One Lamp

It's Sunday

And it's been a long time since I delved into my church architecture files.

This is a shot I took recently of the very beautiful, Church of the Sacred Heart in Timaru. I had planned to go inside and take some interior shots but the place was teeming with school kids, so I changed my mind. I'm not a religious person but there is a certain spirituality in these gigantic places that I like to enjoy in silence. It was a cold, grey day when I visited, so of course the sky in this image has been unnaturally doctored. I wanted to highlight the needle-thin lamp post leaning in to the cathedral. There just seemed to be something timorous and weak about this modern addition to the landscape when set against the bulk and heft of the Basilica - which, by the way, was designed by prolific church designer, architect, F.W. Petre (1847-1918), who I have written about here numerous times before.

Southern Architectural Heft

The iconic Water Tower in Invercargill is but one of the hefty buildings that dominate the Invercargill urban landscape - and I use the term 'urban' lightly given that this small southern city is a little less than 'pulsing' in a true urban fashion. The domed Roman Catholic St Mary's Basilica (1905) get a facelift. This is another of the magnificent Catholic churches designed by early architect, F.W.Petre - he was also responsible for Christchurch, Waimate and Timaru eccesiastical beauties.

The magnificent old Railway Hotel (1896) now the Victoria Railway Hotel somehow "survived the Temperance Movement that kept Southland dry for decades.'

And the old but recently restored Town Hall - one and all, grand architectural statements that would stand well in any larger city. They are indicator perhaps of Southland's early and continuing wealth - a province that no matter how much we mock it, remains one of the wealthiest in the country.