Wellington Cathedral of Saint Paul

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Inside the cathedral

The Wellington Cathedral of St Paul is the cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Wellington and the seat of its bishop of Wellington.

Work began in 1955, and was completed in 1998. It was constructed in reinforced concrete due to the effects of the 1931 Napier earthquake, making other choices impractical. It began functioning as a cathedral in 1964.

The wooden Lady Chapel is on the "north" side of the cathedral. The Lady Chapel was moved to Wellington Cathedral from its original site in Paraparaumu in 1990.

[edit] Previous churches

The first Church of St Paul was behind where the Beehive stands today. This was parish church for the early settlers.

The second (popularly known as "Old St. Paul's") was begun behind the Pipitea Marae in 1855, and was the pro-cathedral church for the Anglican Diocese of Wellington from 1866 to 1964. It is still consecrated, owned by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

[edit] Location

The entrance to the cathedral is on Hill St in Thorndon, at its junction with Molesworth St. Another prominent entrance is in Molesworth Street, just round the corner.