St. George's Cathedral (Georgetown, Guyana)
St. George's Cathedral, Guyana
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On August 24, 1842, St. Bartholomew's Day, William Piercy Austin was Consecrated as first Bishop of Guyana. He was in the words of the youthful Queen Victoria "the youngest and handsomest of my Bishops." Consequently, the Diocese of Guiana came into being on the same day and the new St. George's which had been opened in June 1842, became the Cathedral where the Bishop's Cathedra or Chair was situated - and Georgetown became a city.
History
A Chronological History of the Cathedral
Prelude
- 1781 - The first Anglican Priest in arrived Guyana; Rev. William Baggn, Chaplain to Admiral Sir George Rodney.
- 1796 - British forces returned (Britain, France and Holland were vying for control of The Guianas), and with them the Rev. Francis MacMahon, "Rector of St John and St Mark, Grenada, and chaplain to the Garrison of Demerary." Rev. MacMahon was soon holding services in the "public church" of Stabroek (early name of Georgetown), but this seems to be merely a small room below that occupied by the Courts of Justice and Policy on the site of the present Public Buildings (the present Parliament). The earliest Register of Baptisms, Marriages & Burials dates back to June 6, 1796.
- 1807 - Rev. William Straughao replaced MacMahon. He began holding services in the Court House room; but finding it totally inadequate to the growing congregation, he issued an appeal to "those members of society in the neighbouring colonies, who are seriously interested in the advancement of religion."
- 1808 - On June 6, 1808, a meeting was held in the Marshall Hotel, the Acting Lt Governor, General Nicholson, presiding, at which it was determined to build a chapel for divine worship in the town and a Committee was appointed to receive subscriptions. A Vestry was appointed to govern the affairs of St George's.
Two lots of land were given by R.B. Daly, executor of the heirs of Joseph Bourda, the land where St George's School now stands. 3,600 gelders were granted from the 'King's Chest' and 15,000 gelders from the Court of Policy.
The Early Years (St. George's Church)
- 1810 - The Chapel was used for worship from 1810, and by June 1, 1811, it was completed. It measured 70 feet by 30 feet and was described by James Rodway as 'a neat wooden building'. Among the plate presented at the time were 2 chalices and other plate inscribed "Sacred to the St George's Church, Demerary." An organ and a clock were presented. The Revd W. Straughan was the first Rector. An early print of the building shows a Church with a spire. It held about 300 persons.
- 1818 - With the good progress of the Church the building soon proved too small for the growing congregation. Constant efforts were made to obtain subscriptions from the public and a grant from the Court of Policy to enlarge the building, and a gallery was added to the south side in 1818.
- Previously the Church's work had been limited to one Priest in Georgetown (occasionally with an assistant) and one in New Amsterdam. In 1824 four Priests were sent by the Negro Conversion Society especially to work among the slaves. They were strategically placed; one was put in charge of the Chapel of Ease in St George's Parish, the old Court House; one went to Le Ressouvenir on the East Coast Demerara; one to St Swithin's, West Bank Demerara; and one to the Essequibo Coast at Anna Regina.
- Two new Bishops were consecrated for the Caribbean in 1824; and in 1826 Bishop Coleridge of Barbados became responsible for the Guianas. It was Bishop Coleridge who dedicated All Saints Church in New Amsterdam on June 30, 1839. Parishes and legally appointed Vestries were created in Demerara and Essequibo in 1826, and in Berbice in 1836.
The Early Years (St. George's Church/Cathedral)
- It was evident that the first St George's Church, even with the Galleries and extensions, was much too small and plans were formulated for a new Church — "in a substantial brick building of suitable dimensions and appropriate Architectural exterior for the Metropolitan Church of British Guiana." Plans were prepared and Subscription Loans were raised to supplement the grant from the Court of Policy and donations.
- 1842 - The second St George's Church was opened for worship in June 1842.
- With the consecration two months later of William Piercy Austin as the first Bishop of Guyana on St Bartholomew's Day, August 24, 1842, the Diocese of Guiana came into being and the new St George's Church became the Cathedral where the Bishop's Cathedra or Chair was situated - and Georgetown became a city.
- 1877 - From early days however, serious weakness in the foundations of the building were evident and large sums were expended on repairs. Finally by 1877 the building was considered unsafe and had to be dismantled.
St. George's Pro-Cathedral
- 1877 - A temporary Pro-Cathedral, the 3rd St George's, was erected in the grounds of the Deanery at a cost of G$10,000. This sufficed for fifteen years while plans were made and money raised for a new and permanent Cathedral.
- Plans and designs were invited and those of Mr F.J. Cockerill for a building after the Italian style were almost accepted, but he died before approval was given.
- Mr Arthur Blomfield (later Sir Arthur Blomfield, a gold medallist of the Royal Institute of British Architects) then produced the first plans - for a building in stone with a central tower and two western towers; but these were rejected because of the weight and the expense.
St. George's Cathedral
- 1888 - Finally Sir Blomfield's drawings for a wooden Cathedral were accepted. The Cathedral was to be sited on an oval, strategically situated so it could be seen from all directions.
- Blomfield's new design kept many of the salient features of his first pian, like the centra! tower and the Latin cross formation of nave and transepts. It was in the Gothic style of architecture, complete with flying buttresses, but it also had a tropical flavour, ensuring light and air. However, it was to be in timber and the committee emphasised that "woods of the country and no others were to be used," although in fact pitchpine was imported from North America for ceilings.
- 1889 - The Foundation Stone of the new St George's Cathedral was laid on November 21, 1889.
- 1894 - On November 8, 1894, the Cathedral, completed and free of debt, was consecrated by Bishop W.P. Swaby, second Bishop of Guiana.
- The Sentence of Consecration was read by the Registrar:
In the name of God, Amen.
Whereas it has been presented to us, William Proctor by Divine Permission Lord Bishop of Guiana by a petition under the hands of The Very Reverend Dean Caswell M.A., Rector of St George's, the Hon. J J. Dare, Messrs J.C. Hill, G.E. Dalton and C.G.H. Wyatt.
That a piece of land had been conveyed in perpetuity to the Lord Bishop of Guiana and to his Lordship's successors in the See, which said parcel of land is situate in Lacy town Ward in the city of Georgetown.
That the said Church is free of debt and is of the following dimensions:
Extreme length from East to West 187 feet Extreme width of Nave and Aisles 69 feet 6 inches Extreme width across transepts 103 feet 6 inches Height of spire from ground level 135 feet Height of apex of main roof and transept 80 feet
That the said Church has been fitted up with pews and seats for the reception of the inhabitants of Georgetown and has been furnished with all things necessary and proper for the celebration of Divine Worship and the celebration of the Holy Sacraments and other rites and ceremonies of the Church, the said building being in all respects fit and ready for Consecration.
...Therefore we, William Proctor, by Divine Permission Lord Bishop of Guiana do, by virtue of our authority, ordinary and episcopal, and as far as in us lie as by law we may and can separate and set apart the said Church from all profane and common use and do dedicate the same to the service of Almighty God and the celebration of Divine Service and the Holy Sacraments and other sacred rites and ceremonies according to the use of the Church of England and consecrate it for the celebration thereof and do openly and publicly pronounce, decree and declare the same so to remain separated, dedicated and consecrated for the spiritual use and edification of the congregation and inhabitants of Georgetown, by the same of the Cathedral and Parish Church of St George by these our distinctive sign of final decree which we give and promulgate by these presents.
Dated at the Cathedral and Parish Church of St George this 8th day of November 1894.
- This was followed by the Bishop's Sermon from the text, Genesis 28:16-22, the Te Deum, Benedictus and sevenfold Amen, and the Nunc Dimittis brought a memorable service to a close.
The earliest Register of Baptisms, Marriages & Burials dates back to June 6, 1796. The Dedication of 'St George' was used as early as January 1807 in the Baptism Registers. The present Cathedral was Dedicated on Nov 8, 1894.
Interesting facts
- The St. George's Cathedral in Guyana is claimed to be the World's tallest freestanding Wooden Building.
Another view The Cathedral
External links and references
Image References
Categories
Category: Landmarks
Category: Landmarks in Guyana
Category: Guyana
Category: Georgetown, Guyana
Category: Buildings and structures in Guyana
Category: Cathedrals in Guyana
Category: 1899 architecture
Category: Anglican cathedrals in South America