St. Christopher's Cathedral, Manuka

St Christopher’s Cathedral
35°19′08″S 149°07′58″E / 35.31896°S 149.13271°ECoordinates: 35°19′08″S 149°07′58″E / 35.31896°S 149.13271°E
Location	Manuka
Country	Australia
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church

St Christopher’s Cathedral^[1] is the main place of Catholic worship^[2] in the city of Canberra,^[3] Australia,^[4] and seat of the archbishop bishop of the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn.

The Cathedral of St Christopher is located in the suburb of Forrest, but in the local centre known as Manuka. Father Patrick Haydon was appointed as parish priest of the new St Christopher's Parish at Manuka in 1928. He oversaw the building of a convent and school, opened in 1928, and the first stage of St Christopher's Cathedral which was completed in 1939. The Catholic community had intended to build a full cathedral on Commonwealth Avenue but their plans were never realised as the Depression took away the ability to raise funds for the project and the impetus was never regained.

St Christopher's was finally extended to its present size in 1973, when it became the co-cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, and more recently the sole cathedral when the former cathedral in Goulburn ceased to be a cathedral of the archdiocese. It was listed by the ACT Heritage Council in 1998.^[5]

Members of the Parliament of Australia often have their year opening prayers at St Christopher's or St. Paul's, usually in February during the first sitting period.^[6] St Christopher's also hosts significant national and diocesan services for the national capital. These include major ecumenical services, because St Chistopher's is the largest church in the national capital of any Christian denomination.

See also

• Roman Catholicism in Australia
• St. Christopher's Cathedral

References

1. St Christopher’s Cathedral in Manuka
2. Rosa, Maria (2014-03-15). To Hell and Back: The Life Story of an Austrian World War II Survivor. Maria Rosa. ISBN 9780996035927.
3. Pictorial History Canberra. Kingsclear Books Pty Ltd. 2000-01-01. ISBN 9780908272655.
4. Australian National Bibliography. National Library Australia. 1978-01-01.
5. "20099. St Christopher's Cathedral Precinct (Entry to the ACT Heritage Register)" (PDF). ACT Heritage Council. 26 June 1998. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
6. Archived December 11, 2004, at the Wayback Machine.