Hobart, TAS - St David's Anglican Cathedral
Year Built: 1868
Denomination: Anglican
Saint: David
Address: Macquarie Street, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000
Architect: George Frederick Bodley
Architectural Style: Gothic
Traditional Owners: Palawa people
Last Updated: 22/02/2024
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History and Architecture:
On 17 January 1862 St David's Cathedral and land on the corner of Murray and Macquarie Streets, Hobart was granted by the Crown to the Trustees of the Diocese of Tasmania.
The original church on this site is dated from 1817. The Church was named in memory of Governor David Collins who established Hobart in 1804. It was completed in 1823 and the steeple replaced in 1835. With the appointment of Bishop Nixon in 1842, St David's church became a cathedral. In 1865 Bishop Bromby advocated building a new cathedral and in 1868 Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh laid the foundation stone. Henry Hunter was appointed supervising architect and the building contractor was James Gregory. The nave was consecrated in 1874 and the bishop led a procession from the old St David's church next door into the new cathedral, after which the old church was demolished. The chancel, completed in 1893, was rebuilt in 1909 due to structural problems.
A stone Gothic Revival Cathedral by noted English architect George Frederick Bodley and built over 68 year period. The Foundation stone was laid on 8 January 1868 by HRH Prince Alfred the Duke of Edinburgh in the presence of Governor Thomas Gore Browne, Premier Sir Richard Dry.
Plans prepared by Bodley and sent from England in 1866. Plans were modified in 1867 and this is the second church on this site.
Clergy:
These names are now in the Database and can be searched individually.
| Years | Name | Annotation | D.o.B | D.o.D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1866 - 1873 | Rev Frederick Holdship Cox | |||
| 1877 - 1884 | Rev Henry Bodley Bromby | |||
| 1878 - 1879 | Canon Edward Patten Adams | Honorary | 1832 | 1894 |
| 1885 - 1896 | Rev Charles Henry Dundas | |||
| 1889 - 1891 | Rev Thomas Ghent | Asst Curate | 1862 | 1951 |
| 1897 - 1916 | Rev J. B. Kite | |||
| 1911 - 1911 | Rev Edwin Allison | Asst | 1851 | 1916 |
| 1916 - 1919 | Rev R S Hay | |||
| 1920 - 1940 | Rev Arthur Richard Rivers | 1857 | 1940 | |
| 1934 - 1942 | Rev Magnus James May | Precentor | 1881 | 1960 |
| 1939 - | Rev John Lovett May | Asst | 1914 | 2010 |
| 1942 - 1958 | Rev Harold Percy Fewtrell | 1888 | 1969 | |
| 1945 - 1951 | Canon Magnus James May | 1881 | 1960 | |
| 1957 - 1957 | Rev Kenneth Nash Reardon | Asst C HT | 2017 | |
| 1959 - 1971 | Rev E. M Webber | |||
| 1972 - 1980 | Rev Harlin Jones Butterley | |||
| 1980 - 1983 | Rev J. L Parsons | |||
| 1984 - 1992 | Dean Kenneth Nash Reardon | |||
| 1993 - | Rev S E. Blackler | |||
| 2022 ? - | Dean Richard Humphrey | |||
| 2022 ? - | Rev Clif McDonnell |
Organ:
The Organ was built in 1858 by Bishop & Starr of London. Rebuilt and emlarged in 1917 by George Fincham & Son (addition of choir organ). Rebuilt and enlarged in 1958 by J.W. Walker & Sons, Ruislip Middlesex. It had 3m., 55 sp.st., 12 c., el.pn. Later tonal altns in 1999-2005 by Gibbs & Thomson. Console restored in 2017 by Peter D.G. Jewkes. 3m., 54sp.st, 12c., elpn. Gt: 16.8.8.8.8.8.4.4.4.2.II.III.8.8.8. Sw: 8.8.8.8.4.4.2.1-1/3.III.16.8.8.4. Ch: 16.8.8.4.4.2-2/3.2.1-3/5.8. 8.8. Ped: 16.16.16.16.10-2/3.8.8.8.5-1/3.4.4.16.16.8.8.
Contributions:
1. Marian May with information on Magnus and John May.
Source:
1. Churches of Colonial Hobart. A field guide to Hobart's history of 24 buildings
2. Anglican Church Dircectory 2000.
3. Cable Clergy Index
4. A Guide to St Davids Cathedral 1842 - 1932. LSC P 283.94661 WIL.
5. Organ Historical Trust of Australia with permission.