St. Christopher’s Cathedral, Roman Catholic cathedral in Forrest, Australia
St Christopher's Cathedral stands in Manuka, Forrest, as Canberra's first parish church, built from 1938 and opened in 1939. It was doubled in size in 1973 to plans by Clement Glancy, son of the original architect, keeping the original stained glass windows. The enlarged church holds 1,000 worshippers and includes a bell tower, Blessed Sacrament Chapel, large sacristies and a crypt.
A foundation stone for a church and school was laid in 1927; Father Patrick Haydon became parish priest in 1928. The cathedral's foundation stone was laid in 1938 by Archbishop Gilroy, and the first stage opened in 1939. Extended to seat 1,000 under Clement Glancy's plans and consecrated by Archbishop Cahill in 1973, it then became the archdiocese's cathedral, superseding Goulburn.
The cathedral serves as the seat of the Catholic archdiocese and hosts significant religious ceremonies for the local community. Visitors can observe how the building functions as a spiritual and institutional center for Catholics in the region.
The cathedral is open to the public and holds regular services that visitors may attend. It is helpful to check service times in advance to plan your visit appropriately.
The interior features a notable pipe organ installed in 1972 by craftspeople from Melbourne. With more than 1,100 pipes, this instrument creates the musical backdrop for religious services.
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