Sacred Heart Cathedral, Roman Catholic cathedral in Thorndon, New Zealand

Sacred Heart Cathedral on Hill Street is a neo-classical basilica designed by Francis Petre, the only church he designed in the North Island. It mixes Oamaru stone, brick and masonry, with a main aisle, two side aisles, an arcaded nave and Ionic pilasters. Twin domed bell towers were removed in 1942 after an earthquake.

The first church on the Hill Street site, the wooden neo-Gothic St Mary's Cathedral, opened in 1851 and burned down on 28 November 1898. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart, designed by Francis Petre, was begun in 1899 and opened two years later, partly funded with money set aside for a new cathedral that was never built. It became Wellington's cathedral in 1984 and closed from 2018 to June 2024 for a $13 million seismic strengthening.

The cathedral serves as a gathering place for Wellington's Catholic community and shapes religious life in the neighborhood. People from across the city come here to pray and participate in services that connect them to their faith tradition.

The cathedral opens at different times throughout the week and welcomes visitors during services. Checking the schedule in advance helps ensure you arrive at a convenient time for your visit.

The high altar came from St Gerard's Monastery, which closed in 2023; its front carries a three-part mosaic of the Annunciation with the Angel Gabriel on the left, the Virgin on the right and the words verbum caro factum est between them. The sanctuary is dominated by Enrico Refto's painting of the Sacred Heart above the archbishop's cathedra.