St Mary's Cathedral Church

St Mary's Cathedral Church is a wooden Gothic structure in Parnell featuring pointed arches, gabled rooflines, and tall lancet windows throughout its walls. The building displays intricate wooden carpentry and spans a substantial length, creating an interior composed of supporting columns and decorated spaces.

The foundation stone was laid in 1886 to replace an earlier church building from 1860, with construction finishing in 1898. After serving as the main Anglican cathedral for decades, the building was relocated across Parnell Road in 1982 to make room for a newer cathedral beside it.

The church holds meaning for the Anglican community as a gathering place shaped by over a century of worship and tradition. Walking through its spaces, visitors encounter the personal faith and craftsmanship that people poured into creating this building.

The church is accessible with clear interior passages and organized sections that are easy to navigate on foot. It sits directly beside Holy Trinity Cathedral, so visiting both buildings together makes sense if you are interested in exploring the religious complex.

It holds the distinction of being the largest wooden Gothic church structure in the world, a remarkable feat of carpentry and engineering from the late 1800s. This exceptional scale and construction method makes it a rare example of how builders worked with timber to create such imposing religious space.

Location: Auckland Region

Inception: 1898

Architects: Benjamin Mountfort

Address: 437 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland

Website: http://holy-trinity.org.nz

GPS coordinates: -36.86010,174.78330

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:55