Cathedral of Christ The King, Johannesburg, Catholic cathedral in Berea, Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Cathedral of Christ the King stands at the corner of End Street and Saratoga Avenue in Berea, Johannesburg. It has a traditional Latin cross plan with a nave about 58 metres long and 20 metres high, seating 1,500 people plus a gallery for 130. The reinforced concrete frame is infilled with face brick, and the sanctuary is marble. The front facade rises 25 metres above Saratoga Avenue.
Construction began in 1958 on a site purchased by Bishop W.P. Whelan on Saratoga Avenue. This cathedral replaced an earlier cathedral from 1896 that had stood on Kerk Street.
The stained glass was made by Patrick Pollen of Dublin, with themes for each bay suggested by Bishop Boyle. The windows depict Christ the King, the Flight into Egypt, Pentecost and the Assumption, alongside symbols such as the winged lion of Mark and the pelican. The organ incorporates the instrument from the old Kerk Street cathedral.
The cathedral is open during service times and visitors can enter during these hours. Respectful behavior is expected as this remains an active place of worship for the community.
The structure uses reinforced concrete instead of traditional stone, which was an unconventional choice for a cathedral at that time. This modern approach allowed for wider interior spaces without supporting columns.
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