St Marys Brief History

Brief History of St Mary's Church

"Old" St Mary's Church having become too small, Vestry decided to replace the church with the long-promised Auckland Cathedral. In 1883 the General Trust Board of the Diocese approved the building of a permanent stone Choir attached to a temporary wooden nave seating 1000.

That plan appears to have quietly lapsed, and instead, a decision was made to build a new church on the same site. Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort, architect of many superb buildings in New Zealand, was invited to design a church in brick and stone.

This proved to be far more expensive than anticipated, so Mountfort redesigned the church to enable it to be built in wood.

Bishop John Richardson Selwyn, son of Bishop G.A. Selwyn and Bishop of Melanesia, gave an address at the laying of the foundation stone by the Primate of New Zealand, Bishop H.J.C. Harper on 6th February 1886.

Bishop Selwyn provided the Sanctuary lamps to commemorate his mother Sarah's work. At the instigation of The Rt Revd Dr Cowie, Bishop of Auckland the new church was made the Cathedral Church of the Diocese on 15th November 1887.

St Mary's opened on 30th June 1888 with the Chancel and first three bays, and was consecrated by Bishop Harper on 30th November. As further funds became available the church was completed, and consecrated in its final form on 25th August 1898.

The Cathedral Church opened with the organ from "Old" St Mary's in place. In 1907 a new organ was purchased from George Croft, and dedicated 1st April 1909.

Electric light was installed in 1918 at a cost of £300 ($600), and in 1982 the church was moved to its present position.