By Glynnis Grainger
FULL-LENGTH laminated windows holding specially-commissioned artworks will feature in the new St Patrick’s Cathedral, Bunbury, now under construction and due to be consecrated on the Feast of St Patrick on 17 March next year.
The windows will not be stained glass but will hold a digitised print of artworks – by WA artist Robert Juniper – between two sheets of glass.
The massive red brick structure overlooks the city of Bunbury from Money Street and replaces the cathedral that was destroyed by a tornado in 2005.
On 17 March the new St Patrick’s Cathedral will be dedicated and the altar will be consecrated by Bishop Gerard Holohan of Bunbury and bishops from around Australia and on 20 March, the Bishop will celebrate the opening Solemn Mass.
Financial administrator for the diocese of Bunbury and Project Manager for the cathedral precinct, John Ogilvie, told The Record he has conducted limited tours of the site for clergy and diocesan parishioners. The new cathedral spire has been completed and the main focus of work has shifted to a fit-out of the cathedral.
Artist Robert Juniper’s paintings on canvas were computerised and printed on film on glass on 14 windows, 7.5m high and 2.5m wide.
“One side shows scenes from the history of salvation, and one the life of Jesus to the Resurrection,” Mr Ogilvie said.
“Because of the windy conditions, the cathedral has a double brick outer shell and double brick inner shell, is tornado-proof and features Donnybrook stone.
“Provision has been made for air-conditioning in the cathedral. It has a sloping, suspended floor and heating and cooling can be installed.
“Celestory windows high in the cathedral will allow heat to escape. Hopefully, it will perform well.
“It will seat 500 in the nave, 250 in the gallery and 60 in the baptistry. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel will seat up to 50 people.
“The Blessed Sacrament chapel can be for Masses with small congregations, weddings and funerals.
“There will be a crypt for bishops; the design life of the building is 300 years.”
The architects are Marcus Collins Architects, who have chosen a traditional design.
A tapestry of the Resurrection designed by Robert Juniper – being made in East Asia – will be behind the sanctuary.
The jarrah pews are being made in Bridgetown by Glen Holst who also built the pews for St Mary’s Cathedral and the Canning Vale and Applecross churches.
Maintaining its links with the past the Gallery above the nave will contain pews formerly used in the cathedral.
A three-manual Roland organ (with three tiers of keyboards on the one instrument) and a belltower with a peel of eight bells, currently being cast in Holland, will also feature in the new St Patrick’s.
The belltower holds the recently completed spire.
The new St Patrick’s is part of an estimated $17 million cathedral precinct project.
Mr Ogilvie said the 2005 tornado damaged the old house where Bishops Goody and Miles McKeon had lived. Built in 1920 by Archdeacon Smythe, the heritage-listed building was extended in the 1960s and is now a U-shaped building being extended by Perkins Builders, the builders of the Cathedral.
The former residence will become the new Diocesan Centre for Bunbury.
A new Parish Centre and presbytery are being built, including a new Bishop’s residence; the current residence will be converted as a residence for visiting clergy.
The extensive damage wreaked by the 2005 freak tornado had turned out to have unexpected advantages.
“We had ‘ground zero,’ a lot easier and cleaner than a restoration,” Mr Ogilvie said.
The federal Government contributed $5 million to the project while approximately $2.5 million was contributed by the State Government. The diocese received $4.1 million in insurance when St Patrick’s was destroyed.