Hyde Park - St Marys Cathedral now

This is the third religious building on this site. The Foundation Stone for this incarnation (!) was laid in 1868, with the dedication mass being held in September 1882. However, due to a lack of funds, the spires were only added in 2000, after the government agreed to supplement church funding.

The two bronze statues are on the southern entrance to the cathedral, looking across to The Australian Museum. One is of Cardinal Patrick Francis Moran, the third archbishop (1884-1911). The other is of Archbishop Michael Kelly ((1911-1940). At that time, the Sydney diocese was predominantly of Irish descent. [I can never tell which is which, bur have included them both!]

Running about the braes with Robbie Burns

Squatting on the concrete steps beneath the plinth of the Robbie Burns statue along Domain Road, I wondered why on earth it came to be there. The statue. Sure there must be a Burns Society in Sydney. Well, the metal plaque on one of the garden seats in the attached garden mentioned the society. The statue has a grand location, along Domain Road, halfway between St Marys Cathedral and the Art Gallery of NSW. The Domain Trust must have been replete with Presbyterian Scots at some stage. Wily Scots, with lots of well-heeled benefactors.

The gardens surrounding the statue are being remodelled. They seem to be a smidge confused about whether they want annuals, biennials, or perennials. This large rectangular bed, in pride of place, is a case in point. Being filled with veggies, and all. Tempting to add a lettuce leaf or three to my Sub. However, the effect in the garden is impressively attractive.

Sydney from on high (1)

On the left, surrounded by red pebbles, Hyde Park Barracks, commissioned by Governor Lachlan Macquarie, 1818. Top centre: St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral, foundation stone laid 1868. Middle centre: Archibald Fountain, erected 1932. In and around Hyde Park North, set aside for public recreation by Governor Macquarie in 1810. Taken from the observation level of Sydney Tower, Pitt Street, Sydney Australia.

Decking the cathedral

Over the last, say, 5 years, we've had many projections in the streets of Sydney. However, what we had this season on St Mary's Cathedral were exquisite. They were beautiful to watch. They were engaging. They were technically clever. It was like viewing a 3D movie on the face of the cathedral.


This projection above, took the tree through its growth cycle. It grew before out eyes. It sprouted leaves. Flowers appeared. And, finally, it was decorated for the season, all the while appearing to rotate.

There was another projection which had flowering vines, grow and cover the facade of the cathedral. However, it was not good as a still image. There was a barn owl that flew down to perch on a bough of a tree, and then fly off over the very tops of our heads.


The theme of the display was 'Peace', and the images were accompanied by sublime choral music, but I am a devotee of choral music, especially religious choral music. Did I tell you that this was great and that I liked it a lot?

Oh ... and Merry Christmas. I hope your day is all that you hoped, too.

Fulcrum

He balanced there with his coffee and his fag. Was he listening to Rachmaninov or Lady Gaga through his headphones? Frequently, he flicked his phone out of his pocket, his thumbs dancing over the keys, as he exhaled his noxious fumes into the crisp, moist Sunday morning air. No one paid him much heed, save I.

A Sydney Christmas - Christmas & hypocrisy - Third day

Detail from the St Mary's Cathedral diorama

The Picture of a Nation: the Statistician's Report on the 2006 Census, divides the nation into Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Other Religions and No Religion. In Religion Across the Generations, the Statistician collates data from the most recent census. The religion question is voluntary and 11.2% of the population chose not to respond. The question does not measure the degree of participation or commitment to religion. It was enough that the individual declared themself to be of a specific persuasion.

The secularisation of the Australian population gathers apace. Between 1971 and 2006, the proportion of people who stated ‘No Religion’ increased from 6.7% of the population to 19%. Add that to those who did not respond and 30.2% of the population is covered.

Looking at the statistics that cover my age group (Lucky) and those that cover the age group of my children (X+Y) we find that the older age group is 70% Christian whereas the younger age group is 46% Christian.

Is Christmas just a retail habit?

Together with a tree erected by the City council, the diorama stands in the Cathedral forecourt, Cook+Philip Place

Australian Christmas stamps - 1984, 1985 & 1986