The Cathedral Altars

The Original High Altar of St Joseph's Cathedral. Designed by Mr F. W. Petre, with carvings by L. J. Godfrey. This richly ornamented altar, now in the back of the sanctuary.

In addition to the rich oak doors, the Tabernacle has locally made inside metal door with ornate bronze handles. One of the many artists in Dunedin at that time who was familiar with the medieval Christian tradition would have been responsible for the highly coloured Eucharistic scene painted on these doors. On the altar back-piece angels are shown adoring the lamb, while in the forefront more angels in brightly coloured gowns - including the two with swinging thuribles - adore the Eucharistic Lord on the ornamented altar. Above the adoring angels the artist has depicted small-sized emblematic creatures - an angel, a lion. a calf and a bird. These doors have remained with the original Altar.

The Original High Altar designed for the Cathedral by Mr F. W. Petre. When the decision was made for a temporary sanctuary, the altar plan was modified.

The Baroque tabernacle doors were a gift from L.J. Godfrey to Bishop Moran to mark the Opening of the Cathedral. The doors are carvings in wood of the Nativity and the Resurrection. They are said to be Netherlandish (or possibly North German) dating from about the seventeenth century, and are more likely back panels from choir stalls. These carved oak panels are presently on loan to the Dunedin Public Art Gallery.

The icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour is a copy of the celebrated picture in the Church of St Alphonsus in Rome. The picture here is painted on wood and is an example of true Byzantine art. The surrounds of the icon were designed by F. W. Petre, constructed by Mr D. W. Woods, the carving by Mr Lewis. M. M. Godfrey, the paint work and gilding by Mr David Scott, and the brass work by A. & T. Burt. The picture was erected in the Cathedral in October 1898. In 1935 the brass candle ornamentation was replaced with electric candles on each panel, and an arc of electric lights surrounding the picture.