Choir and Organ Loft

ORGAN AND CHOIR LOFT: The original organ was built by Fincham and Sons, of Melbourne. It was purchased by Father Moreau S.M., about 1866 for the first St Joseph's Church, which was demolished in December 1983. This organ was transferred to the Cathedral early in 1886. In early 1974 the organ was dismantled by the South Island Organ Company Ltd., Timaru, and r e built with the additions deemed necessary. A photo of the reconstructed organ hangs on the inside wall to the right of the main entrance door. The Choir loft was built by Mr D. M. Woods in December 1883. In 1897, to improve the chord acoustics, the gallery y was lowered two feet and, at the same time, extended outwards to provide additional accommodation. A feature of the choir loft is the panelled and carved balustrade at the front, visible from the Nave. The timbers used were Kauri for the lighter colours and imported Cedar for the darker colours.

The original organ in the Cathedral was built by Fincham and Sons, Melbourn. It was purchased by Father Delphin Moreau, S.M. about 1866 for the first St Joseph's Church built in 1862 which, after the Cathedral was opened, functioned as the parish school until its demolition in December 1983. The organ which had done duty for many years in St Joseph's Church was transferred to the Cathedral early in 1886 to be ready for the opening ceremony. Edward Henry Jenkins, organ builder, of Hereford Street, Christchurch, was responsible for rebuilding the organ in the Cathedral. Over the years various additions and alternations have been made, and in 1974 the organ was dismantled by the South Island Organ Company, Timaru, and rebuilt with the additions deemed necessary. The liturgical blessing of the rebuilt organ took place on June 1, 1976.

Mayer and Co. Munich, were commissioned to supply the stained glass for the Rose Window above the main entrance up in the Choir gallery. The window is in the form of a rose, sixteen feet in diameter, completely circular, filled in with intricate tracery designed by Mr Petre and having , in all, one hundred and thirty-two divisions of stained glass. The Rose Window, a feature of Gothic architecture, is so designed that the eight intersecting circles overlap to form the leaf pattern.

The window was completed in February 1887 and, with the detailed stone tracery and the stained glass within the divisions, it is indeed an ornament of outstanding artistry.

The Rose Window was a gift to the Cathedral from Edward and Margaret Murphy, of South Dunedin, in memory of Andrew Murphy. In July, Bishop Moran forwarded one hundred pounds to Mayer and Co. to meet payment for the window.