The Tower

In speaking of the financial position and the progress of building the Cathedral, Bishop Moran announced in January 1885 that it was his intention to move ahead with a temporary sanctuary and leave the front of the building in its present state without the two front towers. By the middle of the year, sufficient donations had been received to complete the two towers, and Parker and McNamara were commissioned for this work.

By January 1886 the south flanking tower of the Cathedral had been completed. In honour of the occasion the contractors displayed a scarlet flag flying above the pinnacles and bearing in gold letters the words "Deo Gratias".

The carving of the Oamaru stone pinnacles was very fine and detailed, adding a feature of extreme beauty to the Cathedral. The north flanking tower was completed in May of the same year. The height of the front towers from floor level is eighty feet. This work completed the front of the Cathedral.

Unfortunately, the Oamaru stone pinnacles on the turrets of the two front towers did not wear well. They became dangerous and had to be removed in the 1950's. Ten years later, Downer & Co replaced them in concrete. In 1967 the flying buttresses were replaced with concrete struts for the same reason. In 1974, when replacement work was being done on the upper towers and the front balustrade, new pinnacles were made by Downer and Co. The making of these was no easy task. The contractors made the twelve foot pinnacles, which were replicas of the originals, in precast concrete. They were lifted by crane and placed in position. The work was completed in August 1975.

The South tower, as well as containing the Port Chalmers stone steps to the organ and choir gallery, also houses the bell bought over from the old St Joseph's Church. A news item in the local paper of October 25, 1864, states: "... by the Black Swan, lately arrived from London, a very fine bell for St Joseph's Church. Cast in London the bell weighs over 15 cwt." Father D. Moreau, SM, records that "the bell was liturgically blessed by Bishop Philip Viard of Wellington at Evening Vespers on November 22, 1864, with John Griffin and Miss McSweeney, sponsors, in the presence of a very large congregation".