Location Manuka Denomination Roman Catholic Church | Country Australia | |
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Similar First St Mary's Roman C, St Monica's War Memorial, St Mary's Star of the Sea Cath, St Patrick's Church - Rosevale, Sacred Heart Cathedral | ||
St Christopher’s Cathedral is the main place of Catholic worship in the city of Canberra, Australia, and seat of the archbishop bishop of the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn.
The Cathedral of St Christopher is located in the suburb of Forrest, but in the local centre known as Manuka. Father Patrick Haydon was appointed as parish priest of the new St Christopher's Parish at Manuka in 1928. He oversaw the building of a convent and school, opened in 1928, and the first stage of St Christopher's Cathedral which was completed in 1939. The Catholic community had intended to build a full cathedral on Commonwealth Avenue but their plans were never realised as the Depression took away the ability to raise funds for the project and the impetus was never regained.
St Christopher's was finally extended to its present size in 1973, when it became the co-cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, and more recently the sole cathedral when the former cathedral in Goulburn ceased to be a cathedral of the archdiocese. It was listed by the ACT Heritage Council in 1998.
Members of the Parliament of Australia often have their year opening prayers at St Christopher's or St. Paul's, usually in February during the first sitting period. St Christopher's also hosts significant national and diocesan services for the national capital. These include major ecumenical services, because St Chistopher's is the largest church in the national capital of any Christian denomination.