Location Napier, New Zealand Tradition Anglican Previous cathedrals 1 Phone +64 6-835 8824 | Country New Zealand Website [1] Consecrated 8th October 1967 | |
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Denomination Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia Architect(s) Mr R.S.D. Harman, Messrs. Malcolm and Sweet Address 28 Browning St, Napier South, Napier 4110, New Zealand Diocese Anglican Diocese of Waiapu Similar St Patricks Parish, Napier i‑SITE Visitor Inf, Waiapu Anglican Centre, Napier Baptist Church, The Spiritualist Church O Profiles | ||
The Waiapu Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, Napier, is the formal name of the Cathedral of the Diocese of Waiapu. It is more commonly called either Waiapu Cathedral; St John's Cathedral, Napier; or Napier Cathedral. It has the unusual distinction of hosting the cathedra of both the Bishop of Waiapu and of Te Pihopa o Aotearoa/Bishop of Aotearoa (currently Brown Turei). This is a distinctive aspect of Waiapu Cathedral (differing slightly from St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast, which also serves two dioceses but does not house two cathedra). The Waiapu cathedral is situated at the north end of the CBD of Napier, New Zealand.
The present-day cathedral replaced an earlier cathedral that was destroyed by the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake. Built in 1888-1890, the original cathedral of St John was a brick construction designed by Christchurch architect Benjamin Mountfort. Following the total destruction of the first cathedral a temporary building was erected on the site, standing from 1931 until it was closed in 1960.
The current building is widely regarded as a fine example of Art Deco architecture. The design was largely drawn up by Napier architect Kingwell Malcolm, of the firm Malcolm and Sweet, following the untimely death of the selected architect R.S.D. Harman.
Two lives were lost in the cathedral as a result of the 1931 earthquake. Edith Barry was trapped beneath fallen beams, and was euthanized as flames from the post-earthquake conflagration approached the building. Kate Williams died the following day of injuries sustained in the quake.
St John's Cathedral is host to three choirs (two adult, one children's), and one of the finest pipe organs in New Zealand, which has recently undergone a complete restoration. It is the fifth organ on the site, and has received a major re-build by the South Island Organ Company in 2012/3. The organ, featuring more than 3700 pipes, is now the largest church organ in New Zealand. Gary Bowler, who was New Zealand’s longest serving Anglican cathedral organist, served as Director of Music from April 1981 to December 2014. Mr James Mist took up the position of Director of Music in July 2015.
The most recent Dean is The Very Rev'd Dr Michael Godfrey, who was installed by David Rice (bishop) in October 2013.
Vicars and Deans
(from 1889 the Vicar of Napier was also Dean of Waiapu)