Darwin - Christ Church Anglican Cathedral rebuilt after the 1973 Cyclone Tracy:the gateway here with pillars and plaques survived the cyclone. Northern Territory Australia

            The Christ Church Anglican Cathedral Darwin, is the cathedral church of the Diocese of the Northern Territory and the seat of the Bishop of the Northern Territory. 
The original Christ Church Anglican Church was built in 1902. It was used in World War Two as a garrison church by defence services and badly damaged by a bomb in 1942. 

In 1944 the porch and entrance gateway were added by members of the services in memory of comrades killed in action in the Northern Territory.

In 1968 the church became a cathedral. On the morning of 25 December 1974 Cyclone Tracy completely destroyed the parish hall, the clergy residences and the cathedral leaving only a small part of the west wall, the porch and entrance gateway. The cathedral wall remains not totally destroyed, were incorporated into the new cathedral constructed in 1976.

The new Christ Church Cathedral was consecrated on 13 March 1977, the Archbishop of Canterbury in attendance.

Plaque transcription:-
The building of this memorial gateway and porch was undertaken by the Darwin Sub Branch RSS&AILA with the support of Sub Branches throughout Australia 28 November 1965.

HISTORICAL NOTES HERE FROM NEWSPAPERS - concerning the foundation stones of the cathedral and the garrison church. 
*Church of England Port Darwin
Laying the Foundation Stone 

Fully sixty ladies and gentlemen and a goodly number of the smaller fry, assembled on the allotment in Smith Street at 5.30 pm on Saturday afternoon, to witness the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the first Church of England to be erected in the Northern Territory. A rough derrick, with chain tackle, was placed at the north-west corner of the ground plan, to which was secured the foundation stone all ready for hoisting into its place — a block of stone about 30 x 18 x 6, bearing the following inscription – "Laid by Mr Justice Dashwood July AD 1902", first engraved upon the flat outer surface of the stone and subsequently painted in black. 

Mr Justice Dashwood, in addressing himself to his task, said they were met together that afternoon to lay the foundation stone of the church which was to be erected in connection with the Church of England in this town. 
Some time ago, it was considered that the time had arrived when some action should be taken in bringing about the establishment of a Church of their own. The idea was immediately taken up with a great deal of enthusiasm, and the result was that definite steps were taken to carry out what might, perhaps — considering the number of Anglicans resident in the Territory — have been done long before. Just about this time the Church in the NT was under the control of the Bishop of Adelaide, but it was subsequently arranged that it should form part of Diocese of Carpentaria, and some time ago Dr White, Bishop of Carpentaria, had visited Port Darwin and held initial services. From that time onwards the matter had been taken in hand most enthusiastically by several good men and women: the appeal to the community had been met in a most gratifying manner: and by means of a bazaar and in other ways — not forgetting liberal assistance forthcoming from outside — enough money had been raised in a surprisingly short space of time to enable them to draw up plans and call tenders for the erection of a church of their own. 
If the spirit shown in the initiation of this good work continued, and he felt confident it would, then its success was assured. 
The allotment of land which had been chosen and purchased for the purpose was most excellently situated, and the whole of the circumstances connected with the movement were most gratifying. That in the short space of eighteen months they should be in a position to erect free of debt a substantial building sufficient for all requirements, and have a surplus, was indeed matter for congratulation. £550 had been gathered, and the building — the foundation stone of which they were now about to lay — was to cost £435, so he thought it might be said there would be an ample sum to cover those other items of furnishing etc, which would be necessary to complete the church. He regretted very much that the Bishop of Carpentaria could not be present on this occasion to carry out duty he had been asked to perform, as he was sure it would have given his lordship very great pleasure to have joined in this function: and the absence of their respected vicar was also to be deplored — but he was engaged in a mission connected with a more interesting and perhaps a more important ceremony. So far as he was personally concerned he had undertaken the duty with utmost pleasure, although he felt there were some present who had a better title to the task. 

The stone was then laid, and declared to be "well and truly laid," with the accompanying wish that the church might prosper for all time.
Mr W C Langdon proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Justice Dashwood, which was carried with acclamation, and to which Mr Dashwood briefly responded.

The bottle buried in the concrete beneath the foundation stone contained a copy of the N T Times and Government Gazette, of date July 11, 1902: a copy of the Rev H P Gocher's first annual report: and a card containing the words "To the glory of God. Laid by Mr Justice Dashwood, July 12th, AD, 1902," and the following signatures — Gilbert White, Bishop of Carpentaria: H P Gocher, Rector: F I H Finniss and W C Langdon, Wardens.
Ref: Northern Territory Times and Gazette (Darwin NT) Friday 18 July 1902.

*Darwin Garrison Church Foundation Stone Laid 
March 26 
The foundation stone of the new garrison church at Darwin was laid yesterday by the Bishop of Bendigo, Chaplain-General C L Riley.

The church will be in the permanent Larrakeyah Barracks area. These barracks were almost completed at the outbreak of the war with Japan and are the most modern barracks in Australia. The church will be built by voluntary labour from all ranks serving in the Darwin area. After the war the church will serve to remind the permanent garrison of the occupation of the barracks by units of the AMF. 
The church will incorporate the cross, candlesticks and other church furniture formerly in the temporary chapel at Adelaide River. These were made by workshop personnel from scrap and salvaged material.
Ref: Kalgoorlie Miner (WA) Wednesday 28 March 1945.
   

Taken on: April 27, 2024

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Camera: Nikon D7500, f/5.6, 1/250 sec, 18mm (=27mm), ISO 360 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D7500
Aperture:	f/5.6
Exposure Time:	0.004 sec (1/250)
Focal Length:	18mm (35mm equivalent: 27mm)
ISO:	360
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Auto, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Not Defined
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
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