Establishment of the Diocese

St Joseph's Cathedral is the Cathedral Church the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dunedin. It is located in City Rise in the city of Dunedin, New Zealand. It serves as the seat of the Bishop of the Latin Church Roman Catholic Diocese of Dunedin, which was erected on 26 November 1869.

The Master Plan

The Gothic revival cathedral was designed by Francis Petre, who also later, in a complete change of style to Palladian revival, designed St Patrick's Basilica, Oamaru (1894), Sacred Heart Cathedral, Wellington (1901), the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch (1905), St. Mary's Basilica, Invercargill (1905), St Patrick's Basilica, Waimate (1909) and Sacred Heart Basilica, Timaru (1911).

Construction of the Cathedral started in 1878, during the episcopacy of Bishop Patrick Moran. It was used for its first church service in February 1886, and was completed in its unfinished state in May 1886, at a cost of £22,500. The original design, however, was for a much larger building, with a tall spire with a height of 100 meters over the transept.
​A description of St Joseph's Cathedral from a letter of the reporter of the Auckland Evening Star in 1889 says, "The cable tram has carried you up barely two hundred feet when you see a double-towered church of dark grey stone standing on a site cut into the hill. This is the Catholic Cathedral, St Joseph — and it is a gem. The outside gives you no idea of the beauty within." (Auckland Evening Star, New Zealand, 1889). This is a poor description of what was built. While it falls short of the original conception the building as it stands gives a better idea of the outstanding structure which was never completed.

Recent & Present Day Happenings

The cathedral has undergone several modifications, the most notable being the removal of the High Altar after Vatican II; it was returned after a long sojourn in the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. The side altar was dismantled in early 1970, and has since been made into a large Tabernacle, kept in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel beside the sanctuary. A Reconciliation Room was added to replace the old confessionals in the nave of the cathedral.

In March 2023, the confessionals were renovated and returned to their original use. The Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour was also reinstated with lights which remain illuminated during the day.

The tabernacle is set to be returned to the High Altar (where it is currently housed in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel) by the Bishop of the Diocese Sunday 19 November 2023. The original statues of two angels will be restored and placed next to the High Altar as well.
​​Interior view of the nave and sanctuary of the cathedral (April 2023)

More History & Information...

Please feel free to download the attached book that was published on the 100th anniversary of Cathedral's Opening (1886-1986). You will find a lot of wonderful information and photos contained within this book which was compiled by the late Fr Peter Mee, former Vicar General of the Diocese.