When the first Catholic priest set foot in Port Elizabeth in 1840 (after being shipwrecked in Cape St Francis and having to travel the last 100km to town on horseback), there were only 42 Catholics in the town. In the coming years the Catholic community grew and flourished and in 1861 construction started on St Augustines on land purchased on Castle Hill. The project took place under the watchful eye of Father Thomas Murphy. St.Augustine’s was opened and solemnly consecrated by Bishop Moran on the 25 th of April 1866. The bronze statue of Christ the King which can be seen above the door was donated by the Frost family in 1931 . For more information and the whole story of the Cathedral, visit Catholic Diocese of Port Elizabeth.I have to be honest and say that I have never been inside St Augustines, but will try my best to change that somewhere in the near future.
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GPS: 33°57'46.00"S, 25°37'20.79"E
that is where I went to Church when I lived in PE and my firts two sons (Jean-Paul and Patrick) were baptized.
ReplyDeleteHappy memories
Gaston The froggy
I like the angle you got on this interesting old structure.
ReplyDeleteDramatic presentation of this building. Very nicely done!
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful photography!! I very recently did a post on weather vanes too!
ReplyDeleteGreat piece of history.
ReplyDeleteSydney - City and Suburbs
Ooh yes .. love the angles!!
ReplyDeleteMy Grandparents were married in this church in 1895. I spent many happy years at St. Augustine's Primary School, attached to the Cathedral. Suffice to say that I have spent much time inside the church. The awesome stained glass windows are indelibly etched in my mind.
ReplyDeleteI still go ro that school I'm now in grade.5.
ReplyDeleteI attended this Primary School from 1956 to 1958. Brother Basil was the Principal. Myself and four older brothers went to this school - Alec - Robert - Trevor - Kenny - Derek Tawse. I now live in Brisbane Australia.
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