Anglican Communion News Service

J L Pearson designed St John's Cathedral, Brisbane, in 1888, and construction began in 1906. Building work is currently estimated to be completed by 2006 if a further AS$13,660,882 can be raised in time. Already over AS$11 million has been pledged since March 1997.

The Cathedral is a popular pilgrimage site, with more than 1,000 visitors each month from all over the world. A troop of scouts from North London recently paid a visit, presenting a photographic collection of J L Pearson's English churches to the Cathedral's Precentor, the Revd Jo Pyeroft. The leader of the group, Bill Davies, is a member of St Augustine's, Kilburn, which is also a Pearson designed building.

Construction work during the last 94 years has been sporadic, but those associated with the National Trust St John's Completion Fund are determined to complete the building. In 1946, the completion of the Cathedral was launched as the Diocesan War Memorial. Fund raising continued, and in 1965 work began on the next stage of building the Nave. However, the money ran out, and a temporary wall survives until today.

Work is now proceeding on a key supporting column where the nave meets the Narthex in the West End. The stone used so far for this weighs 50 tonnes, and the capitol stones have taken over 130 hours to mould. The column will form the support for one corner of the South Tower, which when completed will stand 45.5 metres tall and contain over 1,000 tonnes of sandstone.

"When completed, this will be a unique architectural masterpiece and one of the nation's major heritage-listed building," said Archbishop of Brisbane, the Revd Peter Hollingworth.

Item from: The Pinnacle