One of Melbourne's most prominent buildings situated in the heart of the city,
St Paul's Cathedral welcomes worshippers and those appreciating the architecture alike.
St Paul's Cathedral. Photo credit: Adam.J.W.C.
St Paul's Cathedral is built on a site enriched with history, where the first ever public Christian service was held in Melbourne in 1836. There has been a house of worship on that spot since the 1850s, although it was not always the towering gothic building of today. The foundation stone for the cathedral was set into place in 1880, and construction finished in time for its consecration in 1891. The last major changes to the cathedral took place in the 1960s, although refurbishment efforts have been undertaken since.
Several services a day are conducted at the cathedral on weekdays and Sundays, and one each Saturday. A schedule can be viewed
here.
St Paul's Cathedral has ample opening hours, from 8am to about 6pm every day except Saturday, on which it opens 9am until 4pm. You can admire the building of your own accord, but free tours of the cathedral are conducted throughout the day.
The cathedral's interior. Photo credit: Mugley.
The cathedral is not just about being visually pleasing, it also welcomes your ears. A choir performs the choral evensong Tuesday to Friday at 5:30pm, Saturday at 10:30am and Sunday at 6pm. A peal of thirteen bells tolls to announce services as well as on Wednesday and Sunday evenings.
Tourists take note, souvenirs can be purchased from the St Paul's Cathedral Shop, housed inside the cathedral. Tea towels, mugs, postcards and the like to help remember your visit are on sale alongside religious paraphernalia.
