Christ Church Cathedral III

I've posted a couple of pictures of the outside of Christ Church Cathedral but I was a little daunted by the interior. First, I was a little shy of taking pictures inside. However, when I went inside there were some very nice people there who said I was perfectly welcome to take some pictures since there was no service or other activities. Secondly, as can be seen, taking photos inside a cathedral presents some difficult problems of lighting and perspective/focus. Anyhow, it's beautiful inside and I hope this photo suggests a little of the peace and awe that this church inspires.

Christ Church Cathedral II

Adjacent to Christ Church Cathedral is a small park with a few weathered tombstones that are the remnants of the church graveyard. The first cathedral on the site, a wooden church, burned down in 1869. Its dean was the Very Reverend Edward Cridge, and the gravestone in the photo above (and in closeup below) gives us some insight into the hardships of life in colonial Victoria. It records the deaths of four of his children in a single year, 1865.

Christ Church Cathedral

Like many cities, some of Victoria's most interesting and beautiful buildings are religious. Christ Church Cathedral is an Anglican (Church of England) church. Construction of the cathedral began in 1926 but was spread over many years for political as well as financial reasons. Victoria's downtown has a half dozen interesting church buildings. Though Christ Church Cathedral is not the oldest, it is is the largest.