Appeal launched to restore heritage cathedral presbytery

Friday, September 11th, 2015

For 130 years the large two-storey brick building on the corner of Wyndham and Hobson Sts in Auckland’s central city has been home for the Catholic priests based at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

This historical building is the longest, continually lived in residence in the central city.

A Category A heritage building (Heritage NZ – register 2645), St Patrick’s presbytery (or priests’ house) has been a familiar feature of the downtown cityscape for generations of Aucklanders.

However it is now badly in need of strengthening and restoring. It is an earthquake-prone building with its brittle bricks and sea sand mortar.

The roof is leaking and the paintwork desperately requires attention.

In order to preserve its heritage status, and provide a healthy, secure home for the clergy who live there, an Appeal to the cathedral parishioners and friends was launched last weekend to raise funds for a major strengthening and restoration programme for the building. It is estimated that the cost will be in the vicinity of 2.75 to 3 million dollars.

Commuters and passers-by will now see promotional hoardings and bandages (skins) around three sides of the presbytery walls along with photos of how it looked when first it was erected over 130 years ago.

The commencement of the project, depending on fund-raising, is scheduled to begin in one year’s time. All going well the newly restored residence will be re-opened by mid-2017.

Donations can be received at givealittle.co.nz/cause/stpatsappeal

For more information visit www.stpatsappeal.org.nz or contact
Mr Kevin Sherlock (Cathedral Centre Manager) Ph 303 4509 ext 202, or mobile 021 300 901

Source
Supplied Catholic Diocese of Auckand