Support & Donate

Follow

Sydney is a modern, young global city looking into the future and its architectural reflects this; that’s why our historic buildings such as St Mary’s Cathedral need special care and preservation.

Today more than 300,000 people visit St Mary’s Cathedral each year to appreciate this grand English-style gothic structure. Dedicated to Mary Help of Christians, it took more than 100 years to complete and is an indication of the dedication and steadfastness shown by the Catholic community.

St Mary’s Cathedral is a living monument and like all grand buildings is undergoing continual and sympathetic restoration and maintenance works.

Your contribution can help continue the tradition of the Catholic community to help preserve the Cathedral for future generations, not only Catholics, but also as a major historical landmark of one of the great cities of the world.

There are many ways that you can support the restoration and maintenance of this magnificent building. You can make a donation or provide a last legacy through a bequest, light a virtual candle to assist with maintenance or become a key supporter with a regular contribution.

All Parishioners, Catholics and visitors are also invited to donate an organ pipe or a stone towards the conservation of this historic building. You can take this opportunity to identify your family with a particular stone in the elegant façade of the Cathedral or dedicate an organ pipe from the impressive Letourneau Organ.

conversation
Join the discussion

Create an account or log in to share your thoughts and ideas.

Join Log In

History of the Cathedral’s Bells

The tower above the intersection of the nave and the transepts contains the bells of the Cathedral. Over the course of the Cathedral’s history, there have been 3 peals of bells all cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry of London. The first of eight bells arrived in Sydney in August 1843, with these bells being the first hung for Change Ringing in Australia and rang for the first time on New Year’s Day in 1844. These bells were replaced in 1882 and a century later an entirely new ring of 14 bells were ordered and rang for the first time in 1986. Change Ringing is the method of bell ringing used at the Cathedral where the bells stand upside down and are pulled by a rope by the bell ringer to allow the bell to rotate and ring in tune with the other bells.

Saint Mary's Cathedral St Marys Rd, Sydney NSW 2000

Wed 22nd Jan 2025

Sydney NSW, Australia

View Map

Cathedral Bell Ringers in action!

The construction of the Central Moran Tower saw the Cathedral Bells moved in 1898 and today the Central Moran Tower houses the 14 bells present. The Bells range in weight with the smallest weighing at 281kg whilst the heaviest weighs 1741kg. Each bell is named after a saint of the Church. Another bell is located in the Southern Tower of the Cathedral. This Angelus Bell is one of the original bells of the 1882 peal and is still rung every day at noon for the Angelus prayer and devotion.

Bell dedicated to St Bede – The Cathedral’s heaviest bell!