St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide

St Peter's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Adelaide and Metropolitan of the Province of South Australia. When Adelaide was surveyed by Colonel William Light over a decade before, land in Victoria Square had been set aside for public use. Bishop Short obtained a land grant in the square from Governor Robe in March 1848; the grant was registered on 23 April 1851. He reported in 1868 that the funds gathered were sufficient and announced to the diocese's synod of his decision to begin construction of a cathedral.

The stalls for the canons and choir, along with the original bishop's throne (now used as the dean's stall) and pulpit canopy, were a gift to the cathedral from Sir John Langdon Bonython in memory of his wife. Made in Adelaide in 1926, carvings can be seen on the capitals at each end of the stalls and also around the upper work in the canopies above.

In the western tower is the cathedral's ring of eight bells, hung for change ringing. Their purchase was funded by a bequest from cathedral warden Frederick Allen Wakeman. They were cast by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough England in 1946 and were dedicated by Bishop Robin on 29 June 1947. With the tenor (largest) bell weighing just over they are the heaviest ring of eight bells in the Southern Hemisphere, and the second heaviest ring of eight in the world after Sherborne Abbey in England. The bells are rung by members of The Australian and New Zealand Association of Bellringers who also operate the Adelaide Ringing Centre of 8 dumb-bells for training which opened in 2012.

Music

St Peter's Cathedral has a long and distinguished musical reputation in Adelaide. St Peter's Cathedral Choir has been singing services in the cathedral for over 140 years. It is the only choir of children and adults of its type in Adelaide. Currently, the choir sings two major choral services per week (Solemn Eucharist and Evensong every Sunday), in addition to frequent other services, concert performances and other special occasions. The choir has undertaken five international tours, singing in cathedrals and chapels throughout England end elsewhere. They have toured the UK in 2006/7, 2010/11 (plus Rome); 2014/15 (plus France); 2019/20 and most recently in 2023/24.

Directors of music and masters of the choristers

Historically, the master of the choristers was also the cathedral organist. In 1994, the role was split, creating the two positions of director of music and organist.

2020–present: Anthony Hunt
1996–2020: Leonie Hempton
1994–1996: Peter Leech
1963–1994: Dr John David Swale
1963–1964: Lyall Von Einem (acting)
1955–1962: Jack Vernon Peters
1936–1955: The Revd Horace Percy Finnis
1891–1936: John Millard Dunn
1876–1891: Arthur Boult

Organists

2024–: Andrew Georg
2018–2024: David Heah
2015–2017: Joshua van Konkelenberg
1999–2015: Shirley Gale
1994–1999: John David Swale

Organ

The cathedral's original organ was built by the London firm of Bishop & Son. It was installed in 1877 and dedicated on 1 January 1878. Located in what is now the sacristy, it was used for over fifty years before relocation in 1930 to St Augustine's Church in Unley, South Australia. The current organ was built by William Hill & Son and Norman & Beard of Melbourne and London and was dedicated on 29 July 1929. Until 2017, it remained largely unaltered, featuring electro-pneumatic action, four manuals and fifty speaking stops, featuring 26 couplers. Two additions were made, the addition of a Mixture V stop on the Great (1986) and the 32' Contra Trombone to the pedal division (1989). The lowest 12 pipes of this rank are located on a wall above the sacristy, opposite the main organ case. In 1963, a carved wooden case for the organ, designed by Walter Bagot, was only partly installed. In 2017/18, the instrument underwent major restoration and overhaul by Harrison & Harrison Ltd of Durham, UK. New mixtures were added to both the great and swell divisions, plus the addition of 8' and 4' principal stops in the pedal division. Some tonal irregularities dating from the 1980s were reversed, ensuring the instrument once again speaks and sounds to the original Hill, Norman and Beard specification. The console was also upgraded to include a capture system and modern playing aides, and the casework was completed, drawing inspiration from the original Bagot design. This work was completed at a cost of approx AU$1.5 million and the "First Chords" played on Advent Sunday 2 December 2018.

Clergy

The bishop of Adelaide was formally rector of the cathedral until 1986. The cathedral was governed by the bishop with assistance from a dean (the dean of Adelaide) and chapter. The dean and chapter operated as an independent body, meaning they were not required to report to the synod of the Diocese of Adelaide. In 1986, the administrative functions of the dean and chapter were transferred to a cathedral council. Since 1986, the cathedral has been administrated as a parish with the dean (known as the dean of the cathedral) as rector. The dean of the cathedral is not synonymous with the office of dean of Adelaide (which exists in theory but has been vacant since 1997).

Deans

2021–present: Chris McLeod (Assistant bishop, Anglican Diocese of Adelaide, National Aboriginal bishop, Anglican Church of Australia)
2012–2021: Frank Nelson (previously Dean of Wellington, New Zealand)
2009–2011: Sarah Macneil (later Bishop of Grafton)
2000–2008: Steven Ogden
1999–2000: Stuart Smith (acting)
1987–1998: David Richardson (later Dean of Melbourne and Anglican Ambassador to the Vatican)

Bishop's vicar

1982–1987: Keith Chittleborough
1966–1982: Lionel Edward W. Renfrey (also Assistant Bishop of Adelaide 1969–1985)
1964–1966: William Devonshire
1963–1964: Patrick Austin Day (became rector of Christ Church St Laurence, Sydney)
1957–1963: Arthur Weston
1955–1957: Thomas Thornton Reed (became Bishop of Adelaide in 1957)
1927–1955: Horace Percy Finnis
1890–1927: William Somerville Milne
1878–1890: Arthur Dendy

Gallery

St Peter's Cathedral south front.jpg|St Peter's Cathedral, south front in 2013

Wonderful Earthy Colours.jpg|Lady Chapel in 2013

Wet and Grey (9945539375).jpg|The cathedral from King William Road in 2013

St Peter's Cathedral Adelaide 2014.jpg|St Peter's Cathedral from the Creswell Gardens, due south

St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide, during a special service.jpg|St Peter's Cathedral during a special service in 2009

St Peter's Cathedral Nave and Aisle.jpg|Nave

Reredos in St Peter's Cathedral.jpg|Reredos and high altar

Around We Go.jpg|Magdalene window, installed in 2001

Lovely Detailing.jpg|Choir stalls in 2013

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