159th Commemoration of the Consecration of St Paul’s

We commemorated the 159th anniversary of the Consecration of St Paul’s church on 6 June 1866 . The event featured a brief Eucharist with music and refreshments for those who attended.

We enjoyed singing the same traditional hymns that were sung at the 1866 service, accompanied by the Friends’ Master Music Director and Organist, David Trott. The Very Revd Katie Lawrence, Dean of Wellington Cathedral, officiated. We are delighted to welcome Katie as 2024 also marks the move of St Paul’s parish over to the brand-new Wellington Cathedral in Molesworth Street in May 1964.

The new St Paul’s was built in three stages, the first part just the Chancel. So, despite images of Bishop Henry Baines dramatically closing Old St Paul’s doors, the congregation was soon back in Old St Paul’s until completion of the main Cathedral nave in 1972. The photo of Old St Paul’s to the right was taken c1867, soon after its opening. As you can see, there have been a few changes.