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To see what is happening in the Cathedral over the next couple of weeks, click here.
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We are blessed with many treasures at St.Patrick's. Explore some of them here.
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Lenihan Plaque
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The Most Reverend George M Lenihan was Bishop of Auckland from 1896 to 1910.
Bishop Lenihan was extremely popular with his people. He was noted for his
violin playing, strong tenor voice and his friendly, smiling manner won him
many friends.
He died at the early age of 52 and is buried at the foot of the
Cathedral sanctuary steps.
One of the most significant works of art in the Cathedral collection is a brass
memorial tablet dedicated to Bishop Lenihan.
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An excellent synopsis of the history of the tablet can be found in an Auckland
Star article of 8 December 1910 :
“The engraved brass memorial tablet to be placed over the late Bishop Lenihan's
tomb in St Patrick's Cathedral has just been completed by the engraver, Mr
Allen Anderson, of Auckland . The tablet is 5 ft. 9 in. long and 2 ft. 6 in. in
width, and the workmanship represents a considerable advance on anything of the
kind that has been done in the Dominion, and possibly in the colonies. Hitherto
all work of like nature has been done in England, but in the case of this
tablet a new departure was made by entrusting the work to a local artist, and
that Mr. Anderson has done full justice to the confidence placed in him is
demonstrated after an inspection of the engraving, which is on exhibition in
the window of Messrs. Andrews and Clark, Queen Street. Experts who have seen it
say that it loses nothing by comparison with the best works in the Cathedrals
of the Old World . This is praise indeed when it is remembered that Mr.
Anderson had to do all the chiselling and engraving by hand, there being no
machinery available for the purpose. An effigy, almost life-size, of the late
bishop in his pontifical robes is surrounded by a design of shamrocks, and at
the foot are the official seals, while the border is inscribed with particulars
of the late bishop's life. The incised portions of the brass are filled in with
black enamel. The work was carried on under the supervision of Messrs. E.
Mahoney and Son, architects, and occupied three months. Arrangement has been
made for the tablet to be unveiled by Bishop Cleary in January next.”
Pre-1985, the brass tablet was mounted in the Chapel of the Sacred Heart.
In 2000, the artist's son refurbished the plaque.
Artist: Allen Anderson
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