St Mary's Cathedral is situated in the centre of Sydney as a Christian statement of beauty and grace. The cathedral represents the incorporeal origins of the Catholic Church in Australia.
It is one of the finest examples of English style gothic churches in the world and one of Sydney's most treasured buildings. Generations of artists have left to it their magnificent gifts in glass and stone, designing a beautiful space of prayer and solace within this vibrant city. The cathedral is full of devotional objects and treasures.
William Wilkinson Wardell, the 19th century architect, dreamed of a gothic structure shaped from the yellow-block sandstone on which the city is built. The cathedral was finally completed 100 years after architect's death. The St Mary's Cathedral is dedicated to Mary Help of Christians. It is the largest church in Australia, but not the highest. In the year 2008, St Mary's Cathedral was visited by Pope Benedict XVI.