Sacred Heart Basilica Timaru

The Sacred Heart Basilica or Timaru Basilica, as it's miles popularly recognised because of its fashion of architecture, is a Catholic church in Timaru, New Zealand. It turned into designed by way of the outstanding New Zealand architect, Francis Petre and is one in every of his maximum celebrated works. Its superb length and beauty make it one of the maximum vital historical homes of Timaru and of the South Canterbury area. The Basilica's dual towers and copper cupola are incredibly seen capabilities of the Timaru skyline, specifically from the south. The Basilica is likewise one of the most noteworthy examples of ecclesiastical structure" in New Zealand with factors of "Roman and Byzantine architecture with touches of Art Nouveau decoration.

It is a registered ancient location, class. The basis stone changed into laid by means of Bishop Grimes, assisted via Bishop Verdon of Dunedin on 6 February 1910. In a sealed receptacle below the stone, newspapers, cash and files of the time had been located. A series amounting to £1100 changed into taken up after the rite. At the pinnacle of the nave is the internal dome, supported via Ionic columns, and buttressed by means of outside walls. It rises to a peak of 21.33 metres 70 feet from the ground.