IDNO

P.99654.ACH2

Description

View of the exterior of St George’s Cathedral showing square tower and two-storey brick gallery.

Place

S America; Guyana

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

None

Collector / Expedition

?Haddon, Alfred Cort

Date

1880 - 1910

Collection Name

?Unmounted Haddon Collection

Source

?Haddon, Alfred Cort (Dr)

Format

Album Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.99643 to P.99673 are in A.173. The album was formerly kept in paper archive envelope WO6/1/12; Box 174. It has now been transferred to the photo archive.

Context: The first St George’s Church was built as a chapel in 1811 but it soon became apparent that it was too small for the growing congregation, and plans were formulated for a new Church — "in a substantial brick building of suitable dimensions and appropriate Architectural exterior for the Metropolitan Church of British Guiana." Plans were prepared and Subscription Loans were raised to supplement the grant from the Court of Policy and donations. The second St George's Church was opened for worship in June 1842. With the consecration two months later of William Piercy Austin as the first Bishop of Guyana on St Bartholomew's Day, August 24, 1842, the Diocese of Guiana came into being and the new St George's Church became the Cathedral where the Bishop's Cathedra or Chair was situated - and Georgetown became a city. From early days however, serious weakness in the foundations of the building were evident and large sums were expended on repairs. Finally by 1877 the building was considered unsafe and had to be dismantled. [Source: St George’s Cathedral, www.stgeorges.org.gy/history.html, JD 2/5/2007]

Source: A stamp inside the album mentions it to be a Haddon gift.

This album has been catalogued with the support of the Getty Grant Fund. [S. Guha 17/11/2004]