Historical information

One of a series of bookmarks in support of the exhibition 'Building a Cathedral' at the Ballarat Catholic Archives in 2025. This image depicts a sanctuary tile by John Francis Bentley that together with the grand chancel window, the Lady Chapel and Blessed Sacrament stained glass windows are Bentley's only known work outside the UK. Bentley's greatest work was Westminster Cathedral.

Significance

St Patrick's Cathedral Ballarat was the first Catholic Cathedral to be consecrated in Australia in 1891. The tiles as represented in this bookmark together with three John Francis Bentley windows were installed a year earlier for that occasion and are the only example of this artist/architect's work outside of the UK. This series of bookmarks in 2025 commemorate the significance of this cathedral and its art in Australia's material cultural heritage as well as to the Catholic community.