Significant milestone in videos project

Two presenters filming a video at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney.

The Friends’ major project to produce videos about St Mary’s Cathedral for release online has reached a significant milestone: the first two videos in the series have now been shot. The series is to be entitled ‘The treasures that tell the story’.

On 23rd April, the crew, including two young presenters for the videos, moved around the Cathedral following the carefully-planned script. The scripts for the videos had been drafted by students from the University of Notre Dame, and were then prepared for production by members of the Friends’ Committee with guidance from the Cathedral’s Dean.

The first video in the series deals with how much in the Cathedral exists thanks to donations through the centuries. Many early donors were convicts or their descendants and families. The second video looks at the Crypt, with its unique terrazzo floor, crafted by Italian artisans who had emigrated to Australia, using an Irish-Celtic design style. It is truly trans-cultural!

Locations featured in the videos include the Baptistry, the southern organ loft, the chapel of St Joseph, and the chapel of the Irish Saints.

The first two videos are now being edited in preparation for release. We can’t wait for you to see them! We are grateful to the video production company, Lumberjack Film, and to the staff at St Mary’s Cathedral for their practical assistance.

We are particularly grateful to everyone who has contributed to our ongoing campaign to produce these videos. The goal of the videos perfectly aligns with one of the Friends’ goals: to educate and inform people about the history and workings of St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney. But the online videos are able to reach an audience far larger than those who are able to come to our in-person talks and tours.

Can you help?

We are still seeking donations to help finish this series. The goal is to produce five or six videos in total. If you would like to make a contribution, you can donate easily online. Thank you for your support!

Richard Flynn