3-074-985 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Consecration of the English Cathedral in Madagascar, 1890. 'We give an Illustration of the cathedral church of St. Laurence which has just been consecrated at Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, the head of a diocese of the English Church. This building...has been erected from the designs of Mr. W. White, F.S.A., of Wimpole-street...It stands well at an elevation of 25 ft. above the sacred plain of Andohalo. The photograph was taken by Mr. Abraham Kingdon on the day of consecration. It represents the procession ascending the grand approach from the south, the Prime Minister appearing in the centre of the crowd on the terrace, surrounded by his suite. It will be observed that the cathedral has at present no towers; but it is proposed to add these when the funds admit of the work being completed. The building has, up to the present time, cost about £8000, the whole of which sum has been raised by the Bishop, the Right Rev. Robert Kestell-Cornish, D.D., chiefly from friends in England, but nearly £1000 from friends in Australia and New Zealand. The two great Church societies, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel and the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, each contributed £1000 in answer to the Bishop's appeal'. From "Illustrated London News", 1890.