Perth: St. George's Cathedral—Look Up and Be Amazed

As you stroll around the corner of William Street in Perth, the Gothic spire of St. George's Cathedral pierces the blue sky, its sandstone facade weathered to a warm, honey-gold hue. Completed in 1870, this cathedral is one of Western Australia's oldest colonial-era buildings, each brick and stone steeped in Victorian elegance. Run your fingers over the intricately carved arches and columns, and you can almost hear the rustle of Richard Jewell's design manuscripts in the wind. Step into the main hall, and the moment you look up, you'll be amazed! The 20-meter-high dome draws the soul skyward, as stained-glass windows transform sunlight into streams of amber that flow across the pews. Scenes of St. George's bravery in slaying the dragon, the medals of World War I veterans, and even silhouettes of Western Australian pioneers all shimmer in the light. In the choir stalls, added in 1880, the golden pipes of the organ still gleam, and the bell tower echoes with the deep tones of the old ship's bell. Here's a secret: the side chapel houses the Kitchener Chapel, built in 1916 in memory of Lord Kitchener, where the flames on the bronze candlesticks have never been extinguished. As light filters through the stained-glass windows of the saints, it casts moving, jewel-toned patterns on the floor. The interplay of shadows and light between the columns of the side aisles creates natural frames for photographs. Don't forget to look up at the rose window in the southeast tower. When the last rays of the setting sun gild the stone angels, you'll understand the meaning of "frozen hymns."