Prior to the church being built there were still services held on this piece of land. Bishop Selwyn's gives this account of 1842: "In a small enclosure belonging to the house stands Mr. Cotton's large tent, a most complete Cathedral, with pulpit, reading desk, communion table, rails, kneeling boards etc.

The next stage came to a halt for a few years because of the depression and the Murchison Earthquake of 1929. Plans for completion of the Cathedral were changed in the 1960s to comply with modern building regulations.  May 1967 heralded the completion with the dedication.  This was performed by the Rt. Rev. Peter Sutton in the presence of Sir Bernard Fergusson who was the son of the gentleman who laid the foundation stone.  The Cathedral became debt free in 1973 and at this point in time it was consecrated.

Postcard sent August 1904

The foundation for the first church building on the site of the present Cathedral, was laid on the 26th of June, 1850 by Rev. H. Butt, making it the first Anglican church in Nelson.  Bishop Selwyn did the honours of opening it on the 14th December, 1851.

"Church Hill" became a temporary fortress after the Wairau tragedy in 1843, hence the delay in building the first church. This first parish church later became the first official Cathedral after being remodelled.  The laying of the first foundation stone was on the 17th November 1886 and in a short three months was opened on the 17th February, 1887.  Apparently, this was one of the first churches in be wired up to electricity in New Zealand.

By 1920 there was concern voiced about the buildings safety and that very same year, on the 13th September, Nelson was informed, thru the ringing of the church bells, that the Cathedral was alight.

To this day it is not known whether the fire was deliberate or accidental.  After extensive repairs, plans for a completely new Cathedral got under way. 

On the 2nd of August, 1925 Sir Charles Fergusson, the Governor General at that time, laid the foundation stone of the new Cathedral.  However, it was a year later, on the 2nd December that the very first block of marble was laid as part of the present walls.  This honour was given to Bishop Mules who was then an elderly gentleman in his ninetieth year.  Six years later, on the 3rd December, 1932 saw the first portion of the Cathedral being dedicated.