In 1857, the foundation stone of St Michael and St. John's Cathedral was blessed by the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr John Polding OSB, with the blessing and opening in April 1861. The cathedral is located on the corner of Keppel and William Streets in Bathurst and is the sole cathedral church of the Diocese. Commissioned by Fr Dean Grant, the church was erected at a cost of £12,000 under the supervision of local architect, Edward Gell, initially dedicated to St John the Baptist. However, following the erection of the new diocese in 1865, the church was dedicated to dual saints as the Cathedral Church of the Diocese.