1958 The mosaic floor of St Mary’s crypt was completed. Peter Melocco, now seriously ill, oversaw the final work from his wheelchair. His last major project was by far by far his most ambitious — artistically, practically and theologically — and  would have been even more so had he remained in good health. Peter’s intention to decorate the columns and vaulted ceiling with mosaics was not fulfilled. A large mosaic mural was planned for the wall behind the Polding Altar and a cartoon was completed by the artist, James Gleeson, picturing the Day of Judgement. This was later rediscovered at the Melocco factory and is now part of the St Mary’s Cathedral archive. The mosaic for the crypt floor was commissioned by the late Cardinal Gilroy and produced, in part, using a grant from the O’Neil family, who were business associates of Peter and Galli. However, the grant came nowhere near the final cost of the floor, so Melocco Brothers and Peter Melocco personally funded much of the work themselves.

“Peter Melocco’s most significant work is the crypt at St Mary’s Cathedral. This was the key work that gave me my inspiration to use the medium of terrazzo as artwork.” — David Humphries, mosaic artist

“As a work of inspiration, chiefly Celtic, the mosaic floor has no rival. It is as vivid today as when it was completed. Few churches, even in Europe, have such a beautiful floor. It has been compared with the pictures of prophets and sibyls in the Cathedral of Sienna but these are represented in black and white. The fine mosaic work in the floors of some Roman churches is hardly as ambitious as the floor of the crypt of St Mary’s Cathedral.” — Elizabeth James, historian

“The floor of the crypt, now an integral part of the cathedral... is an enduring monument to Peter Melocco and his artists and craftsmen. This legacy would be enhanced by the completion of his plans for the church beneath a church.” — JB Gadson