THE CATHEDRAL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 7, 9 July 1923, Page 5

THE CATHEDRAL

ORIGINAL PLANS CONSIDERED

HISTORY AND PRESENT POSITION.

In his presidential address in opening the Synod, .the Bishop of Wellington referred to the scheme. to build a cathedral in this city, emphasised its importance, and urged that further steps be taken. He expressed the opinion that the original design was too ambitious. The question has been discussed by the Synod from time to time in committee during the past few days, and a general resolution of approval was passed. ;■ "" , '

As_ each Synod lasts three years, and this is the first session of a new Synod, it became necessary to appoint a new Cathedral .Committee, and on Saturday last such a committee, consisting of twelve members, and under the chairmanship of the Bishop, was set up. The present scheme to build a cathedral was begun some seven years ago, when it was decided to use for the purpose tho site of St. Mark's Church, in Dufferin street, and to erect a building to cost not more than £150,000. Mr. Peck was chosen to bo the architect, -and 1-c drew up plans for a cathedral, the appearance of which in its main features has been made familiar to most people in, Wellington. The building was to bo elaborately ornamented and to embody a Military Chapel projecting :.t right-angles from, the north side of the choir, which was to stand as' a memorial of tho Great War. Mostly with a viewto awakening interest and securing funds for the Military Chape], tho Rev. C. F. Askew, then vicar of St. Mark's and Organising Secretary for the Cathedral, went Homo about three years ago, collected certain funds, and brought back certain stones and other objects from cathedrals in England to be set in the building and certain flags and trophies of the war to be displayed in it. Mr. , Peck's design was of a building too big to stand on the present St. Mark's site, but an adjoining property has been acquired which will leave both the cathedral and parish authorities without any embarrassment for the land needed both lor the cathedral, which must serve r.s the parish church, and for the ■ other parochial buildings. It was. seen that the building as designed would cost very much more than the £150,000 originally determined upon, and this fact has been in large measure responsible for a good deal of delay. While it has been felt by everybody concerned' that tho cathedral to be raised must be stately and dignified and entirely worthy of its purpose, there has been strong reluctance to enter upon a project and perhaps start work upon a building so great' as (o entail very long delays. So there has arisen a general desire to modify Mr. Peck's plans.; It is likely that this can be' done to the extent of keeping' still within the £150,000, or a sum little greater, and still .having a large and beautiful House of God worthy td be the seat of the Bishops of Wellington and the Cathedral Church of the Capital City of New Zealand. It will be remembered that many years ago, not long after Bishop Wallis came to -Wellington, a site was bought in Taranaki street to serve for the future cathedral, but it has long been manifest to everybody that however suitable that site may have been when it was first acquired it has long since ceased to oo suitable. This property is being retained ■by fta^ cathedral authorities .to . serve, as it irbop<<dy~fqv an endowment, for the finished cathedral; to help maintain the staff of clergy and furnish other necessary,, funds., .:. ■'- , , ■■ The work.of the present session of Synod has resulted in the setting up ot a new arid very representative committee well equipped in its personnel to carry tho work forward in a sound and substantial way. By a resolution which declares in substance that'the.whole scheme must be revised, the new committee has been left with a wide field for work, and its members may be expected to make wise and effectual use of their

opportunity. In so great a work difficulties and obstacles are certain to arise, and the Synod seems to be acting with ■wise caution in trying to clear these away before launching out. It would seem that real and sound progress has been made, even if after seven years little on the surface can be shown for it. Funds are slowly accumulating, and Wellington may look forward with confidence to possessing a cathedral such as any city might be proud of.