NOTES OF A VISIT TO THE CATHEDRAL.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1344, 5 June 1878, Page 3

NOTES OF A VISIT TO THE CATHEDRAL.

[By a Wayfarer.] [from the press.J During a short sojourn in Christchurch I had often heard the Cathedral mentioned as something synonymous with hope deferred, and its completion treated as an event not likely to occur within the lifetime of the present generation. However, I was assured that, though not perhaps generally known, it was nevertheless true, that a great_ deal of work was being done. An introduction to an official of the body which has already handsomely contributed towards the adornment of the building, and purposes _ doing still more, and to the resident architect, having been effected, an opportunity was afforded of making a personal investigation of the progress which really had been made. Entering the cathedral by the north door, the large extent of the nave, and the comparatively short time which it would require to convert it into a really handsome church, leaving the more elaborate work to a future day, at once strikes the visitor. Of the eight columns which support the arches of the nave, seven are erected. Two of the arches are completed, and two more will be so within a week or two. The size and substantial nature of the columns may bo gathered from the fact that the stones composing them weigh li tons after being worked. The columns are of Waipara stone, the base of all but four being of Hoon Hay stone with a concrete foundation. The four exceptions are based upon stone from Mr Tait’s quarry, which is .of a warm red color, not unlike painted. Unfortunately the quarry gave out and no more stone was obtainable of the same quality. It takes a high polish and works readily, being a very handsome stone. Whilst on the subject of stone it might not be amiss to suggest to the Canterbury Marble Company that a donation of marble for works in connection with the Cathedral would be a practical method of expressing sympathy with the work. Though not much outward show is made, still a good deal has been done because the working of the stone has been carried on almost continuously. The result is that a large quantity of material ready for erection has been accumulated. Indeed, all that is required to complete the nave, that is the pillars and arches, has been worked, except the stone for one arch, which is all but complete. The limber for the roof is also on the ground, and if a vigorous effort were made the nave would be soon complete. The tipper spaces between the arches are intended to be filled in with plain worked stone. The instructions to the resident architect at present limit him to the completion of the arcade of the nave on each side, up to the string course below the clerestory. Before leaving this part of the Cathedral, it may be noted that seven of the eight pillars of the nave, which are all but completed, have been given by various persons, the eighth being in course of erection from the general funds. The clerestory, when completed, will consist of four bays on each side, each bay containing two lancets. At the west front the building lias progressed to the string pourso over the arcade, which runs above the western doorway facing the square, being a height of 30ft. from the pavement, in some parts 36ft. Above the west doorway is the opening in which it is proposed to place the rose window which the Cathedral Guild contemplate undertaking as their next contribution towards the building of the Cathedral. This window will be about 20ft. in diameter, consisting of an outer circle which contains ten smaller arches, each of which is cinquefoiled. The inner circle contains ten small shafts rsdiating from the centre. The chancel and aisle walls have made but small progress. The latter has now reached 23ft. high, but the chancel or eastern end remains as it has been for some time. In order to complete the pave, two more pillars are required on each side, and some portion of the larger piers at the intersection. When that is done, if Canterbury churchmen could content themselves with making the nave the Cathedral, and erecting a temporary chancel, leaving the permanent work to be carried out at some future date, they would have a church 110 ft. by 68ft., which would amply suffice at any rate for some years. Once let a finish of some kind be made, and they would find that contributions for the completion of the original design in its entirety would soon flow in. Surely the church property itself can bear the cost with a little help, of completing the nave as proposed. The great bulk of the work necessary to give the church spoken of has already been done. A large quantity of worked material is now on the ground available at any time. It, therefore, seems no very hard matter for the church, with its broad lands, especially in these times of high prices, to strain a point to remove what is to some extent a stigma resting on it, of allowing a work of this kind to remain in the state the Cathedral has been in for so many years. It has been too long the subject of remark both from residents and visitors, and if the Church of England is content to accept it portion of the design for the present—which will give them a very fine church —leaving the completion of the work for a future date, it can bo done at a comparatively small cost. If any word I have written have the effect of causing a move to be made jn the direction I have indicated, I shall not have visited the Christchurch Cathedral in vain.