SYDNEY CATHEDRAL

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1927, Page 1

SYDNEY CATHEDRAL

NEW SITE CONTROVERSY. SYDNEY, Dec. 8. One of the biggest battles, if not the biggest battle ever waged by the Anglican Church folk of Sydney lias been on the question of the removal of St. Andrew’s Cathedral from its present historic site in George street, given to them by the Crown four years after the colony was established, to a new site in Macquarie street. Although the smoke of battle is still in the air, the venerable and popular Archdeacon Boyce—whose son. bv the way, is Attorney-General in the new -Ministry-—and those who have stood resolutely behind him in the fight against the removal of the Cathedral, can claim to have achieved a victory. Defeat staring them in the face, with the possibility of the return to power of the Lang Government, but with the Labour Party now out of power it can

he said definitely that the Cathedral, at least for some years to come, will ho allowed to remain where it is. For one thing, the new Government lias not the money to fling cheerfully about which the Labour Government seemed to possess, for the latter proposed to give the Church not only a new site hut a huge sum of money as well. For another thing, the new Government is not blind to the fact that the Church folk are hopelessly divided on the question of the removal of the Cathedral. Opposition to its removal is largely on historic, and sentimental grounds. If Archdeacon Boyce, who lias more fight in him than many men very much

younger in years, were only as .successful in liis crusade against drink as lie has been in this great Cathedral struggle. he would he the happiest man in Sydney. The Roman Catholic authorities are pushing on with the completion of St. .Mary's Cathedral in view of the great Eucharistic Conference next year. It will he Australia’s largest cathedral.