Stoush over alterations at church
A PARISHIONER at St Luke’s Church in Oamaru has lashed out at what she says are inappropriate discussions to ‘‘modernise’’ the historic structure.
The church at the corner of Itchen and Tees Sts, listed as a category two building with Heritage New Zealand, was constructed in three stages between 1865 and 1912.
In a letter sent to the Oamaru Mail, Oamaru woman P.D.R. LindsaySalmon, a regular churchgoer, said discussions had taken place at the church about the possible relocation or removal of its pulpit to better accommodate the projector screen, which would require the removal of several wooden pews used by the church choir during services.
The removal of the pews, which would be replaced with chairs, was necessary if the pulpit was to be relocated directly opposite where it stood now, next to a wide arch.
She was not in favour of the ideas and said that a ‘‘vocal group of the parish have no sense of heritage, aesthetics or history’’, likening them to ‘‘vandals’’.
The vicar of St Luke’s Church, the Rev Andrea McDougall said the projector screen had to be repositioned because of safety issues.
She said it was ‘‘very unlikely’’ the pulpit, that had
❛ . . . vocal group of the parish have no sense of heritage, aesthetics or history parishioner P.D.R. LindsaySalmon
been used sparingly in recent years, would be disposed of completely.
However, it was possible it could be relocated to what was believed to have been its origi
nal position on the opposite side of the arch.
Ms McDougall said Ms LindsaySalmon had ‘‘made a mountain out of a molehill’’ and that the discussions concerning possible changes at the church were not as drastic as Ms LindsaySalmon claimed.
A meeting is scheduled to take place on Sunday afternoon to further discuss the issue, Ms McDougall said.
‘‘The aim of this consultation process with the congregation is to hear everybody’s ideas as we look to our current needs and the future. ‘‘No final decision will be made until we’ve had good consultation.’’
The church vestry and diocese would also have to be informed if changes were to happen, she said.