Religion is about people, not buildings

I was born an Anglican and went to Sunday school until about 10 years old. We were taught that Jesus was a poor man who cared for the poor, sick and homeless. There was no mention of him building big expensive buildings with the money he had.

That is why I find it strange that people want the Anglican church to spend a huge amount of money to restore the cathedral to what it was before, even though it didn’t work for them or their congregation. We are all over it now, pull it down and build what the Anglican church want. Hopefully there will be some money left over for the poor, sick and homeless, which is what religion was meant to be about. Suzanne Roberts Bishopdale

Cathedral identity issue

The cathedral situation is akin to the modern challenge of Waitangi – a test case of national identity. The pioneer makes history and part of pioneer-spirit is an almost visceral attitude towards ownership. Now in a post-pioneer age, we seek national identity, which includes standing back and reflecting on our past, including the very nature of ownership and ‘‘moral’’ ownership, which helps explain the importance given to the Waitangi Treaty over the past 40 years.

The responsibility for the cathedral decision is owing to an altogether higher authority, intervowen as that decision is with the fabric of national identity and moral ownership. The Government needs rise up and do its duty. Haydn Rawstron Lansdown