Congratulations to Catholics for valuing cathedral
Cross a line
Congratulations to the Catholics for valuing their Cathedral, which was far more severely damaged than our Anglican Cathedral.
It is shameful that the latter has not already been restored and that several offers to enclose and protect the damaged west side have been spurned by the very trustees who have a duty of care towards this Category 1 heritage building. ELLA HARRIS
Riccarton
Not fully restored
We expect Jim Anderton, as a Roman Catholic, to jump up and down now that we learn his own cathedral is not going to be fully restored to the original design.
He made enough noise about ours! Isn’t it time for another tantrum? VIC SMITH
Shirley
Laughing stock
The Anglican Church in Christchurch have over the past four years made themselves the religious laughing stock of New Zealand over their Christ Church Cathedral. The Catholic Church on the other hand have quietly gone about the restoration of their iconic Barbadoes Street Basilica. What a difference a Bishop can make. G ROSS GIBSON
Mairehau
Had a gutsful
Time was when the Catholic Church could count upon the faithful worldwide to generously contribute to the rebuild of a significantly important church or religious shrine – the example of St Paul Outside the Walls, one of Rome’s four ancient papal major basilicas – readily springs to mind.
Despite the ravages of a great fire (in 1823) successive popes ensured no effort was spared in rebuilding what is a unique testimony to the Paleo-Christian, Byzantine, Renaissance and Baroque periods; wherein also is located the sarcophagus of the Apostle Paul. The church building was simply too important to Christendom to lose from the landscape. And from a purely architectural perspective, if nothing else, the world is much the richer for its meticulous preservation and conservation.
Recognising different liturgical and architectural mind-sets are abroad in the church today, it doesn’t surprise full restoration of the equally-splendid renaissancestyle Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, in Barbadoes St, is not on the agenda. According to the powers that be, partial restoration is the best that Cantabrians can hope for.
Admittedly, partial restoration is an infinitely better option than complete demolition.
However, saving a portion is no guarantee whatsoever of a sympathetic and harmonious architectural totality.
Indeed, the prospect of a design sandwiching remnants of the majestic within some modernist amphitheatre–like worship space (or similar bland-looking appendage) would be a nightmare come true.
And, as most of us recognise, Cantabrians have had a gutsful of nightmares. JOHN SHONE
Havelock
Wizard’s letter
The Wizard’s letter on Thursday deserves to be Letter of the Week.
He has put a lot of thought into this letter about the Anglican Church and the Cathedral in the Square.
He is definitely ‘‘speaking on behalf of many people here’’. PETER BANENS
Addington
Sentimental
Oh dear, yet another sentimental outpouring from the Wizard (May 28).
Love needed? It is actually people like him who are not showing any love for this city. If they really cared, they would stop trying to thwart the High Court ruling, and allow us all to move on with a beautiful new cathedral or with the thoughtful, compromise ideas of Sir Miles Warren. JANE BLACKMAN
Riccarton It is a shame the Wizard has once again chosen to personally attack someone he disagrees with.
Strong views are of course fine, and issues like the Anglican Cathedral matter, but these attacks cross a line.
Attacks driven by spite rather than a desire to robustly debate issues should have little place in such forums. CHRIS CULLEN
Woolston
Demolish it
I disagree strongly with the Wizard’s letter and agree with Bob Sanders’ letter (May 28). Please demolish the eye sore in the Square ASAP. DES PATERSON Upper Riccarton
Most questionable
I read with incredulous dismay that Anglican spokesman Jayson Rhodes (May 23) stated the offer to cover up the disgracefully- left openness of our cathedral was declined because of impracticality.
Why would a group of qualified, learned individuals who had extensively researched their task collectively offer to stump up many thousands of dollars towards covering the cathedral from further detoriation if it was impractical?
The bishop is the guardian/ curator of our cathedral.
A curator’s role is to exercise a duty of care and responsibility. That our Canadian Bishop Matthews obviously has no regard for this aspect of her role should strike the majority of her indigenous flock as being impractical in its most questionable form. RODNEY LAREDO
St Albans
Preserve identity
In 50th anniversary The History of Christchurch Cathedral (1931) the author, GM McKenzie, wrote: ‘‘This little book goes out as a memento of that occasion, and in grateful tribute to the men and women who built in such bold and noble fashion.’’
I have to agree with that sentiment as the Christ Church Cathedral will always be a very specific icon created by our forebears, as a symbolism that defines our town with a name, that epitomises our identity, whether religiously or not, that is embossed within our hearts, a place we call home, Christchurch.
Replacing the Christ Church Cathedral is not an option that we should be embracing, because by doing so we will not just be wiping out the past but also our identity that will be lost forever.
We must restore the Christ Church Cathedral to its former glory, stronger than before for we owe it to our forebears to preserve our history and our identity. NICHOLAS SCHUMACHER
Fendalton