PEARS FOR ABBEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 252, 24 October 1932, Page 7

PEARS FOR ABBEY.

Dean of Westminster Anxious For Safety. VIBRATIONS FELT. (Received 12 noon.) LONDON, October 23. The Very Rev. W. Foxley Norris, Dean of Westminster, expresses feare for the safety of Westminster Abbey. He said he had felt vibrations in Henry VII. chapel which were not known a few years ago. Traffic in the neighbourhood had enormously increased, and he would be apprehensive if any more huge buildings were constructed near the Abbey.

FAMOUS ARCHITECT. WREN TERCENTENARY. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 23. Celebrations in connection with the 300 th anniversary of the birth»of Sir Christopher Wren have been in progress in various forms throughout the week. On Thursday Sir Christopher's grave ill the crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral was covered with wreaths from architects in all parts of the Empire, various European countries and the United States. The wreaths were laid on the tomb by the foremost representatives of Wren's profession. The debt owed by London to the builder of so many of its churches was acknowledged by the presence in state of the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Maurice Jenks, at a special service.

Sir Christopher Wren was born at East Knoyle, Wiltshire, on October 20, 1032. The Fire of London, in 1860, which completely destroyed St. Paul's and nearly all the city churches, gave Wren a unique opportunity of displaying his genius as an architect. The first stone of the new St. Paul's which Wren designed was laid on June 21, 1675. The choir was opened for use in December, 1697. It was not until 1710 that the last stone of the cathedral was set. Wren was also employed to make the designs of over 50 of the city churches. He died on February 25, 1723, in his ninety-first year, and was buried under the choir of St. Paul's.