THE CATHEDRAL CHOIR

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21866, 20 August 1936, Page 8

THE CATHEDRAL CHOIR

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir,—Though not agreeing that the passing financial difficulty of the Cathedral Church issa suitable subject for correspondence in the daily newspaper, I as one for many years interested in various ways in the Cathedral, cannot let pass the remarks of “Another Cathedral Supporter” appearing in your issue of Saturday last, in as much as he or she concludes by stressing the need of a preacher who can fill the empty seats as a means for regaining revenue. . , This is an unfair and unjustified suggestion that the Cathedral is lacking in preachers, and the remark hits directly at the Dean of the Cathedral. There is nothing wrong with the preaching, and I can say, having beard preachers in several cathedrals m England over a period, as well as others in New Zealand, that the Christchurch Cathedral is extremely fortunate in its Dean and his preaching, which is scholarly, original, and One must agree that it is of little use asking for further financial assistance from the regular Cathedral congregation or the empty seats. As the Dean recently pointed out m the Cathedral, the Cathedral Church is a diocesas institution. One can count in a moment at least 20 w e ll-to-do can Church people m North and South Canterbury, who because they do not live near it, seldom, if ever go to the Cathedral, and who could, if they wished to do so, put the finances right in five minutes by subscribing a capital fund. the interest from which would make up the revenue which has been lost by the Chapter’s mortgages going wrong. For that the Chapter or its officers may be partly responsible; Ido not know. Ido know, however,, that it, was pointed out many years ago to the Chapter aqd the Church Property Trustees that in handing over their valuable suburban properties to the land speculator, they were putting their eggs into a basket which was not altogether safe, in addition to which they sacrificed unearned, increment, or communitycreated value/ or whatever may be the correct term. Patching the income is merely a temporary expedient, but if Anglicans in the diocese who can afford to do so cared to establish capital fund the finances of the Cathedral could be put right, but they never will be if a small and enthusiastic Cathedral congregation, 90 per cent, of which is of quite limited means, is asked to_ do the job. If supporters of the Cathedral throughout the diocese are indifferent as to whether the fine choral services which have been conducted in that church for 50 years should continue, definitely they will'hot continue, as the proper maintenance of the church and its services cannot possibly be paid for by the present income. Support of the Cathedral must be considered on much wider terms than either visiting or regular congregations or preachers.— Yours, etc.. XI. August 19, 1936.