CATHOLIC CHAPEL IN CITY

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28354, 13 August 1957, Page 7

CATHOLIC CHAPEL IN CITY

Chancery Lane Building

A Chapel of the Holy Cross will be opened early next year by the Roman Catholic Church on the western corner of Chancery lane and Gloucester street. It will serve the aged and sick, hotel visitors, and workers in the central city, building proposals were approved by the City Council last evening. The need for such a central chapel (common in other cities) has long been felt. There is no Roman Catholic church close to the middle of the city. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch (the Most Rev. E. M. Joyce),, making the announcement, said this religious centre would provide a place of prayer lot the aged-sick, those working in the city, and visitors. The chapel would be non-parochial—-although a resident priest might be appointed—and in association with it a Catholic inquiry centre would be established.

The premises were designed in 1880 by Mr J. J. Collins as the first offices of the Christchurch Gas Company. The two-storeyed building then cost £1995. A grandson (Mr J. K. Collins) is the architect for the conversion. The present main entrance from Gloucester street will form a reception vestibule, and to the right there will be a room for interviews.? Confessionals will separate these offices from the chape] proper.

1116 chapel will seat between 60 and 80 persons, and the sanctuary will be recessed with sacristies on either side. The chapel walls will be panelled, and there will be a marble dado round the altar.

External stairs at the rear will give access to the upper floor, where living quarters will be provided for a resident chaplain or priest, with accommodation for a housekeeper or caretaker. The building measures 21ft by 46ft on both floors.