1000 Worship In Rain In Rootless Cathedral

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28728, 28 October 1958, Page 12

1000 Worship In Rain In Rootless Cathedral

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, October 27. More than 1000 persons from all over the Wellington diocese gathered within the walls of the uncompleted St. Paul's Cathedral in Molesworth street today for a service of thanksgiving to mark the opening of the diocese’s centennial celebrations. The service was marred by the rain, which began as a massed choir of more than 300 voices walked in procession along Molesworth street to the gaunt outline of the new cathedral. With the clergy massed around a small, makeshift altar, the Primate of New Zealand, Archbishop Owen, led the Governor-General (Lord Cobham) and Lady Cobham to what will be the sanctuary of the new church. None had any protection against the steady rain, which by the end of the short service had soaked many to the skin. Those taking part in the service were the Archbishop, the Bishop assistant to the Primate, the Rt. Rev. E. J. Rich, the Dean of Wellington, the Very Rev. D. J. Davies, and Minor-Canon M. R. Pirani. A fanfare of trumpets sounded before the singing of the National Anthem and the Te Deum Laudamus. Clergy representing the Presby-

terian, Methodist, and Baptist Churches, the Salvation Army, the Churches of Christ, the Congregational Church and representatives of the National Council of Churches attended the service. The service was one of thanksgiving for the building of the cathedral, said the Archbishop in his sermon. What the temple meant to the Jews, what Westminster Abbey meant to the British Commonwealth—that gave some idea of what Wellington Cathedral, when completed, would mean to the people of New Zealand. “Every nation needs in its capital city a great church to express its beliefs in the things of the spirit, a church in which, on great occasions, it can show its unity in the worship of God.” Standing hard by Parliament Buildings, the cathedral would remind the leaders of the nation that God reigned and that only in obedience to Him could men and nations find wisdom and peace. “The cathedral will be the scene of many great national services, services of prayer, thanksgiving and commemoratidn,” said the Archbishop. He intended that on special occasions the ministers of other churches be invited to share in the leading of the worship.

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