Major Extensions To Seminary

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29843, 8 June 1962, Page 13

Major Extensions To Seminary

One of the biggest and fastest building projects in progress in Christchurch is the extension of the Holy Name Seminary in Riccarton road. Residential quarters totalling 20.500 sq. ft., and a chapel of 300 sq. ft. are well on the way to completion. It was opened as a minor seminary in a former home in 1947. A two-storey block was added on the east to provide dormitories, kitchen, and a temporary chapel.

Now. still further east, a new chapel is being added and, beyond that, a twostorey group of buildings which will provide complete residential facilities for 96 more students.

The new chapel abuts the existing buildings and, linking this block to the new residential quarters, is a two-storey extension which, at the rear, will have shower and changing rooms opening on to the sports fields, linen rooms, an infirmary and med-'cal clinic and, toward the front, a lecture room 56ft by 22ft. On the upper floor there will be another lecture room about the same size and behind it a large students’ common-room. Running from the front to the back of the section on the eastern boundary is a two-storey residential wing 283 ft long and 28ft wide. It will contain 96 single studybedrooms. each equipped with a bed. desk, bookshelves, wardrobe, and stain-less-steel washbasin set in a toilet cabinet. There will also be suites for two professors. 400.000 Bricks The facings on these reinforced concrete buildings required 400.000 bricks. All floors and partitions are reinforced concrete slabs. Each partition was erected as a single slab weighing six tons. The roofs required about 20.000 sq. ft. of Welsh slates. The Holy Name Seminary gives three years’ philosophical training in preparation for theological training at Holy Cross College Mosgiel, and is controlled -by a board comprising the archbishops and bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in I New Zealand.

Students, who enter with matriculation, at present range in age from 17 to 34. Their studies in “phildsophy” include logic, metaphysics, experimental and rational psychology, ethics, biology, natural theology, history of philosophy, sociology. Latin and Greek. Gregorian chant, and scripture. The rector (the Rev. Father G. McGinty) said yesterday that some students were also attending lectures at the University. of Canterbury and, when it moved to Ham, a big proportion of students were likely to enrol. The seminary would then, in effect, serve as an additional hall of residence for the university. At present there are 84 students in the Holy Name Seminary but the extensions will permit the total to be raised to 150. The Fletcher Construction Company, Ltd. started the new buildings in August last year. They will be finished in November. The architects are Messrs Collins and Son.