TRINITY CHURCH APPEAL LIKELY

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33487, 19 March 1974, Page 14

TRINITY CHURCH APPEAL LIKELY

A public appeal for funds appears to be essential if the Trinity Congregational Church is to be preserved.

The subject was raised again at the Christchurch City Council’s meeting last evening, when the council decided to ask the Historic Places Trust if it were prepared to conduct such an appeal. Before the council was a letter from the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr May), who said that he had investigated the possibility of a Government contribution towards the cost of preserving the church. “From inquiries I have made, it is clear that it is physically possible to strengthen and thus preserve the building,” he said. “However, before I make a final report to the Prime Minister (Mr Kirk), I would appreciate it if you could give

me some indication of what financial contribution your council would be prepared to make to the preservation of the church if other sources of assistance were available,” said Mr May. FAMILY TIES The chairman of the council’s policy and resources committee (Cr D. R. Dowell) said that there was a strong likelihood of private gifts from families having close ties and long associations with the church, and the opening of a public appeal would have considerable merit. However, the council would have no capital for the running of such an appeal, he said. The chairman of the town planning committee (Cr M. McG. Clark) said that the Government should increase its financial assistance for the preservation of places such as the church, and the council would act jointly with the local branch of the Historic Places Trust in asking for greater Government contribution.