Hands raised to ecumenism

Press, 27 September 1982, Page 1

Hands raised to ecumenism

Christchurch’s two bishops bless a congregation of 600 at the joint Anglican-Catholic service in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament yesterday. The Catholic Bishop, the Most Rev. B. P. Ashby (left), officiat&d at the service while the Anglican Bishop, the Rt Rev. W. A. Pyatt, preached the sermon.

The combined service, organised by the Church Union movement, was televised nationally, and Mr C. P. Archer, aged 19 t student of music at the University of Canterbury, gave the first public recital of his setting of the Gloria on the Cathedral organ. . '

The score was selected for the service in a competition organised by the Anglican Primate of New Zealand, the Most Rev. Paul Reeves, and the Catholic Bishop of Auckland, the Most Rev. John Mackey. The competition attracted more than 30 entries from throughout New Zealand.

The singing was led by a combined choir representing both cathedrals.

Other joint services were held in suburban churches. Christchurch is said to be at the vanguard of the union movement. Both Bishops

strongly support it and are close friends. Elsewhere in New Zealand, the Press Association reports that thousands of Anglican and Catholic churchgoers joined in service yesterday, following the example, set by Pope John Paul and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop Robert Runcie, who conducted a joint service at Canterbury Cathedral in England on May 29.

the Catholic Archbishop of Wellington, the Most Rev. Thomas Williams and Anglican Assistant Bishop of Wellington, the Rt Rev. Watson Rosevear, conducted a joint service at St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral.

In Auckland, Archbishop Reeves and Bishop Mackey officiated, and in Dunedin, an ecumenical service at St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral was conducted by the Catholic Church’s Bishop John Kavanagh and the Anglican Bishop Peter Mann. Bishop Reeves told a pdtked congregation in St Patrick’s Cathedral that it was a notable day in the history of relations between the two Churches. He said he found it remarkable how easily the joint services had come about.