IN WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 54, 26 November 1938, Page 12

IN WELLINGTON

Architect’s Amended Designs GROUND PLAN CHANGED Public Leaders’ Appeal For Support To Fund Alterations' which will greatly enhance its dignity and beauty have been macle to the plans of the proposed Wellington Anglican Cathedral by the architect, Mr. Cecil W. Wood, Christchurch, in the light of knowledge gained on a recent visit to Europe. The amended plans, now made public by the Bishop of Wellington, Rt. Rev. H. St. Barbe Holland, depart somewhat from the stark simplicity of the original designs. They show a lofty ferioconcrete building roofed with tiles, and dominated by a high square tower with ornamental balustrades and windows. The cathedral, which will cost £230,000, will stand on the hillcrest site at the corner of Molesworth and Hill Streets. It will look outover Parliament House grounds and lhe Wellington War Memorial at the tremendous panorama of city and harbour, and will be a conspicuous landmark to visitors arriving by sea. The foundation stone is to be laid during the New Zealand centennial celebrations in 1940. So far, £79,749 has been contributed to the cathedral fund, in addition to the money already paid by the diocese for the purchase of the valuable site. Leaders of Church and State, business and society have combined to enlist support for the Church’s Centennial Appeal. The Amended Plans. 'The new plans differ considerably from those tentatively drawn up by Mr Wood before he left on his trip abroad. The orthodox cruciform ground plan has been abandoned. The large transepts have been abolished. Instead, the nave will be shorter and broader, permitting the whole congregation to obtain a clear view of pulpit, lectern, choir, and sanctuary. Alternative designs, much as before, have been submitted for. the approaches, narthex, children s chapel, baptistry, and gallery at tlie main entrance to the cathedral, fronting on Hill Street. As before, the nave will be skirled by side aisles, separated from it by massive columns and round arches; ami similar arches over the choir will frame! sanctuary and altar. Nave, choir stalls, and galleries will seat 1300 people. Another important alteration will be that the great tower will be transferred from above the junction of nave and, traiisce.pts to the Molesworth .Street entrance. Its height will be slightly increased, and it wili be more ornate in appearance, as indeed will the entire exterior. The original extreme and bare simplicity of the appearance of the cathedral will be replaced by all that i.s most attractive hi modern colonial architecture. It will be an example of a new influence in ecclesiastical design, a lovely building wholly modern in conception. The Architect’s Views.

The reasons which prompted these alterations are explained by Mt. Woods in a review of the amended layout. "The most drastic alteration in the ground floor plans has been brought about by the modern tendency to place the congregation in a more intimate relation with the choir and sanctuary,” lie says. "This important factor has been achieved in the amended plans, prepared since my return, by widening the nave and at the same time shortening its length.

“Previously the tower was shown centrally over the crossing at the junction of the nave and transeepts, but with the wider nave this had to be amended. The tower, now placed on the Molesworth Street frontage, gives a much more interesting grouping from the Lambton Quay approach. "internally the new position of the tower has resulted in more straightforward building. It enables me to dispense with the large supporting columns that were previously necessary to carry a central tower. This amendment, together witli the widening of the nave, has made it possible to give every one of the congregation a clear uninterrupted view of choir and altar.

“We therefore break slightly away •from the traditional plan of the old cathedrals and bring our structure more into line with modern thought. From my experiences abroad, I am decidedly of the opinion that the alterations made are most desirable. Trends Seen Abroad. “My visit to Sweden gave me the opportunity of seeing some most delightful ecclesiastical interiors, which were decorated in a moderately cheap but very effective manner. On some of the plain wall surfaces internally one came across beautifully executed mural paintings, pale in colour tones but very rich against the plain background. The visit to Sweden was very inspiring.

“Regarding tbe interior of the cathedral I have no qualms whatever- I would like to record, however, that we are breaking new ground with the external treatment of the cathedral. I saw many concrete churches abroad, but nothing on the scale we propose to build in Wellington. “The external treatment of the building. therefore, must necessarily undergo a process of continual designing and redesigning during the coming year. I feel confident that by tbe end of 1939 we will have reached some finality, and will be able to show the finished drawings of a great ecclesiastical building, built of the available materials of this country, keeping in mind the youth of the Dominion and those generations that will come after we are gone.”

CENTENNIAL APPEAL Present Position Of Cathedral Fund The centennial appeal fund of the Wellington diocese of the Anglican Church now stands at £79,749, according to a statement issued yesterday by the secretary, Canon D. B. Malcolm. Tho appeal is for £200,000 for building

the cathedral, and a further £lOO,OOO for the bishop's lighting fund fol general diocesan purposes. Detailed figures are as follows: £ s. d. Balance of old Cathedral fund after payment for she 21 ’ ob ‘ 0 0 Subscriptions to Centenary Cathedral Fund— ~ Diocesan >-;)!_* ? Citizens IJ.lOu la 0 £08,149 14 3 Assets —Value of StPaul’s site, and St. rebuilding fuml. y y £79,719 14 3 Bishop’s lighting fund (in addition to above tigure 13,209 8 8 Besides these figures, provision Ims been made by a number of people for bequests to the fund, and it is hoped that many more will do so. “SPLENDID PROJECT” Prime Minister Enthusiastic "It is a splendid project to erect in the capital city a noble structure which will symbolise the important place held by the Christian faith in the life of the community,” says the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, in a letter endorsing the Cathedral land appeal. “As already stated publicly, I am heartily in favour of the appeal for funds' for the erection of a cathedral iu the city of Wellington. You may rest assured that any service within my power that is likely to further the appeal I will give most willingly. “The appeal also has the active sympathy of individual members of the Government and, indeed, of all citizens iu national and municipal life. It should command appreciative support from the whole community because its aim is to serve the highest needs and purposes of a young nation. It is fitting that a great institution ami a great cause should have a suitable home.

“Those of us who are occupied iu the work of government iu a democratic country know and freely acknowledge that our democracy owes its humanitarian idealism and faith in progress to Christianity. The highest social ideals of modern times arc those of the Christian tradition. And I feel that it is the wish of all good citizens that the cburclres and the State should work together in the closest co-opera-tion and harmony in the social application of tire Christian message.

“1 trust that the churches and other people will grasp their opportunity. And I trust also that the project to build a worthy anil lifting cathedral will appeal to the sympathy and generous consideration of all.”

INSPIRATION OF A NOBLE SPIRE Significance Stressed By Mr. Hamilton “With extreme pleasure I commend the appeal of His Lordship the Bishop of Wellington,” writes the" Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Hamilton. “His desire to erect in Wellington a cathedral fully in keeping with the traditions of the Christian faith is one that will, I am sure, gain the approbation of all citizens irrespective of creed. “All who give thought to the matter must realize that in the practical expression of Christianity lies the only hope for the happiness and well-being of the people. Without our Christian background, the rights of the individual must be submerged under the deinaiids of materialism. To carry our earthly task to a successful conclusion we must in the first place be inspired by Christian motives. “Christianity dwells in the hearts of men and women, but the Church is its visible and outward symbol. A noble spire pointing heavenward invites our thoughts to rise above the welter of despair born of materialism, the church bells pealing out their message call to us to turn our minds to God, and the sight of Christian men and women entering and leaving'a sacred building cannot fail to inspire.

“A cathedral such as is contemplated is a manifestation of living faith, and the bishop’s call is for Christians to rally round and play their part, be it great or small, in building an edifice to the honoyr and glory of God, and one that in the years to come will stand as a mark of Christian endeavour and an enduring expression of all that is good and noble. "[ trust that the apjieal to the hearts and generosity of Wellington’s citizens for such a worthy object, will meet with a ready response.” MAYOR’S LETTER “Much Remains- To Be Done”

“In July of this year the Bishop of Wellington launched his cathedral and fighting fund appeal before a great audience iu the Wellington Town Hall,” writes the mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop. “To me the most significant note of that great meeting was not so much the earnest enthusiasm of the audience, but the public support given to the appeal by representatives of all branches of the Christian Church. “There spoke from the platform that night not only the Prime Minister urging support from all citizens of New Zealand irrespective of creed, but also either in person or through a special message delivered through the chairman, clergy representing all branches of Christian belief. With that united expression of support tbe appeal was launched.

"Since that occasion much work for the cause has been done, but much more remains to be done. “The devoted enthusiasm of the Bishop of Wellington has been an inspiration to all who have worked with him. I trust that his leadership in this great cause will find ardent followers throughout the whole community. As on the occasion of the first public appeal, again I commend this appeal to my fellow citizens.” CITIZEN’S APPEAL Cathedral Building Fund ''flic letters from the mayor of Wellington, the Prime Minister, and Mr. A. Hamilton, so eloquently ami forcibly support the citizens’ committee’s appeal for funds to build the cathedral, that there is nothing that can be added

to them,” says Sir Janes Grose, honorary treasurer of the Wellington Centennial Citizens’ Committee Cathedral Building Fund appeal. “I most strongly commend tbe appeal to the public at large, and ask for tho generous response: it merits and ■which is so well emphasized iu the letters referred to above.

“Up to date some £19,165 has been promised in Wellington in response to the citizens’ appeal, j.nd so far an additional £27,296 has been promised through the parishes in tbe Wellington province. The sum aimed at and required is £200,000. “The junior citizens’ committee, which helps by getting pay day collections from business staffs, has met with some success. Additional staffs may wish to help in this way, and heads of firms may be able to second this committee’s endeavours. Tbe idea is that one of the employees should receive the collections, and the bon. secretary, Mr. D. I. M. Anderson, Box 848, G.P.0., would be pleased to be communicated with, and to receive them.

“The appeal is beiag widely circulated now through tbe post, and if those who wish to subscribe, even though an appeal foim has not been received, will send their contribution to me, they will te acknowledged promptly.”

(Pictures on Pago 9.)