NEW CATHEDRAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 116, 19 May 1938, Page 8

NEW CATHEDRAL

CIVIC IMPORTANCE

STRONG COMMITTEE APPOINTED

The national and civic aspects of the

projected Church of England Cathedral in the diocese,of Wellington were discussed recently by the Bishop of Wellington, the Rt. Rev. H. St. Barbe Holland, with a meeting attended by a number of leading-citizens. It was recognised that in the cities of England from which New Zealand has received its civic tradition, cathedrals and stately churches have an important place in the life ot the community. On occasions of national rejoicing, thanksgiving> or sorrow, the assembly of national leaders and people in such an edifice for public worship is an acknowledgment of the religious beliefs of the nation, which cannot fail to have an ennobling influence on national life. The existence, moreover of a dignified cathedral is a perpetual reminder of the great truths which transcend mundane issues.

In Wellington this influence will be especially marked because of the commanding and significant site which the Cathedral will occupy on the higher side of a square of which two other sides are 'occupied by Parliament House and Government Buildings.

The meeting'considered these and other national and civic aspects of the Cathedral project and, as a result, resolved to support the proposal and to appoint a committee which would bring the national and civic importance of the plan before citizens and invite co-operation and financial assistance in the appeal for funds.

The following gentlemen have, intiifcated their acceptance of membership of the Wellington Citizens' Appeal Committee:—The Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Myers, C.J., the Hon. Walter Nash, the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop), the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Sir James Ellitott, M.D., Sir James Grose, Sir Alexander Roberts, Sir William Hunt, Sir George Shirtcliffe, Sir Donald McGavin, Sir' Charles Norwood, MajorGeneral Sir William Sinclairrßurgess, j the Hon. Sir Charles Statham, M.L.C., Sir Thomas Wilford, Dr.'H. HardwickSmith, Dr. Duncan Stout, Dr. Prengergast Knight, Colonel J. J. Esson, Colonel Falla, Colonel A. Cowles, Professor F. F. "Miles, Professor Rankine Brown, Messrs. R. C. Addison, E. A. Batt, C. V. Birch, Walter Blundell, E, D. Cachemaille, H. H. Cornish, W. H. Cunningham, F. W.-Dawson, W. Gray Young, A. P. Harper, N. S. Hunt, L. Lefeaux, A. E. Mabin, D. J. McGowan, S. G. Nathan, E. P. Norman, L. O. H. Tripp, C. M. Turrell, B. R. Webster, R. L. Button, D. A. Ewen, Stronach Paterson, E.. Riddiford, T. N. Smallwood, C. J. S. Harcourt, F. J. Courtney, Warwick Gregory, and J- H. Jerram.

Sir James Grose was asked to act as director and honorary treasurer of the Citizens' Committee and has consented to do so.

j The Citizens' Committee, it is explained, is distinct from the Diocesan Centenary Appeal Committee appoint- ■ ed by Synod to direct the appeal which j will be made to members of the Church jof England in every parish of the (Wellington Diocese. The latter commit-! j tee will appeal for both parts of the I ■Centenary Fund: £200,000 for the I creation of a worthy Cathedral and [Synod Hall in Wellington, and £100,000 j to establish the Bishop's Fighting Fund. I which will be used to further church i work in the parishes by assisting .the | provision of additional ' clergy, the : acquisition of sites, and, the erection of ! necessary buildings. \The Citizens' 1 Committee will direct its attention | j wholly to the Cathedral part of the j