A CATHEDRAL SCHOOL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 50, 27 August 1938, Page 8

A CATHEDRAL SCHOOL

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Your issue of August 20 makes mention of the two following suggestions which have been made as to the ultimate disposal of the present building of St. Paul's Church: — 1. To incorporate part of the building in the new Cathedral. 2. To utilise the timber in the structure to build a church at Kaiwarra. With regard to (1), there is, in my opinion, no part of St. Paul's of such outstanding beauty that it is worthy of preservation in the fabric of the new Cathedral, and if, for sentimental reasons, this is insisted upon, the restriction placed upon the architect as a consequence may cause the design of the building as a whole to suffer. With reference to (2), the erection of a small church building at Kaiwarra in the manner stated may prove more costly in the long run than one built entirely of new materials. My purpose in writing this letter, however, is not so much to criticise the proposals already made as to put forward one which, if adopted, will be of inestimable value to the Church in the years to come. It is that St. Paul's Church, as it now stands, be converted into a Cathedral Grammar School. An institution such as this is an essential adjunct to a Cathedral if for no reason other than the facilities it offers for the adequate musical training of choir boys. More important still is the fact that a school will be established at the north end of the city, where future generations of boys will receive a Christian education, the present lack of which we churchmen so readily deplore and do so little .to remedy. To what more noble use could the old wooden walls of St. Paul's be put? The structural alterations, apart from partitioning into classrooms, and the provision of clear glass windows, should not be great, and the chancel as it now stands, with, if necessary, a portion of the nave, would serve admirably as a school chapel. Furthermore, the building next St. Paul's, known as Bishopscourt, could be utilised as a hostel for those boys resident at the school. It is high time the Bishop was provided with a more convenient and up-to-date home in more congenial surroundings, and I would suggest that, on the successful conclusion of the centennial appeal, this be provided as a mark of appreciation of the splendid work his Lordship is doing on behalf of the Church in the diocese of Wellington.—l am, etc A CHURCHMAN.