THE SECOND LAP.

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 111, 13 May 1939, Page 10

THE SECOND LAP.

CATHEDRAL PROJECT

A NEW BROCHURE

"WE MUST GO ON"

The new brochure issued by the Wellington Diocesan Centenary Appeal Committee in support of the cbmpaign which was launched in July of last year ■to raise funds to build * cathedral on the -Hill Street site in Wellington and to establish a strong central fund for diocesan purposes, mi addition to a foreword by Bishop Holland reviewing the progress to date, contains a commentary by Mr. Cecil W. Wood, of Christchurch, architect for the cathedral, on the proposed designs and lay-out of the building and reproductions from the architect's drawings* The cover design of the brochure, carried out in black and white, portray* the episcopal hand with the. ring on! the forefinger, and the hand is holding a trowel. In the background is the cathedral building: "Laying Found**, tio'ns" is the. title. ■- : Reviewing the response to the appeal to date, his Lordship, in his foreword, states: "Looking back on the first lap we can see much for which to thank God. We have completed the purchase of a magnificent site, we have received £51,000 in cash and promises towards the building fund, we have the help of devoted and able central, committees and the loyal support of the clergy, we have enrolled hundreds of Bishop's helpers, and have been encouraged by. thousands of subscribers." THE SECOND LAP. The twelve months from January 'to December of this year his Lordship describes as "the second lap." His fore* word continues: " 'All our-works begun,, continued, and ended in Thee.' So runs one of our most noble collects. 'Continuing' is always more difficult'and more exacting than 'beginning,' but only if we 'continue' with .unabated devotion and enthusiasm this year can we hope to see this venture triumphant* ly 'ended in Thee.' We must go on. We have pledged ourselves to erect ai great cathedral in Wellington, the Capital City of the Dominion, to be as symbol of the place which the Christian faith has in the life of our people*, a beacon to guide the nation along the path of true progress, and a power* house to meet the spiritual needs of ( the generations yet to come. To fail' would be to dishonour God. A great sum of money is still, need* cd. . It is estimated that .the actual building and furnishing of the cathedral will demand a further £120,000. An almost overwhelming figure. Yet nothing is impossible to those to whom God is real. When men have a true sense of stewardship, the wherewithal is always available for the worthwhile. If we can go steadily forward in faith, calling both for the munificence of the few and for the generosity of all there need be no pause in the journey, and the second lap will see uaf nearing the goal to which we believer we are being called by God Him-* self." .. ' . .' . ■". ...,"■'.. • ■■; ' ■ ARCHITECT'S COMMENTARY. Mr. Wood refers to the review ha made of his original design of the cathedral after his return from abroad, where he studied the latest trends in ecclesiastical architecture, and to alterations and improvements to the ground floor and; -ther exterior of the buildingvhe has since made from time to time. ' He points out that in a work of this kind the* design evolves gradu* ally, but the alterations he has made, the fruits of his visit to Europe, he feels confident represent. a great im* provement. . i "I am struck," Mr. Wood writes, "by| the narrowness, of Hill Street for deal* ing with vehicular traffic on cere* monial occasions, and it' has been sug* gested that the front wall of the terrace at the west end should be moveci back a distance, of 22ft to allow fo« free circulation of cars.. At the same time this change will bring the main entrance doors into a closer relation*! ship with Hill Street, and the fore-) shortening of the main entrance wiUri be less evident in the approach from1 Lambton Quay. ; ( "As I work, details of interest ar«| appearing in the design,- and the origin J nal severity has been modified. Thes most drastic alterations are in the; added width of the nave,, and in the; position of the tower, which is novir1 on the Molesworth Street frontage*, and rises above the entrance doors at; the side of the building. The crossing \ has been eliminated, which I believe is; a= change in the right direction, I have; redesigned the narthex and the mainij entrance doorways, which have no^!; lost their rather low, square-headed feeling. , "In referring to the cathedral ex«j ternally, I would mention that thej whole work is receiving careful study, j and various treatments and refinements; of detail are being considered. In-rl lernally the nave has been consider-j ably widened, and is now 50 feet cleatri in width—large, lofty, and spacious,, | affording everyone in the congregation;! a clear and uninterrupted view of the altar. The choir and sanctuary, too*. have been enlarged, ' and the added j space should give an effect of great dignity. At the moment, expert advice | is being obtained as to the best .position; for the organ. It is more than pro-i bable that the most satisfactory position may be found on the 'north' wallj of the choir, so , that the organ and choir will be heard as one unit." PRO-CATHEDRAL TIMBERS. ' ''My work during the current yea*t will necessarily be weighing every] point and feature carefully, and retain* ing as a permanency that which is, worth -while. lam well satisfied with* the general ground plan of ths cathedral and its position on the site, leaving, as it does, an area at the east end for the erection of the lady chapeL I recently made an inspection of the Pro-Cathedral, and was impressed witbi the soundness of the timbers to be reused. This in itself is an interesting} work to carry out, and I am certain? that the old associations with the ProCathedral can be retained. I hope" that the new building will realise the expectations of the many thousands who are interested in raising a cathedral worthy to take its place in? the life of the community." The brochure includes also a short history of events in the movement for , a cathedral for Wellington, dating from 1858, the year in which the Wellington Diocese was constituted and since when. the vision of a worthy cathedral church, has ever been in the minds of the leaders of the diocese. In the concluding section of ) this review it is suggested that those who have set. their hand to this great venture should take -up the spirit of the song reported to have been sung by the builders of the ; Panama Canal: . ;

Got any rivers they say are uncrossable? ; ■ ■",-. v' Got any mountains you can't tunnel through? " : ' We specialise in the wholly impossible. Doing the things that no other can do. ;

A statement of the funds' actually available for building is included, also forms for contributions" to the fund.