A NEW CATHEDRAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19086, 3 August 1925, Page 10

A NEW CATHEDRAL.

r —•■ — FINE EDIFICE FOR NELSON. FOUNDATION - STONE LAID. GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S SPEECH. [UT TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NELSON. Sunday. Eighty-two years ago, in 1843, tho first jPJuirch of England services were held in b tent on the Church Hill, given to the then Bishop of Now Zealand, Bishop Selwyn, by Mr. William Cotton, governor of tho Bank oi England. Later services were continued in a room used by tho Surveyors of the New .Zealand Company insido tho fort ftt tho summit r> 9 the hill. On Christmas .Day, 1851, Bishc p Selwyn opened Christ Church and consecrated it in 1858. In tho same year the lit. Rev. Edmund Hobhouso was consecrated Bishop of Nelson, arriving in the diocese the following year. Tho diocese was formed by letters patent and at tho same tirno NolBon town was raised to the dignity of a city. In 1886 the parish church was extensively altered and expanded into a cathedra! of beautiful proportions, crowned with a central spiro and domin nting the town from the top of Cathedral Hill. In the following year Bishop Suter, ■who succeeded Bishop Ilobhouse, consocrated tho . uthcdral in tho presence of tho Primate, Bishop Harper, and a representative of tho Governor. The day has come, however, when tho old structure baa to give place to & new one. A Picturesque Scepe. Tho foundation-stono was laid this afternoon by the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, in tho presence of a Very largo attendance. Calm, sunny weather prevailed. In addition to the vice-regal • party* there wero also present representatives of all'paits of the diocese, including a numbr of very old adherents. Every vantage spot was crowded with people. Thero was a touch of spring in the air ;ind the setting was picturesque. On every side were trees and shrubs, from which occasionally camo til 3 puio, liquid notes of the tui and tho twittering of other feathered songsters. In tho near distance tho green hills looked down on tho scene and a dash of colour was added to tho sombrely-dressed populace by the official uniforms. On tho same historic spot over 80 years ago the first English service was taken part in by ancestors of many of those present to-day. In those far-off days the pioneers were often in fear of a native rising, but this afternoon a Sabbath calm prevailed and a quiet restfulness dominated the proceedings. Service at the Cathedral. On his arrival Sir diaries Fergusson was received with a guard of honour composed of Nelson College cadets. The National Anthem was sung, tho regimental band leading. The GovernorGeneral was conducted to tho entrance ' of tho cathedral, where he was received by the Bishop of Nelson, tho clergy and representative citizens. A procession, led by tho choirs of Christ Church and Ali Saints', singing the hymn, "Christ Is Our Corner Stone," and followed by the robed clergy. Tho bishop and the GovernorGeneral then proceeded to a platform at the southern side of the hill, where the stone was to be laid. Archdeacon Kempthorno, who for many years was vicar of Christ Church, read the lesson, Zechariah iv., 'J-10, this being followed by prayer by the bishop. ■ After a beautiful silvgr trowel had been presented to him by tho architect, Mr. Pock, Sir Charles Fergusson placed tho stone in position with these words: "In tho faith of our Lord Jesus Christ wo place this foundation-stone in the nama of the Father and of the Son and of tho Holy Ghost. Amen." The Doxology was sung and Lady Alice Fergussou, who was presented with a replica of the trowel, in the form of a paper-cutter, laid offerings on the stone. Landmark in Church History. In tho course of a brief address, Sir Charlo3 Fergusson said: " This occasion marks a new era in church history m Nelson. These landmarks in history have always their use for us. Might we not each ono of us hero to-day also lay tho foundation stone of a new structure for ourselves. It is just at these moments that we are most impressionable, and tho opportunity is given to each one of us to make as it wero a fresh start. Yo:i see this new building growing stone by stone. We can also lay stone by stony ft new j,*fe by character for ourselves. It may bo a whole new structure which needs raising. It may bo some talent that wo have put away or misused. It may be the lives and characters of somo people for whom wa are responsible, to whom we should show an example. It may be somo duty to tho community which up to now we have neglected. Whatever it may be, there is something given. us to start again, and if whilo.you see this building growing you see in yourselves a similar growth and development and improvement day by day, then when the edifice is completed you will be able truly to feel that yon have erected it to the glory of God." Tho proceedings closed with prayer by the Dean of Nelson, and the singing of the National Anthem. • Details of tho Design. Tho existing structure, which may bo * said to bo steeped in tradition, has been taken Without question as tho proper prototype to follow in planning tho new one, the designer endeavouring to produce what the founders themselves would have erected when replacing the wooden church, in these more prosperous times by a permanent building. Tho plan to bo, followed is tho modern development of the typical English Gothic structure of tho twelfth century. The stylo generally is based upon tho "lancet" or first English puro Gothic period of the end of the twelfth century, featuring tho plain pointed windows, roses or wheel windows, and plate tracery. Those features ar<3 exemplified throughout the British Isles and Normandy. Regarding the interior, , the common arcaded triforum stiigo has been omitted, its place being taken by a tall open arcado enclosing the "lancet" clerestory windows and including a wall passage. The arcade continues right round the interior, adding great dignity, order and symmetry. An impressive arcado, it is considered, is much finor than a poor triforum, as two fino turrets aro greater than two poor towers. Spire 210 ft. in Height. , The external length of tho now edifice will be 188 ft. 6in.; width of tho nave 34ft. 6in., including tho aisles, 62ft.; transept, 90ft. long by 33ft. 3in, Tho greatest width of tho cathedral across vestry and porch will be 110 ft.; while tho spire will «?e to a height of 210ft.—10ft. higher than tho Christchurch Cathedral, and the height of tho parapet of the central tower will bo 124 ft. 3in. When fully completed tho building will provide seatrrn? a ecommodation for 1000 worshippers. Tho material for tho external facings and tho dressings of the walla will bo of Neif.on marßle, and will clotho a general construction of ferro-concrete. The first portion of the cathedral to be completed will bo a portion of tho chancel, transept and the nave. The whole structure is estimated to cost in the vicinity of £BO,OOO. Tho lato Miss Marsden left £IO.OOO for tho erection of tho main spiro. ',flhe old cathedral contains excellent ' stalls, benches, and other church furnish, inga, such as pulpit, font, clergy benches, and prayer d>ssks, and precious memorials which will be reverently pre--1 served and refixed in the new cathedral.