CATHEDRAL PLAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22241, 16 October 1935, Page 15

CATHEDRAL PLAN

MISS HORTON'S BEQUEST ACTION BY SYNOD COMMITTEE APPOINTED MORE FUNDS TO BE SOUGHT Steps toward the creation of an organisation to begin the erection of a cathedral for Auckland in terms of the bequest made by the late Miss M. T. Horton were taken last night by the Diocesan Synod, which adopted a composite resolution proposed by Archdeacon G. Mac Murray, accepting the gift and setting up a committee to authorise and control all the necessary operations and appeal to the publip for building and endowment funds. The synod had previously ratified an undertaking given by the Generial Trust Board to the trustees of Miss Horton's will, that the cathedral would be built on the exact site specified in the will. The resolution was as follows: — "That this synod desires to express its high appreciation of the generous thoughtfulness of the.late Miss Horton in making the bequest of a large portion of her estate for the purpose of building a cathedral in Auckland for the glory of God, on the site purchased by Bishop Selwyn for that purpose. The synod gratefully accepts the gift. Building and Endowment "That a Church committee be appointed to co-operate with the General Trust Board in taking the necessary steps to prepare for the erection of the building; such committee to authorise and control all necessary operations and to take steps to appeal to the people of the diocese for money needed to supplement the bequest. The synod believes there are many citizens who desire to see a worthy cathedral in their city, and would assist, and that the Church committee would welcome a citizens' committee to assist it in raising the necessary finance, such committee to work in close co-operation with the Church committee. "This synod realises that to build a cathedral is nob the sole duty laid upon it; care must be taken to enable it when built to function as a cathedral —and the synod therefore desires that an appeal for a cathedral endowment fund should also be made by the Church committee. Personnel of Committee "The following to be members of the committee:—The Archbishop of New Zealand, Archdeacons G. Mac Murray, H. A. Hawkins and W. J. Simkin; Canon W. Fancourt, Mr. C. J. Tunks. Chancellor of the Diocese, Mr. H. Gilfillan, Mr. J. W. Williamson, chairman of the General Trust Board, and Mr. K. N. H. Browne, with power to add to their number." Speaking to his motion, Archdeacon Mac Murray said Miss Horton had been for many years a parishioner of hxs when he was vicar of tot. Mary s Cathedral. "I found her modest, retiring and. unostentatious, but always desiring to be helpful," he continued. "I had a very high regard for her, and I am not surprised that she had it in her mind to make the legacy that she has made. She took a deep and keen interest in the work of our Church, and evidently realised that Auckland should have a building which would be not merely a parish church used as a but the permanent cathedral of the diocese." -

Bishop Selwyn's Purchase Bishop Selwyn, before coming to, New Zealand, had taken an active part in a movement for the restoration of cathedrals to t their rightful place in the life and work of the Church, It was natural, therefore, that one of his early acts on reaching Auckland should be to purchase a site for a future ' cathedral. The archdeacon went on to mention that 46 years ago the late Mr. James Dilworth had told him that when the present cathedral and bishop's house sites in Parnell were first offered for sale he went to the auction and bid for them. Soon, however, he found that Bishop Selwyn was bidding against him, and he immediately desisted, in order that the bish|& might have them. "I hope," added 1 the archdeacon, "that we shall have in the cathedral a memorial to Bishop Selwyn, who bought the site and who had the vision of a great and another to Miss Horton, who inspired the effort for rearing a cathedral in this place." Large Further Fund Needed

It was very important that the synod should declare what body was responsible for controlling the building of the cathedral, the archdeacon continued. The General Trust Board held the site, but it would not be fair or right to ask the board to undertake to raise th«> very large further sum which would bo needed to carry out the project, or to be responsible for the actual building operations. . A large committee, with various subcommittees, would be required, and ho felt that the best course was 'not to appoint a large personnel at once, but to give power to the original committee to add to its number as might be advisable. It was intended that the citizens' committee mentioned in tho motion should merely, be asked to give kindly assistance in .raising the necessary finance. It would be a sad thing if a building were erected as a cathedral to the glory, of God, but. without the funds that would enable it- to function. The parishioners of the immediate neighbourhood could not be expected to bear the cost of maintaining a cathedral establishment, and it" was therefore necessary that an endowment fund should bo raised. The motion was seconded by Mr. 0, J. Tunks and carried unanimously.