CATHEDRAL PLAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22860, 15 October 1937, Page 12

CATHEDRAL PLAN

APPEAL TO CITIZENS NEED OF MORpt FUNDS HOPE FOR EARLY START PLEA BY ARCHBISHOP The question whether the Anglican Church could look for the sympathy of a large number of the citizens of Auckland in carrying out the newcathedral project was asked by Archbishop Averill, in his address to the Anglican Synod yesterday. He expressed the hope that the beginning of work on the cathedral would be associated with New Zealand's centenary year of 1940 and that it would bo possible to open a portion in 1942, the centenary 3 ear of the arrival of Bishop belwyn. After again expressing the appreciation of the Church of the generosity of the late Miss M. Horton for her large bequest and emphasising the duty of "the Church to make every possible endeavour to see that the objects of the donor were realised, Archbishop Averill described the steps which had been taken to organise the preparations for building the cathedral and to secure definition of a slight ambiguity in the will which necessitated Supreme Court procedure. Competition for Design A further and more' serious difficulty had been the spade work in connection with the competition for a design lor tho cathedral. The competition, which: was one of the conditions attached to the bequest, had involved the committee: in charge in a tremendous amount or work and consultation with. the advisory architect and with the New Zealand and English Institutes of Architects'! Unfortunately tho preliminary work was not yet finished, as it was very, difficult to decide upon' the tions of the competition, inasmuch as the Church authorities did not know how much money they would be in a position to spend when the first portion of the cathedral was started. •|| It had now been decided to name £150,000 ' for the completed building, so that the competing architects might have some guide in designing a suitabjo structure. It was anticipated that the first portion to be buift would cost about £70,000 and should include what was usually known as the east end ana if possible a porfcioi* of the nave and transepts.

Extent of Appeal To coyer the difference between the amount of the bequest, which was estimated to produce at least £50,000, and this sum, and to allow for architects' fees and for the costs of collecting further funds, it had been decided to issue an appeal for £27)000 for the building and financing of the first portion and for an extra £IO,OOO as the nucleus of an endowment fund. It was not probable that the competition for the design could be carried out under at least two years, but it was hoped to begin building as soon as the design was settled. _ The archbishop said the building of a cathedral was something over and ab(jve the building of a parish church and the religious and social work of a diocese or parish. It was a privilege which presented itself to few in-these days and should be regarded ? as a privilege.' Auckland had every; reason to be proud of the many public-spirited men and women who had contributed so largely to the amenities of the city and it was desired to see a continuation of that public spirit and an increase in the number of buildings which reflected the nobility and beauty of architecture.