Final Scene in St. Paul’s.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17545, 23 May 1925, Page 17 (Supplement)

Final Scene in St. Paul’s.

Lone Woman Last to Pray Under Dome.

LONDON, March 26. AS Evensong concluded in Sf. Paul’s Cathedral yester- I day, an army of workmen i walked down the aisles, and be- j gan before the lingering congre- j gation that pathetic but inevit- j able transformation which reduces for many years Wren’s glorious temple to the size of a parish church. For the last time in this decade at least (writes a ” Daily Chronicle” representative) wo had worshipped under the Dome. Not a man nor a .voman who knelt there as prayers were intoned but felt the great sadness of the moment. Six years—eight years—perhaps more may roll along before we may again sit there, taking in the glories of the choir and the transepts: moved by tlio reverbrations of tlio world-fa-mous organ which the deft hand of Grinling Gibbons made an object of imperishable art. The service ended, and clergy and choir mail© their way in procession through the chancel steps into the south aisle. Among them was th-* venerable Canon New bolt, a bent, faltering figure. For him the blow oi this day must have been a grievous Almost as the procession disappeared from our view workmen in their shirt sleeves began to dismantle the lectern, and, looking towards the Hign Altar, we could discern figures ready to begin their part. j A portion of the lectern was already being moved, and the organist was still playing a voluntary, when a solitary figure in black walked up the choir ~o the altar steps and knelt in prayer. The lights in the choir went out. and still in the dim distance the praying figure was watched by those who had stayed behind. A verger stood with his hand on the gate of the chancel rail and waited ■ for the praying woman to return. At length she rose to her feet and walked r slowly down the choir, and, with moiss teneil eyes, passed among us. The lectern was now almost in pieces, t the figure of the eagle being borne i alon« T on a ground trolley which gave

| a great creaking noise at every step. Phantom shapes of workmen near the j altar were moving cloths and cushions, and there broke over the cathedral, where ten minutes previously the treble voices of the choir had sung to | the glory of God, tho sound "of hammer ) blows, the rythmatic soug of a saw, and the sound of hushed voices engaged on a work of stress. Gradually the vergers persuaded the wondering people to leave, and from that moment onwards tlio workmen were immersed in their task of getting what remains of St Paul’s Cathedral for many years ready for service to-day. They toiled long towards midnight; to-day they begin in the early hours. To-day St Paul’s Cathedral consists of the nave and two chapels—those of St Michael and St George, and St Dunstan. Into this space can be crowded possibly 1500 worshippers, as against 7000 to 8000 in the cathedral as a whole. So for years people will worship in St Paul’s in the presence of lofty timbers, builders’ scaffolding, and ropes—such a spectacle as would move Wren, Gibbons, and Harrison Aina worth to The nave is now entirely cut off. and a slightly raised oak floor, flanked on the north side by the tomb of the Iron Duke, bears the improvised choir stalls. Near the tomb is the small organ which is to do duty while .the great organ is being dismantled. An old pulpit of dark inlaid wood is already in position. Holman Hunt’s ‘‘Light of the World” is still on the side of a sound pier, sending out its message. The crypt, the Whispering Gallery, and the Stone Gallery will continue to be open to the public, and visitors will have the rare experience of being able to look down on the puny figures engaged on this might work of reconstruction. Six years—possibly more! It is a long and painful interval, but at the end we shall have our Empire’s church, which Britons in all climes .have subscribed to save, restored to us in all the glory and strength of that dav in i 1697 when "Wren, greatest of all master builders, completed his work.