I’m grateful to Anglican Bishop of Christchurch Peter Carrell for his inspiration a few hours ago in the midst of what must be for him and his diocese a pretty difficult time.
In an interview announcing that work on the restoration of Christ Church Cathedral is to be paused due to lack of funding the bishop’s calm tone communicated the light of faith in the midst of what must feel like dark days.
“What happens now” the bishop is asked.
Without hesitation the bishop is confident in the present and hopeful for the future:
“We still have a transitional Cathedral and parish churches so worship of God continues”.
This clarity echoes the first words of the vision on the Cathedral Reinstatement Project Website: “To reinstate Christ Church Cathedral, Whare Karakia Nui, to the glory of God”
It is helpful to recall that in the years immediately following the earthquakes the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch had moved towards what would have been the more affordable option of demolition and rebuild. But years of diocesan, local city council and government debate, with litigations, interruptions and interventions claimed the Cathedral as an icon of the city which therefore needed to be reinstated to the original design making restoration the only way for the diocese to move forward.
And so in early 2020 work began on the restoration.
However sometimes it is difficult for people to be generous when it comes to funding the decision which they have influenced and even demanded.
I have no doubt that while some people might find this decision to pause difficult, the wider Christchurch community will appreciate that the announcement is necessary and wise, and that the (to use the media headline) “mothballing” is really more of a sabbath rest, a break in a demanding project, perhaps more of a quiescence (there’s a lovely word).
While there may be a bit of a pause in the movement of bricks and mortar on the Cathedral site in the Square, the Worship of God mission and activity of the Anglican church continues across the diocese.
As I write I’m recalling the wonderful evening prayer from the Anglican Aotearoa Prayer Book, a perfect “taking a break” prayer reminding us that life lived with Christ enables some of our best work to happen in the stillness of night, in the quietness of a pause while savouring and enabling a rest, always (as people of the resurrection) looking expectantly to a new day, new joys and new possibilities.
“Lord,
it is night.
The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.
It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be.
The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives
rest in you.
The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
all dear to us,
and all who have no peace.
The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day,
new joys,
new possibilities.
In your name we pray.
Amen.”
Pic above:
The Rose Window from Christ Church Cathedral
Wikipedia Commons.
Was not the dream of the late Jim Anderton for Anglicans and Catholics to come together and rebuild Christ Church cathedral and for both to share it together? “That they may be one as I am one”.
Yes and it was also the dream of the late Father Brian O’Connell SM who in his last editorial of the Marist Messenger shared his vision of an inner city marae shared by all faiths.
And didn’t Miles Warren come up with the perfect plan for a new cathedral in the square,…modernized, simplified, with lighter building materials and beautiful inside with larger windows and affordable! Seems that the traditionalists of restoration won the day…A great shame as brave new ideas were called for in planning for the future.
I watch an interview this morning and I disagree this cathedral should be rebuilt. The government should underwrite while funding is sort. The Cathedral while owned by the Anglican community is an important NZ icon. There are more important things than “money”.
I agree with the Rev Michael Blakely, Jim Anderton had the right idea. I’ll go even further and say, the three main Churches were all destroyed, what about joining together and building one church and call it the Holy Trinity!
Love your comments Fr John. Taking a ‘pause’ is practical. We can and will continue to Worship and enjoy our beautiful God that is bound by restraints or reliant on bricks and mortar. Honouring and giving Glory to God is available to all as we carry Him in our Hearts, Minds and Souls. Blessings in abundance to all.
Thank you John for this inspiring response to BishopPeter – so deeply true and a profound contribution to the vision that all ‘may be one’.
Thank you Fr John wise words.
What a wonderful ecumenical response. Thank you for the compassionate Catholic response. The Cathedral in the Square is an iconic symbol of our faith and the presence of God in our city. The historic use for civil commemorations and events will remain a focus in the future. Visitors and tourists will seek inspiration and solace in large numbers.
It seems like a good time for Catholics and Anglicans to discuss a way forward for the cathedral needs of Christchurch and the ongoing need for inner city parish facilities. At this time the financial pressures of two Cathedral projects may exceed the resources of the city and funding resources.
I am aware that the three churches of Fairlie manage to share church buildings. We have wonderful church leadership in Christchurch to come together for God