June 6 2014

Auckland’s Anglican Cathedral a Construction Zone

This weekend marks a significant chapter in the vision to complete Auckland’s Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Final services will be held in the Cathedral this Sunday before it is closed for three months to allow construction work to begin. During the closure, services will take place in the adjacent St Mary’s-in-Holy-Trinity.

Dean of the Cathedral, the Very Rev’d Jo Kelly-Moore, says the Cathedral is already a place of community gathering for Auckland. More than 100,000 people are welcomed each year and the vision to complete the Cathedral is nearly a reality.

“There is significant change on the way that will enable us to host a wider range of events; to be a home for worship as well as civic and community occasions, drama and culture, and the arts.”

“I am conscious that many people have visited the Cathedral to worship, for carol services, for weddings and funerals. It holds many memories and will continue to do so as the Cathedral reflects the city in which it stands.”

There are three main focus points to the completion project, known as Selwyn’s Vision. The project is named after Bishop George Selwyn. He purchased the land where the Cathedral sits in 1842.

The bridge removal, that begins immediately, is part of the project to replace the aging pipe organ, which is now beyond economic repair. With the bridge removed the new organ will be positioned in a way to be seen and heard from everywhere in the Cathedral.

Selwyn’s Vision also incorporates the addition of a new chapel at the end of the Cathedral next to St Mary’s. The chapel will be a gathering place for community events and worship seating 120 people.

The third component of the project is to link the historic gothic church, St Mary’s-in-Holy-Trinity to the Cathedral with a covered walkway. There will be restoration work on St Mary’s organ, and improved pedestrian and vehicle access to the church.

The project is costing $13 million with $10 million in two years. Efforts are now underway to raise the final million dollars with the ‘donate a pipe campaign’ to fund the new organ.

Dean Jo Kelly-Moore says the donations, and the contribution from Auckland Council of $3 million, shows great confidence in the project and the role of the Cathedral in the city.

The project will be completed in mid 2017 with the organ being installed after it is shipped from England.

This Sunday there will be the chance to walk across the bridge, which spans the middle of the Cathedral, before work begins on its removal. People wanting to walk the bridge are invited to donate to the Auckland City Mission ‘Two can’ appeal with a couple of coins or cans of food.

Times to walk the bridge on Sunday June 8 are 8:45am – 9:30am and midday to 4pm. Please note there are several flights of stairs to get to the bridge.

ENDS

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