Dean Peter Beck and Jonathan Mane-Wheoki are wrong to reject Alan Goss’s suggestion of rebuilding the Christchurch Anglican cathedral as a people’s cathedral.
Keeping some of the old and embracing the new is a must in our new world of blended religions and spirituality. Like Alan Goss, I’ve been dreaming about this multi-faith worship and arts centre since the tower tumbled.
My vision has the sanctuary anchoring a memorial wall stretching towards the square as a testament to history past and a symbol of future hope. Similar to the Western Wall of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem (complete with cracks in the wall to hold the people’s prayers) symbolising an ancient way of worshipping, still remembered and valued that has now given way to the new.
Spreading out from that base would be a multi purpose performing arts space embracing the Eucharistic liturgy as a spiritual ritual that psychologically integrates our inner and outer worlds.
This arts space would be open, as the Cathedral is now, to a wide variety of dramatic and musical performances that speak of beauty and transcendence, lifting us to a state of wondrous awe.
Sande Ramage is an Anglican Priest and blogger
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News category: Analysis and Comment.
