The Christchurch diocese is calling on international expertise to make sure the restoration of its earthquake damaged cathedral, if possible, is consistent with Catholic traditions.
American architect James McCrery arrived from Washington DC this week and saw the cathedral for the first time on Tuesday.
In an article in the NationaL Catholic Register McCrery is described as a man who “devotes his career to reversing a trend he describes as decades of church design that does little to glorify God or inspire the faithful.”
“It’s a big-time problem,” McCrery said of architecture that dismisses centuries of Tradition and most symbolism of the Catholic religion.”
“It’s a gem of great classical architecture,” McCrey said after visiting the Cathedral site.
“The world needs to know more about this grand building. It’s absolutely magnificent.”
“I can see a lot of damage through the broken windows, but I’m optimistic that there are portions of it that can be saved.”
He said he was here to “foster a love and appreciation for tradition” and show local architects the building and other quake-damaged churches in the diocese could be repaired in a way reflecting the history of the church.
“Architects can’t set that history aside,” he said.
The restoration of the nave, if possible, would be a “huge amount of work”.
He needed to look at the cathedral more closely to say whether or not he believed it could be saved, he said.
“I don’t know yet but I hope my answer is ‘yes’ because it’s magnificent, I mean who wants to erase this?”
McCrery founded his firm, McCrery Architects LLC, in 2007.
It has been commissioned to design a variety of traditional projects in The United States for both secular and Church clients.
Projects around Washington include the U.S. Supreme Court Book Store and the statue pedestal for President Reagan.
There is also a long and growing list of projects for Catholic churches all around the country, including a new 150,000 square foot Carmelite Monastery in Wyoming and a chapel on Boston Harbor for the Archdiocese of Boston.
McCrery is active in the American Institute of Architects, the Institute for Classical Architecture & Classical America, the National Civic Art Society, the Society for Catholic Liturgy, and the Supreme Court Historical Society.
McCrery gave a public lecture at Villa Maria College on Wednesday evening.
Source
- Stuff.co.nz
- ncregister.com
- bishopoconnell.org
- mccreryarchitects.com
- Image: Screenshot stuff.co.nz