Almost immediately after the fire, two Anglican inner-city churches - All Saints' Dunedin North and St Matthew's - reached out with offers for St Paul's to join them for worship last Sunday morning.

But the new Level 2 restrictions on gatherings of no more than 100 meant the Cathedral congregation couldn't take up either offer.

So a new offer from Monsignor John Harrison and Bishop Michael Dooley was accepted.

The St Joseph's congregation had space free for St Paul's to use the downtown St Joseph's Cathedral building on Sunday afternoon.

"We were overjoyed that St Joseph's reached out to us with such generosity," said the Very Rev Dr Tony Curtis of St Paul's.

He said the Anglicans and Catholics like to work together closely anyway, "we're all good friends, and it's a really lovely gesture."

The blaze broke out in the newly restored apse - the rounded section at the rear of the Octagon-based church - about 3.30 am on Tuesday 11 August.

The ceiling and roof of the building were fire-damaged, the crypt and part of the church were extensively water damaged.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand fire risk management officer Scott Lanauze has confirmed the cause was an unspecified electrical event.

The cost of the damage was still being assessed by insurers; however, Curtis said the crypt had suffered extensive water damage, and the roof above the altar would likely need replacing.

"What the fire hasn't got, water has."

"We'll probably try to close off the far end and put a tent over it, then gradually deconstruct the roof and put a new one on."

The organ was also partly water damaged and much of the building's electrics were no longer usable.

Source

• odt.co.nz
• odt.co.nz
• rnz.co.n
• stuff.co.nz
• anglicantaonga.org.nz
• Image: anglicantaonga.org.nz

The Rt Rev Dr Kelvin Wright said some very careful thought needs to be given as to how to pay for episcopal ministry in the future.

"Maybe some hard choices and some innovations may need to be made," he said.

Wright said the diocese might continue with a bishop, but it might be "a part-time position" and might include working in another role within the diocese.

He would not say how much it cost to employ a full-time bishop.

Wright informed the New Zealand Anglican Archbishop, the Most Rev Philip Richardson, of his intention to retire as Bishop of Dunedin on April 17, 2017.

Wright said he would turn 65 in April next year, and believed it was as good a time as any to retire.

"I've got other things I want to be doing. It's a good time for me to move on.

"I'm looking forward to having a life of my own again."

Wright said when he retires next year, he would have been Anglican Bishop of Dunedin for seven years.

Source

• odt.co.nz
• Image: anglicanatonga.org.nz