Behind the Name
Every month, StOM prints the Anglican Calendar of Prayer, but have you ever
thought about what or who lies behind the name and place specified every
Sunday?
In each issue, we will feature some information about some of the
people/places for whom your prayers are being asked.
A controversial figure
who has recently
announced her
resignation from the
post of Bishop of
Christchurch,
Victoria Matthews,
has said goodbye to
her diocese with an
attack on civic
authorities over their
handling of the future
of Christchurch
Cathedral.
The cathedral was all-but destroyed in a 2011 earthquake. The diocese’s
property trust wanted to replace the building with a modern purpose-built
construction; but faced a series of unsuccessful legal challenges from
campaigners who wanted the old building reinstated. Last year, after a lengthy
consultation and a promise of funds from campaigners and local and national
government, the diocesan synod voted to go ahead with re-instatement rather
than replacement.
Bishop Victoria said that this decision as taken “because we want to reconcile
the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch with the wider community according to
the Stuff news website. “‘I will work with the church’, said the Christchurch
mayor with tears in her eyes.
Now, seven months later, the city council declares that their “money is being
withheld to the last moment and perhaps won’t be needed,” she said.
And she was also critical of the Great Christchurch Building Trust, the group
behind the legal challenges, which had promised significant funding towards
re-instatement. “And we have $1 million [NZD, approximately £514,000 GBP]
being given over seven years by one person and not the $13.7 million
promised by the GCBT.
“It’s business as usual, folks, with the wealthy and the powerful telling
you, the people of the province of Canterbury, that they know best. Good
luck with that.”
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