150 and still going strong

Well it may be spring but this morning we had a good ol' frost on the ground. This did mean it turned into a lovely sunny day with warm temps later though.

It also meant it was very cold in St Paul's Anglican Cathedral where we were celebrating 150 years since the Dunedin Diocese came into being.  I certainly wished I'd worn a warmer jacket while I sat through the service. But it was great to be there with other like minded people to celebrate. The choirs and music were fantastic and reminded me why I love the Anglican tradition. Although it was fairly traditional it was also reasonably relaxed. After the service doves were released from the cathedral steps, some of them seemed somewhat reluctant but eventually they all took wing and soared away, and that was followed by a tree planting to commemorate the event.

I met my GKB afterwards, he arrived in time to be photographed on the steps with the rest of us - almost front row centre as well -  which made me laugh as he is not a churchgoer. We were actually going to head off for a lunch date but also had movie tickets and because of the length of the service lunch didn't happen. Instead we took popcorn and hot drinks into the theatre. A naughty lunch really but it only happens occasionally. And if we can't be a bit naughty sometimes life would be very dull :)  We saw Downton Abbey which I thoroughly enjoyed and which my GKB said was okay.

And that's it for just now. 
I am heading north in a few days to visit with my granddaughter  (and baby Alice) so will see you all when I get back.
Until then,

Diana

St Paul's Cathedral

A wee while ago I posted some photo's from inside St Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin and I still have a few photo's so thought I would share them. Some are from outside and others inside, including one or two from the first post. There are quite a few of the stained glass, but they are beautiful in my opinion, so I've put them in.

The current bishop on the day of his installation, processing into the cathedral with his entourage.

Looking from the bottom of the steps to the main doors. Most people come in through a side door, thus negating the need to walk up all the steps. I have been told that once upon a time bridal parties paid a price per step to walk up or down them, but that could be folk lore.

Detail above the big main doors.

Taken from below a set of side steps.

The perspex cross was added when the chancel was completed in the early 1970's, amidst a lot of controversy. Work wasn't completed on the cathedral earlier through lack of funds and so it is quite unique in that the first building was constructed in the 1800's, construction of the cathedral in it's current form began in 1913 with the foundation stone laid in 1915.  

The Bishops' throne

Pulpit carved from Oamaru stone.

A magnificent pipe organ often used for recitals as well as worship services.

More Oamaru stone in the form of a beautifully carved font.

And so to the stained glass.

Some of this glasswork is quite modern and the face of the current bishop 

graces one of the depictions of St. Paul. 

Looking back to the West door.

If you'd like to know more about the Cathedral this is the link.

I hope I haven't bored you 

with such a long post.

See you next week.

Diana

Linking with:
inSPIREed Sunday

A brush with royalty

As some of you may know the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have just been visiting our fair country. And they brought Prince George with them. I have said elsewhere that I am a royalist so it was exciting to discover that they were going to visit our city. And then to hear they were attending the cathedral service on Palm Sunday was the icing on the cake. 

Tickets were made available to the cathedral parishioners and then to the rest of the diocese. After that the general public could apply. So I was in like Flynn. I think I was probably among the first. And tickets duly arrived for me and my little mother. Great excitement.

And then of course it was 'what to wear, what to wear'. Anyway youngest daughter took me shopping and we found a lovely jacket to wear with my good trousers but unfortunately on the day I felt the cold. Plan B came into effect and I wore the coat my sister had sent me from Australia and I'd only worn once before. Little mother wore her nice light jacket and looked lovely and insisted she wasn't feeling the cold. They made them hardy in those days.

We set off and arrived in plenty of time, went through the police check at the gate, we common people didn't get to go up the steps at the front, we went in through a side door and past several policemen. One young copper got quite embarrassed apparently when he had to tell the bishop he couldn't park his car in his usual place. 

We didn't worry about hats but some of the ladies were dressed up to the nines and looked lovely

  

No  cameras allowed inside so no photo's. I did say to my GKB to bring the camera and take a photo of us outside the cathedral - but he forgot. Never mind, such is life. He wasn't that interested really and was just acting as taxi driver on the day. So I made sure he took one when we arrived home and before we went inside.

leaving the cathedral with the Dean

We had a terrific morning, the duke and duchess were lovely and relaxed, and I have to admit that I fell in love with the royal family all over again. It was the closest I will ever come to royalty, just 2 inches between me and the duke with no barriers between us at one point, exciting!

And something that was really special was knowing that the family were excited for us. My sisters got in touch from Australia, my son and his wife from Japan, my grandson rang from out of town and our daughters both called to see how we had enjoyed our morning. Magic.

They leave the country for Australia tomorrow and I hope they enjoy their time over there as much as we have enjoyed having them here.

I had to share my excitement with you.

Have a great week,

Diana

A controversial cathedral

Last weekend my GKB and I made a flying visit

 to Christchurch to visit an old friend who is ill.

While we were there we caught up with our eldest grandson

 who took us into the city centre to have a look at 

how things were progressing since the earthquakes in 2011.

The three of us at the Container Mall

part of the Container Mall

 A container mall has opened up where there used to be high rise buildings and it is rather a nice place to be. I thought it was a good example of thinking outside the square when it came to getting some of the businesses up and running again.

 It had been rather eerie walking among the damaged buildings and seeing cordoned off shops with their goods still all on display!

What I really want to show you today though,

 is ChristChurch Cathedral. 

My GKB and I were there just 12 months earlier 

and took photo's inside the cathedral as well as out.

Here are a few of the before photo's.

from Cathedral Square

As you can see from the scaffolding, 

repair and restorative work was going on.

looking from just inside main doors

beautiful stained glass

inside the Pacific Island Chapel, looking over to the visitor centre

The Rose window above the main doors with murals underneath

 My grandson and I went for a short walk, left my GKB and grandsons friend to chat as my bloke's sore leg was playing up.

He took me for a walk around the cathedral,

starting on the south side and then around the back.

South eastern end

I didn't think it looked too bad, all things considered.

I could understand why there is a large group 

of people wanting to restore it to it's former glory.

Then we came around to the western side proper.

That was a different story!

This is the side the tower and spire was on

It is quite devastated, 

(grandson related it to being like a medieval ruin),

and now I know why another group of people

 want to push it  over and build anew.

There is quite a controversy about it and it's a real dilemma.

 from the front, the tower and spire was to the left

ChristChurch Cathedral was the heart 

of Christchurch City, which is why there

 is such an emotional reaction to it being pulled down.

I hope they find a solution that will 

make most of the people happy.

**********

Have a wonderful week,

till next time,

Diana

Inside a Dunedin cathedral

These are some of the photo's I took
 inside St Paul's Anglican Cathedral in Dunedin 
when I went in to see the annual 
Flowers of Praise festival earlier in the year. 

The Cathedral Church of St. Paul the Apostle

Looking from just inside the main doors towards the altar.

The great multi coloured cross was made in the 60's or 70's and made of perspex - a controversial decision at the time. It is suspended over the altar by chains.

Looking back to the main doors from the front pews.
The stained glass windows are beautiful with the light coming through them.

Some of the side windows and some of the floral displays.

The cathedral is quite lovely with 
the white stone and beautiful stained glass. 
Once upon a time you could go up to
 the tower on the left hand side (looking at it) 
and had a good view of the city, 
but I'm not sure if they allow it now.

Just two of the many  
floral displays on show, 
elegant and fun.

wishing you all an elegant and fun week,

Diana

linking with:
InSPIREd Sunday