Nicole Mathewson writes for Stuff.co.nz:
A call by the world’s most senior Anglican bishop for Christchurch to stop clinging to the past has been criticised by those fighting to save the city’s earthquake-damaged cathedral.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby made the comments during a visit to Auckland last week, saying the city should not “be boring” and should look to England’s Coventry Cathedral as something to aspire to.
… Great Christchurch Buildings Trust member and retired [priest] Graeme Brady said he was always moved by the old ruins [of Coventry], but the rest of the cathedral had dated very quickly.
It was a shame Coventry’s authorities had “completely wiped out” all of the city’s old buildings and replaced them with a “concrete mess.”
“It really is an awful city. For the archbishop to hold up Coventry as an example is strange. He’s obviously shooting from the hip.”
Image from Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K Orion that conducted aerial surveillance of areas affected in Christchurch earthquake on 22 February 2011 Crown Copyright 2011, NZ Defence Force. Some rights reserved. Via Wikimedia Commons
