The remarkable history of St Paul’s Cathedral, as an Octagon landmark and a centre of faith, is at the fore as the Anglican diocese celebrates 100 years of worship at the site.
St Paul’s Cathedral will launch its centenary year with a celebration Eucharist this today, at 10am.
Retired Bishop the Rt Rev Dr Kelvin Wright will officiate at the service, and the visiting Bishop of Edinburgh, the Rt Rev Dr John Armes, will preach.
Bishop of Dunedin and acting dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, the Rt Rev Steven Benford, is in the United Kingdom this month and cannot attend.
Guests from throughout Dunedin and New Zealand are expected for the occasion, during which former cathedral dean the Very Rev Robert Mills will be presented with the honour of Dean Emeritus.
Bishop’s warden Meg Kornmayer said the service, which would be filled with music from the cathedral choir and organists Dr Donald Cullington and Simon Mace, was also for everyone who had had a connection with the cathedral in the past.
‘‘It will be a vibrant celebration,’’ she said.
St Paul’s priest assistant Rev Barbara Dineen said the centenary year would be a golden opportunity for the cathedral community to focus on its outreach to the city.
‘‘We already engage with the community and areas of need, such as the Dunedin Night Shelter, but we really want to take that further this year,’’ she said.
‘There is a real sense of optimism, energy and enthusiasm coming through the parish community.
‘‘This is a year of hope and renewal for us.’’
St Paul’s lay minister Bruce Aitken said the 2019 centenary year would feature a series of events, including a Beers, Wine, and Spirit celebration with hymns old and new on February 23.
Planning was also under way for a 100th anniversary parish dinner, a celebration fete, and the cathedral will host a church music festival later in the year.
Also, St Paul’s ‘‘keeper of the fabric’’ David Tucker would embark on a long-term project to refurbish the cathedral’s stained glass windows.
‘‘They are magnificent stained-glass windows, so it will be wonderful to have them refurbished,’’ Mr Aitken said.
