Letters from 30
March to 5 April 2009
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Ex cathedra
I
like the "Tale of Three Cathedrals" article. The
story could have been about any small town here, with minor modifications.
Both the Anglicans and the Catholics are the major denominations
here and they have both the cathedrals in my town. But the Roman
Catholics, with typical Latin exuberance, lay claim to the better
location: their cathedral is not on a hill, but at the junction
of the two major roads leading into the town, with the result that
the first sight that meets weary travelers coming from the north
and the west is the shiny dome of Assumpta Cathedral. Very uplifting,
no doubt. The Anglicans on the other hand, DID build their cathedral
on a hill. Good start. One can look up and feel uplifted (and out-of-breath)
on attaining the summit.
But all the grand
buildings of Christendom are nothing compared to the often dilapidated,
leaky buildings where rural vicars and reverend fathers toil, sharing
their parishioners' pain and keeping up their faith despite all. Those
are the real cathedrals of Christendom.
Obi Udeariry
St Andrew's Church, Aladinma, Owerri
Owerri, NIGERIA
Netwalker55@yahoo.es
30 March 2009
Cathedrals: alive
and well in Oz
I
look forward to your thoughts about
S. Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide (not least its to my mind stunning
modern clerestory windows and well-attended services). But other
cathedrals here include the finest — Pearson's magnificent St John's
Cathedral completed last year in Brisbane after a century of prayer
and persistence, love and labour.
John Bunyan
Church of St John the Baptist, Canberra
Campbelltown, NSW, AUSTRALIA
jrbpilgrim@bocnet.com.au
30 March 2009
'This is your
church'
Two churches
referenced in last week's Noted This Week have on their joint website
one of the the finest welcoming messages I've ever seen for an Anglican
Church. I wish more parishes would consider using it:
I sent this email
below to the bishop of he Diocese of Worcester and also
to the parishes:
Just a short
note to say that I was so impressed with the warmth of the welcoming
message of St George Barbourne and Old St. Martin’s which I saw
on Anglicans Online. If I lived in the UK and Worcester
specifically, I would be genuinely interested in becomin an active member.
Or alternatively if either church were near me in Los Angeles, I would
also be interested. I also randomly checked some other parish sites
in your diocese and your diocesan webpage with your comments and found
the same honest and welcoming message. Frankly, I’ve rarely seen
such a appeal to people of my own beliefs or questions from an Anglican
church or diocese.
William Christiansen
Northridge, California USA
tovarichbill@msn.com
30 March 2009
The story of
the Jerusalem Cross
I am a cradle
Episcopalian. My father, also a cradle Episcopalian, just passed
away at age 91 less than two weeks ago. A dear friend of mine
just presented me with a Jerusalem Cross from the National Cathedral
in Washington, D.C. and I would very much love to have an accurate
detailed description of the meaning and symbolism behind this beautiful
and obviously special cross. Thank you so very much.
Helen Holliday
Pantano Christian Church
Tuscon, Arizona, USA
muggie452@yahoo.com
4 April 2009
(Ed. note: If
you'd like to offer an explanation and background to the writer, send
your email directly to her at muggie452@yahoo.com.)
Earlier letters
We launched our 'Letters to AO' section on 11
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