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A MULTIMILLION-dollar expansion and refurbishment of Newcastle’s iconic Christ Church Cathedral is about to be revealed with the covers coming off an eye-opening extension.
After years of discussion, work and debate over how best to secure the cathedral’s physical and financial future, a detailed plan is in the final stages of production.
The Newcastle Herald can reveal the ambitious project includes an ultra-modern glass wing on the site’s southern Church Street frontage which could house a cafe, cathedral shop, office and storage space.
A second floor below ground would comprise more office and storage space as well as meeting rooms for groups like choirs and musicians and community groups.
The long-term plan also includes the addition of a $3million stainless steel spire which will almost double the height of the existing cathedral and complete the original plans created by John Horbury Hunt more than a century ago.
The Anglican Church and those close to the proposal have been understandably nervous about how the extension plan will be received publicly. They concede opinion will vary greatly because of the building’s historical value and its standing in the city, not just among parishioners, but the broader community.
They have canvassed numerous alternative options that would provide money for the cathedral’s upkeep and solve the practicality issues that have hampered its operations for decades, but the latest plan has emerged as the most favoured option and the church has decided to bite the bullet and push debate into the public arena.
The cost to maintain what is the Hunter’s most recognisable building now far outstrips its income. Insurance alone costs more than $100,000 a year and its only income comes from parishioner donations, and earnings from trusts which total about $40,000 annually. The extension and refurbishment will cost in the vicinity of $15 million.
‘‘If we want the cathedral to stand tall in the years to come, and for generations to come, we need to do something new, and now,’’ Dean of the Cathedral Reverend Stephen Williams said.
‘‘Our conversation with parishioners has been going on for some time, but our conversation with the broader community starts now.’’
The modern glass extension would only be seen from Church Street and from some neighbouring buildings. It has been designed by prominent Newcastle architects Barney Collins and Patrick Bless from EJE Architects who researched similar projects in Europe before settling on the Christ Church design.
While it will no doubt be a controversial addition in some quarters, State Heritage officers actually steer such extensions towards modern designs which clearly define the original and historic building and separate it from its modern addition.
Under the EJE plan, the extension would be made almost entirely of glass and will extend from the cathedral’s southern face to its Church Street boundary. The cathedral car park will be shifted to the west, with a large piazza formed in front of what was always intended to be the cathedral’s main entry point on the western face.
While the extension is aimed primarily at solving the cathedral’s lack of space and amenity for those who use it, it is also designed to capitalise on its tourist potential and generate an income. Visitors would be able to climb the tower to view the city from its highest point as they do in most of the world’s big cathedrals. Bigger events, festivals and orchestral concerts could also be staged inside the cathedral.
Funding the project is yet another problem for the cathedral and Anglican diocese. Parishoners are well on their way to raising $1 million for the project, but Dean Williams said the remainder will need to be raised from the community, other donors and through state cultural and tourism grants.
‘‘This cathedral is owned by everyone, not just in Newcastle but people throughout the entire Hunter region,’’ Dean Williams said. ‘‘People are the cathedral. We all love it and we all have an association or a connection to it. But if we can’t solve its functionality, and we can’t find an income to preserve it, then I’m not sure where we go from here.’’
The cathedral parish council has been consulting with parishioners for some time. Members also met with the Newcastle Inner City Residents Alliance this week while talks are also scheduled with State Heritage and key government ministers.
Ellen Davis-Meehan from the parish council said consultation will be ongoing.
"This is a long and organic process which has grown out of our discussions with the people who use the cathedral, and the beginning of discussions with the broader community," she said. "We had very constructive discussions with NICRA, and we’ll have more conversations in the months ahead."
Newcastle lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes is among other civic leaders to have been briefed on the plan.
‘‘I think this is a very important discussion we need to have,’’ Cr Nelmes said.
‘‘No one will ever underestimate the importance of that building to the people who use it, and also to the broader community.
‘‘There will be debate about things like design, but the cathedral needs to have some revenue. What I think is important is the addition of the spire - I’m very supportive of plans that would allow people to climb the spire and view the city from the top, just like millions of people do in the beautiful cathedrals throughout Europe.’’
Dean Williams said the plan is ‘‘some time away’ from reaching a development application stage.
‘‘We want to talk to the community about it first and explain why we think this is the best option for everyone,’’ he said.
‘‘We’ll continue to do that, and we’ll continue to fundraise and we’ll continue to talk to the parishioners and the community about it.’’
CHRIST Church Cathedral is owned by all of us, the people of NSW, the Hunter Region and especially Newcastle.
The story of the cathedral has been interwoven with NSW and Newcastle since 1817, and in times of war and peace, of earthquake and rural drought, the cathedral has been a significant focal point for the community’s grief, aspirations and celebrations.
As has been noted for many years, Christ Church Cathedral is undoubtedly the most significant single building in Newcastle and it is an essential part of the life and renewal of the city.
Its core will always be to nurture the soul of the city by engagement with its religious, cultural and intellectual life.
As a major tourist attraction and visual landmark, and through representation in city business and commercial networks, the cathedral contributes to the economic life of the city.
It is full of treasures and is a treasure itself, but it is unable with its current facilities to properly accommodate increasing city and visitor demands.
It is a major venue for concerts and exhibitions but is unable to offer appropriate hospitality with limited space for its shop and proper bathroom facilities.
The burden of the development and upkeep of the cathedral has largely rested on the Anglican community even though it has huge public interest and affection.
Our aim is to complete vital maintenance and make the spaces more usable for the city of today, to complete the skyline and to ensure this cathedral continues to stand tall in the centuries to come.