The new cardboard cathedral in Christchurch is now open. The builders handed the cathedral over to the Anglican church on Friday and gave the bishop a cardboard key as a symbol. The bishop blessed the church so that it is now a religious building. Volunteers carried chairs into the cathedral and next weekend the first public church service will be held.
However, the first public concert will be held on Tuesday 6th Aug. A series of 10 concerts to celebrate the new cathedral will be held in the next two weeks. The first one will be a concert by the Christchurch City Choir.
The cathedral is big enough for 700 people. The plan for this new cathedral was to use it for performances as well as for church services. The old cathedral in the Square was used for concerts and other activities like the festival of flowers.
The Anglican church plan to demolish the old cathedral in the Square and build a new one some time in the future. A group of people is trying to stop the demolition. They say it is possible to repair the cathedral.
Listen to April 16th 2012 to hear more about building the cardboard cathedral.
Vocabulary
• handed over – gave the building into the care of the church, the church is now the legal owner
• symbol – a sign that represents the cardboard cathedral
• blessed – in a religious ceremony
• volunteers – helpers
• series – many, one after the other
• performances – dance, music, theatre etc
• demolish (v) demolition (n) – destroy it, break it
Grammar
Note: will be + verb (past participle) e.g. will be held