Cathedral whānau hosts state memorial
Dominating the intersection that overlooks our Parliamentary buildings, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul was built to be a cathedral for the nation. Now overlooking the most secular city in the country, it was still here in our Cathedral that the nation farewelled our Queen's loyal and loving husband - and behind the ceremony was the hard work and long hours of Richard, Katie, David, Pixie, Michael, and our whole Cathedral whānau.
The Dean of Wellington, the Very Rev. David Rowe, welcomes the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. Jacinda Ardern to Wellington Cathedrak of t Paul. Photo: Mark Tantrum / Department of Internal Affairs
On the 21st of April, Hill Street was abuzz with television crew, Defence personnel and Government staffers as the Cathedral was being prepared to host our official state memorial for His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh. The approximately 500 invited guests included the Governor-General, the Prime Minister and two of her predecessors (Sir Bill English and Helen Clark), as well as dignitaries and ambassadors from many parts of the globe. This international flavour was notable, given that even Prince Philip's own funeral could not be attended by more than 30 socially-distanced loved ones. Here in our near-COVID-19-free paradise, our Cathedral hosted what was likely to be the largest memorial for His Royal Highness in the world.
Bishop Eleanor commented afterwards: "it was an honour to be able to host as a Cathedral and honour those relationships - the city-state-church relationship." She added that it was a particular honour to host the Māori King, who knew Prince Philip personally. Her Majesty the Queen had laid the foundation stone of the Cathedral in 1953, and this was one of three times that both the Queen and the Duke had worshipped at the Cathedral. Prayer Books prepared for Her Majesty and His Royal Highness' first visit, complete with their signatures, remain on display in the Cathedral's Lady Chapel even now. Their relationship to the Cathedral, and the Queen's role as head of the Anglican Church, made the service even more special, said Bishop Ellie. "We got to honour that with our liturgy and scripture, and the power of the gospels - particularly in quite a secular country," she said after the service.
The memorial service as seen from the Chancel of Wellington Cathedral of St Paul. Photo: Mark Tantrum / Department of Internal Affairs
Archbishop Philip Richardson presided over the service, and Bishop Ellie, together with the Bishop of Te Upoko o Te Ika, the Rt Rev. Waitohiariki Quayle, read the sentences from John's Gospel - in both Te Reo Māori and English. These scriptures (John 11:25, 11:28, and 3:16) unequivocally proclaimed the Good News of Christ's salvation to all present, and all who were watching on television or via the Governor-General's YouTube channel.
A hallmark of the memorial was the way in which Prince Philip was remembered for his long years of dedicated service. The Governor-General, Her Excellency, the Rt Hon. Dame Patsy Reddy gave the tribute to His Royal Highness. In her tribute, she spoke of the more than 22,000 solo engagements the Duke attended, his penchant for finding solutions and better ways of doing things, as well as his work in conservation halting species collapse.
Her Excellency the Governor-General, the Rt Hon. Dame Patsy Reddy, delivers a tribute to His Royal Highness. Photo: Mark Tantrum / Department of Internal Affairs.
Perhaps the most well-known result of the Duke's life of service is the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, founded in 1956 with the support of Prince Philip's mentor, Kurt Hahn, a tutor at Gordonstoun School, founder of ther Outward Bound movement. The Duke of Edinburgh scheme is now recognised as the leading youth achievement award with over 13 million young people in 168 countries having benefitted. Her Excellency told the gathering that the scheme had transformed the lives of young people - including that of our own Bishop Ellie. "[My] Duke of Edinburgh award was a really helpful way of challenging me, and was a formational time in my life. It instilled in me a commitment to service. There is a real need to connect for young people and the award is a good way of fostering that."
The service can be viewed online on the Governor-General's YouTube channel, here. Bishop Justin and Bishop Ellie are thankful to the Cathedral team for holding it all together beautifully. "It was a very dignified partnership between the Cathedral and the state."
