Blog

Ross and Anne Smith, Taranaki Cathedral stalwarts, will donate over 40 artworks to the Great Collectables Road Show and Art Auction on Friday May 3. Parting with artwork is personal for Anne Smith. The process is similar to giving up friends, muses the retired New Plymouth art teacher. “They are your creations.” But giving them up she is in order to help fundraise for the Taranaki Cathedral Church of St Mary, the oldest stone church in the country. Three years... read more

Rob Baigent-Ritchie talks to Sarah Foy One cathedral inspired Rob Baigent-Ritchie’s spiritual convictions, now he’s ministering at another cathedral in a different island. Rob, an associate priest at Taranaki Cathedral who is married to Annie Baigent-Ritchie, became a Christian in 1971 at Christchurch Cathedral. He grew up in the city, and as a youngster attending St Barnabas’ church with his parents, remembers loving parables and the stories of the New Testament. “Not just the gospel stories about Jesus but about all... read more

Preamble: Following the recent resignation of the interim Dean after a very short tenure a review has been commissioned to help identify challenges and opportunities that should be addressed prior to a new permanent Dean being appointed. A review of the Cathedral structure and vision at this time also provides an opportunity to plan for future ministry needs that align with the broader future vision of the Cathedral site post-earthquake strengthening and redevelopment. Although finances are tight and will continue to... read more

The Vicar-General of the Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki, the Venerable Trevor Harrison has agreed to step into the senior leadership role in the Taranaki Cathedral parish until a new Dean is appointed at the cathedral. Archdeacon Harrison who is currently working in South Taranaki across five parishes will commence his cathedral responsibilities on 1 June 2018. He is the second most senior ordained person in the Diocese after the Bishop of Taranaki, Philip Richardson. As Vicar-General of the Diocese, Archdeacon... read more

Thousands of crepes, truckloads of bread, marmalade by the mountain and innumerable volunteer hours have created a flourishing breakfast community. The Community Café at Taranaki Cathedral notched up its third year in November 2017, having raised $61,377 for charity. It’s a Tuesday morning event, opening at 7.30am and closing 10am. Dozens of volunteers wait on and clear tables, others set up, pack down, cook and wash dishes. The money is distributed to a variety of causes; the current one being the... read more

Revd. Tricia Carter reflects on the 40th anniversary of the Ordination of Women On the first Sunday in Advent we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the ordination of women to the priesthood in the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and the Pacific. On 3 December 1977 the Bishop of Auckland ordained Jean Brooks, Wendy Cranston and Heather Brunton to the priesthood and in doing so we joined only three other provinces within the Anglican communion to ordain women. As we... read more

Grappling with Taranaki’s history – the delightful and the devastating – is motivating a series of historical gatherings called Our Shared Story. Rob Green, Rob Baigent-Ritchie and Ailsa Claridge will lead the monthly workshops at the cathedral, open to the public, with the first one having got underway. From left: Rob Baigent-Ritchie, Revd. Ailsa Claridge, and Rob Green. As well as introducing people to different parts of our history, it’s also hoped the project will unearth family stories and documents. Rob... read more

The Revd. Canon David Pearce : 10 July 1931 – 23 September 2017 read more

Taranaki Cathedral has been identified as a priority historic building under the extension of a fund that promises an additional $30 million for earthquake prone buildings. On Saturday Prime Minister Bill English announced the increase to the Regional Culture and Heritage Fund (RCHF), spread over four years, as well as the inclusion for the first time of historic churches and places of worship “that are central parts of the community's character". Church leaders hailed the announcement as a lifeline for... read more

A bid to get more people eating fruit and veg – at discount prices – is building communities and Christian interdenominational networks throughout NZ. Now the Food Together programme is spreading to Taranaki with the cathedral pivotal to its local distribution. It started as a three-week pilot in June, and has now become a permanent social enterprise in the region. It works like this: People view the fruit and veg menu each Friday on the Food Together Facebook page, place their... read more