The Cathedral at Night

We will be joining the world wide campaign for autism awareness next month.  The campaign is called Light It Up Blue(www.lightitupblue.org).  In preparation for this event I asked that the ground lights around the Cathedral be resurrected.  The results are as you can see below.  It has been two years since we have seen the Cathedral this way.  Even though the signs of construction are visible in some views, the Cathedral is an awesome sight at night.  Can't wait to see her blue. 

Cathedral Floor Slab Fund Raising Drive

The Cathedral Floor Slab Fund Raising Drive has been launched.  We are trying to raise money for the paving of the Cathedral floor. The main and side aisles will be paved using polished concrete.  The areas under the pews and chapels will be paved with unpolished concrete.  There will be  271 polished slabs and 294 unpolished slabs.  The main aisle slabs will be 6' x 4' and they will be priced at $900 XCD ($331.26 USD) each.  The side aisle slabs will be 4' x 4' and they will be priced at $700 XCD ($257.64 USD) each.  The unpolished slabs will be 4' x 4' and they will be priced at $550 XCD ($202.44 USD) each.

On the Roof Again

Its so nice to be walking on the roof again.  The radiant barrier has been installed and the strips of wood you see holding them down are the purlins.  The galvanised metal sheets will be screwed to these strips of wood.  We will start hoisting the sheets up onto the roof in a day or two.

The New Cathedral Roof

Views from the inside.

Rolling in the Deep

I believe that this phrase in the Grammy winning song by Adele decribes what is currently happening to the Restoration.  We are running out of money.  The structural work done on the roof has eroded away most of the funds we had and if we do not get a serious infusion of money........well, you get the picture. 

I told their Highnesses yesterday that even though we are at a crucial juncture in the Restoration, we, a praying Church, believe that help is on the way.  It is perhaps one of the greatest utterances of faith I have made in my life.  But I am supported by the belief that when we pray, and God sends help, it is very much like a tsunami.  Way out at sea, these waves are nearly imperceptable.  They are low in amplitude (height) but very long in wavelength (distance from one crest to the other crest).  As they approach the shore they mount up and become the mighty waves that we know and fear.  God's help when dispatched is much like this - imperceptable.  But when it nears us it mounts up like a mighty wave and swamps us with His Blesssings. 

So I like the other believers are standing on the shore.  We are looking out to the horizon waiting for God's help.  We cannot see it.  We trust that his help is rolling in from the deep.  It is said that the expression "rolling in the deep" is an adaptation of the UK slang phrase 'roll deep' which means to always have someone's back.  Surely the Almighty has our back?

Royal Visit

Their Royal Highnesses the Earl and Countess of Wessex arrive today in Antigua for a visit to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  Their Highnesses have a packed agenda and a visit to the Cathedral will be their second to last stop tomorrow.  It will be my first time meeting any member of the Royal family and I am deeply honoured.  I pray that God will guide my lips and my manner so that I may communicate to them the vast needs of our Restoration.  I further pray that the publicity of their visit will move hearts to contribute to this project.  Without a serious injection of money, we are facing a possible temporary halt to our works.

Their Royal Highnesses Prince Edward and Countess Sophie

Finally there

It's on!!!  It has been a long hard wait but the roof is on.  We still have a radiant barrier, waterproofing and the galvanised metal sheathing to put on but the interior of the Cathedral is no longer bright.  The unusual sight of the Cathedral without a roof is no more.

Dear Lord, bless this roof.  Keep it free from termites, bats and wood rot.  May we never have to see the Cathedral again without a roof for another 160 years.  Amen.