新西兰英语 587 Christchurch Cathedral

 　　The Anglican cathedral in Christchurch was badly damaged in the February 22nd earthquake. Later after-shocks have caused more damage and it is now not a safe building. Today the Bishop¹ announced that the cathedral will be taken down, slowly, to about 2 to 3 metres in height. This is so that someone can remove stained² glass windows and other important things inside the building.

　　This cathedral was built 130 years ago in The Square in the centre of Christchurch. In 1888, the spire³ on top of the steeple fell off in an earthquake but it was rebuilt. In recent years, the cathedral was strengthened to make it safer in an earthquake, but maybe it was not strengthened enough. It was a beautiful building, built in stone in a Gothic style. It was like the heart of the city. Although it belonged to the Church of England, the Christchurch City Council⁴ helped to pay for the new roof a few years ago and for earthquake strengthening. Christchurch people therefore think that the cathedral belongs to the whole city, to everybody.

　　There will be strong protests⁵ from people who are angry about losing this beautiful building. They say that it could be saved if we can find the money to save it. Other people say, “Let’s build a new, safe cathedral.” And some people ask, “Do we need a cathedral?”

　　Vocabulary

　　the Bishop – she is the head of the church in Canterbury

　　high (adj) height (noun)

　　stained glass windows – coloured glass is used by artists to make pictures in the windows

　　steeple – tall tower, with big bells inside it

　　spire – like a pointed cone on top of the tower

　　strong (adj) strengthen (verb) = make strong

　　minor – only a little; opposite is ‘major’

　　Church of England – Anglican church

1 bishop   

n.主教，（国际象棋）象

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

2 stained   

adj.污染的，玷污的

参考例句：

• My dress was stained. 我的连衣裙弄上了污渍。
• The doors are then stained and varnished. 这些门还要染色涂清漆。

3 spire   

n.(教堂)尖顶，尖塔，高点

参考例句：

• The church spire was struck by lightning.教堂的尖顶遭到了雷击。
• They could just make out the spire of the church in the distance.他们只能辨认出远处教堂的尖塔。

4 council   

n.理事会，委员会，议事机构

参考例句：

• The town council passed a law forbidding the distribution of handbills.市议会通过法律，禁止散发传单。
• The city council has declared for improving the public bus system.市议会宣布同意改进公共汽车系统。

5 protests   

n.[体]抗议；抗议，反对( protest的名词复数 )v.声明( protest的第三人称单数 )；坚决地表示；申辩

参考例句：

• The protests have forced the government to back-pedal on the new tax. 抗议活动已迫使政府撤销新的税目。
• Plans to build a new mall were deep-sixed after protests from local residents. 修建新室内购物中心的计划由于当地居民反对而搁浅。