A BEQUEST for a new cathedral for Cardiff is extremely interesting. A new cathedral (anywhere) is a rare sight in today's scheme of things.
In England and Wales where the landscape is dotted with ancient and beautiful cathedrals the news has to be exciting. Further, the city of Cardiff which up to now has been overshadowed by Llandaff, St David's, Bangor and Brecon is deserving of a cathedral worthy of its religious, political and commercial importance.
It is not too soon to express the hope that any new design for Cardiff will avoid the freakish structures which were given, at great expense, to the Catholics of Liverpool and Clifton in recent years.
These so-called 'contemporary' cathedrals may have some practical advantages (they elude me) but it is hardly a secret that visitors find little merit in their artistic composition.
Apart from the great historic cathedrals. Britain has done very well in modern times. One might say that Scott's Liverpool cathedral is the crowning glory figuratively and physically — but we do not overlook Truro, Edinburgh (St Mary's), Guildford, the rebuilt St George's in Southwark and Coventry (contemporary in an apologetic sort of way).
And if one wants a small gem there is Scott's cathedral perched on the water's edge in Oban. Let us hope, therefore, that the planners in Cardiff do their homework before turning Sir Julian's millions into mortar.