Last month the church floated the idea of relocating the pulpit to a better position for the church’s projector screen, which sat in front of it.
At the time, the vicar of St Luke’s Church, the Rev Andrea McDougall, told the Otago Daily Times the portable projector screen had to be repositioned because of safety issues or another option found, such as a fixed screen. That prompted a furious response from regular churchgoer P.D.R. Lindsay-Salmon, who said the possible disposal or relocation of the pulpit to the opposite side of the arch where it now stood, which meant the church’s choir pews would have to be removed, was not in keeping with the traditions of the church.
She said a "vocal group of the parish have no sense of heritage, aesthetics or history", likening them to "vandals". Ms McDougall said a recent parish meeting took place to discuss the issue, where it was decided the pulpit would stay.
"We’re not looking at moving the pulpit."
She said no consideration was given to using a "mobile pulpit" mounted on wheels, as seen in some other churches. Ms McDougall had spoken to Heritage New Zealand about the issue, as the building was listed as category one with the organisation.
Heritage New Zealand suggested she speak to the Otago Museum about "ideas for visual projection".
"That’s not to say we’re going to get anything high-tech or amazing. We’ll probably just have a data projector, but it makes sense to talk to them ... Once we’ve done that we’ll trial a few different things and see what works.
"There will be no giant TV screens. We’re thinking of something that can tuck away. The current one, in terms of safety, should really be left out because putting it up and down is unsafe."
If a permanent screen was mounted, Ms McDougall said it would have to be agreed on by the vestry, church vicar and archdeacon, then signed off by the Anglican church and the Bishop of Otago and Southland.
