4. Mr Graeme Marks asked -

With regards to provisional cathedrals -

(a) When were St John's Parramatta and St Michael's Wollongong declared to be provisional cathedrals and why was this done?

(b) Have the reasons for creating the pro-cathedrals of Parramatta and Wollongong been reviewed to see if those reasons are still relevant?

(c) If the answer to (b) is yes, when was the review and what were the recommendations if any?

(d) In what years were the dates for the provisional status of St John's and St Michael's extended previously and what were the reason for doing so?

(e) Has consideration ever been given to establishing provisional cathedrals in regions other than Wollongong and Western Sydney and if so, what conclusions were reached?

To which the President replied -

(a) St Michael's Wollongong and St John's Parramatta became provisional cathedrals on 14 and 16 October 1969 respectively following the passing of the St Michael's Provisional Cathedral Wollongong Ordinance 1969 and the St John's Provisional Cathedral Parramatta Ordinance 1969. The preamble in the St Michael's Provisional Cathedral Wollongong Ordinance recited the following - "Whereas due to the rapid increase in population of a certain area of the Diocese of Sydney at and adjacent to the City of Greater Wollongong the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney has by resolution determined that provision should be made for the future establishment of a separate diocese or additional centre of diocesan administration for such area as may be further specifically defined and whereas it is expedient that one of the parish churches in such area be now selected and designated as the Provisional Cathedral for such proposed new diocese or additional centre of diocesan administration and that such church be placed under the control of a Chapter and the title of the incumbent of such church be designated…." A corresponding preamble was included in the St John's Ordinance.

(b) No, except in the context of considering whether the status of St John's and St Michael's as provisional cathedrals should be extended.

(c) Not applicable.

(d) The Regions Ordinance 1995 provided for a new model of administering the Diocese. By clause 9 of the Regions (Transitional Provisions and Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 1995, the 2 1969 ordinances were to have been repealed with effect from 1 January 2000. The accompanying report stated that with regionalisation, which effectively stopped proposals for new dioceses, the need for pro-cathedrals had disappeared. It appears the 5 year extension of St Michael's and St John's as pro-cathedrals until 1 January 2000 was to manage the transition. In 1998 the Synod passed the Regions (Transitional Provisions and Miscellaneous Amendments) Amending Ordinance 1998. The effect of that ordinance was to extend the date for the repeal of the 1969 ordinances to 1 January 2005. The report which accompanied the ordinance said until the status of regionalisation generally was reviewed (such review being due to occur in 2005), the status of the pro-Cathedrals should not be changed.

(e) This question cannot be answered since it does not specify by whom consideration may have been given or limit the time frame within which consideration may have been given.