A new video exhibition entitled “Lament and Hope”, opened at Taranaki Cathedral this week, showcasing a series of short documentary-style videos capturing personal testimonies of St Mary’s members.

The intimate interviews tap the rich spiritual and social history of St Mary's Taranaki Cathedral, Aotearoa New Zealand's oldest stone church building, reflect on the sorrow surrounding its closure due to earthquake instability, and point towards hope for renewal, healing, and a reconciled future for the Church.

“Many of these parishioners have witnessed generations of worship, celebration, and naturally grief with the Cathedral’s closure”, said the Cathedral Dean, Rev Jay Ruka (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Mutunga), who is the exhibition curator.

“Their stories are not just about a building—they’re about belonging, resilience, and the deep imprint of faith and education on a community.”

The videos were created by award-winning director and long-time member of St. Mary’s, Katie Wolfe (Ngāti Mutunga).

Filmed inside the Cathedral's messy construction site, the testimonies' backdrop contrasts with wonderful memories of baptisms, weddings, and renovations. They also chronicle the pain felt in the wake of the Cathedral’s closure, a loss that is still felt across the wider community.

Despite the adversity, the exhibition communicates a hopeful tone. Many interviewees speak of a faith that outlives buildings and a desire to see the church reimagined through reconciliation. It invites visitors to engage not only with the past but with the Church’s evolving identity and mission.

In addition to the mini documentaries, visitors can walk the Cathedral grounds observing three new memorial plinths and a selection of QR codes set on posts and noteworthy trees. These mark significant stories on the historical site. Using a smartphone to scan the codes, visitors can gain access to stories and events that continue to shape St Mary’s and the city of Ngā Motu New Plymouth today.

The Taranaki Anglican Trust Board gratefully acknowledges the support of Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit (Kānoa), which administered a $100k Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) grant towards exhibition content within Te Whare Hononga, which included the mini documentaries.

This funding draws from a larger $3 million PGF grant that refurbished the vicarage, constructed Te Whare Hononga and provided a permanent showcase of local stories to help visitors understand the Taranaki Wars and impacts on Tangata Whenua.

“The hard work of many in the community that raised the Crown grant in 2017 has helped St Mary’s turn a corner”, says Ruka.

“We deeply thank Kānoa, Story Inc. and Ngāti Te Whiti who have helped us make our history relevant and meaningful for the future of Taranaki.”

“Lament and Hope” is now open to the public in Hatherly Hall from 9:30 am to 3 pm, weekdays.

The ten mini films, curated on a large-format touchscreen, can be viewed at leisure.

Entry to the exhibition is free, and all are welcome.