History will come full circle at the Anglican Cathedral next Thursday when a time capsule is sealed into the new copper roof.

In May workers from a Canadian crew of coppersmiths repairing the roof found a similar parcel from 1947 hidden away in a wooden recess.

It was placed in the roof when local cabinetmaker A.C. Acton completed termite control work on the structure that year.

The time capsule - which he put together with his family - marked the culmination of a five-year project to restore the roof and ceiling which was extensively damaged.

The jar contained six copies of The Royal Gazette from 1947, three copies of the Diocesan magazine, a receipt from A.C. Acton and a letter from the then Bishop Arthur Heber Brown about the work.

The Cathedral roof is nearing completion after a months-long restoration process and million-dollar fundraising campaign.

Canon Keith Wassell told The Royal Gazette yesterday the 2002 capsule will include a photo of the seven coppersmiths who worked on the roof, a copy of The Royal Gazette, history on the fund-raising to repair the roof, the Bermuda Diocese News, Cathedral bulletins and personal histories on the Cathedral and Bishop Ewen Ratteray.

Canon Wassell said the Cathedral congregation were also invited to submit messages for their successors.

"Quite a number have done that," he said. "Those will be laminated and placed within the time capsule to go under the copper roof."

While he is pleased the roof is coming to a successful completion, Canon Wassell said he has been mesmerised by the restoration process and the skills of the coppersmiths who were hired from a Toronto-based company called Heather and Little.

"One thing they've done is put a waterproof membrane under the copper which remains waterproof even when you punch nails through it," he said. "That will be a huge plus. Also the way the nails and screws are sealed with modern techniques is also much different and more effective from the past techniques."

To celebrate the completion of the roof - expected within the next two weeks - the Cathedral will be holding a special Thanksgiving ceremony this Sunday morning.

A number of representatives from Heather and Little will be at the 9.30 a.m. Thanksgiving service as well as the five remaining coppersmiths still working on the roof.

"Any supporters or donors that want to come are most welcome," Canon Wassell said. "We will be producing a commemorative card that everyone can take as a souvenir."