On February 22, 2011 at 12.51pm I was in Christchurch having lunch with Bishop Victoria Matthews. I am ever grateful that her choice of restaurant meant we were sitting on large bench seats in a corner away from windows. As we sheltered under the sturdy tables, I learnt that in the advice “duck, cover and hold”, Read more
Dublin archdiocese is trying to improve access to St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral on Easter Sunday this year, after a traffic cordon was imposed. The city centre will be closed to all vehicles from 6am on Easter Sunday until 8pm that night, as events take place to commemorate the 1916 Easter rising. A spokeswoman for the archdiocese Read more
Two men charged with burgling the quake-damaged Christ Church Cathedral last month have avoided prosecution. Philip Pavich, 55, and Gilbert Southworth, 46, apologised for their actions and gave money to the Anglican diocese. On March 21, motion-activated cameras detected their entry into the building. Police arrested the pair after they were caught leaving the cathedral Read more
Supporters of the restoration of the quake-damaged Christ Church Cathedral say they are disgusted at the Anglican Church’s choice of a modern replacement, and are calling the decision making process un-Christian. The Anglican Church has decided to demolish the 149-year-old building and replace it with a modern, contemporary design. The Christchurch diocese says it was Read more
There are ”communication issues” between Great Christchurch Buildings Trust (GCBT) and Anglican leaders according to Justice Chisholm who is hearing a case brought by the GCBT challenging the Anglican decision to largely demolish the Christ Church Cathedral. Chisholm said “While it is not the role of the court to intervene, the applicant and first respondent might like Read more
Two of the highest profile buildings badly damaged in the Christchurch earthquake of February 2011 were the two Cathedrals. The Anglican gothic building in the centre of Cathedral Square was a city landmark. The rebuilding project has been marked by controversy; the Dean has resigned and a group of architects has taken the Diocese to Read more
Following the High Court (Justice Chisholm J) ruling that no further deconstruction of the Christchurch Cathedral should take place until further consideration and consultation between the Church Property Trustees (CPT), the Great Christchurch Buildings Trust (GCBT) and the Court, has taken place, the GCBT is endeavouring to work with the CPT and the Bishop, to Read more
Christchurch’s interim cardboard cathedral should be good to go by December. Of course it’s not all cardboard and may well last over 50 years but that’s not the point. It’s the sense of impermanence that has promise. Cathedrals tend to play down impermanence, opting instead for solid and imposing, but they’ve always had a more ethereal and Read more
The Anglican Bishop of Christchurch, the Right Reverend Victoria Matthews, has agreed to meet those opposed to the demolition of Christ Church Cathedral and to listen to their concerns. At the same time, she is firmly convinced the building must be demolished. The demolition of the cathedral’s tower is set to begin today, and it is anticipated Read more
Quick! Think Christchurch. What image comes to mind? It will be different for us all, but they’ll be some common ones. The Avon, the Chalice in the Square, tree-lined streets, trams, the Port Hills. Perhaps, understandably, it might be a picture of quake damage. But most common of all is likely to be the Cathedral, Read more