After singing, a reading, and a prayer at the site, the congregation took the church's altar and sign and processed to St Peter's Anglican church nearby, where the sign would be installed and the rest of the service held.

The Catholics and Anglicans in Ward would have a close relationship, as do the Catholics and Presbyterians in nearby Seddon.

There, the Catholic church is shared with Presbyterians, whose St Andrew's church is to be demolished shortly. It was decommissioned last weekend.

Ward priest Fr Aidan Kay said that after the decommissioning, it was planned that everyone would go to the East Coast Tavern for refreshments.

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The decision is expected next month ahead of the first anniversary of the Grassmere earthquake.

The small red-brick church, built in 1923, was damaged in the 6.6 earthquake which caused cracks in its tower and water damage from a broken cylinder.

It was deemed dangerous, and Marlborough District Council had requested information about the future of the building. Continue reading

The initial earthquake was a vicious, violent one, she said.

Even though the statues and other items were tied down, "the statue of Our Lady came down and was damaged at the back, and all the crosses were thrown about 12 feet around", Mrs Costello said.

As well, a large cross on the roof at the rear end of the church came down.

David Mullins Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington's Director of support services says they are waiting for "assessments on church buildings. There are reports of structural damage to the Ward Church. There has been minor damage to other buildings in the wider region, the extent of this is still to be confirmed.Source."

"The Archdiocese will contact all parishes to ask them to look for any signs of damage to assess the need for a check by a structural engineer," Mullins says.
Source

• New Zealand Catholic
• Archdiocese of Wellington
• Image: Geoplocation