Christchurch Catholic Cathedral

Not to be confused with Christ Church Cathedral, Christchurch.

Church in Christchurch Central City, New Zealand

Christchurch Catholic Cathedral

43°32′18″S 172°38′47″E﻿ / ﻿43.5383°S 172.6464°E﻿ / -43.5383; 172.6464
Location| Christchurch Central City
Country| New Zealand
Denomination| Roman Catholic
History
Status| Design and naming
Architecture
Architectural type| Cathedral
Specifications
Capacity| 1,000
Administration
Diocese| Christchurch

The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is the planned successor of Christchurch's former Catholic cathedral (of the same name) which was damaged in the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes and later demolished in 2020. This makes the cathedral the future mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch (Dioecesis Christopolitana).[1] Initially, the cathedral was to be located on the corner of Armagh and Colombo Streets, opposite Victoria Square. However, on 21 April 2024, Bishop Michael Gielen announced the cathedral would be returning to the Barbadoes Street site, formerly occupied by the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

## History

[edit]

The initial site of the new cathedral. Picture taken just after the demolition of the Copthorne Hotel (December 2013)

On 4 August 2019, Bishop Martin announced that the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament was to be demolished.[2] This decision was in contrast to Bishop Barry Jones, who favoured the restoration of the cathedral.[3] Plans for the new cathedral, including a building collaboration called North of the Square with Ōtākaro Limited, and the Carter Group were announced by Bishop Martin on 7 December 2019.[1][4] This collaboration, priced at NZ$500m, included new offices and a chancery, a five-star hotel, and a multi-storey carpark.[5][1] It was planned to be completed by 2026.[5][6]

### Costs

[edit]

The Catholic precinct was to cost NZ$100m, with NZ$40m being designated to the construction of the cathedral. The remaining funds were to be spent on chancery offices, an open courtyard, a garden, and parking.[7] Of the NZ$500m collaboration, NZ$126m was set aside for the Diocese.[8] Funding for the construction of the Cathedral was to be carried out, with NZ$45m already being used from its earthquake fund, as well as selling land no longer needed by the Diocese.[9]

### Legal issues

[edit]

On 26 March 2023, congregations of the Christchurch Diocese were told that the Vatican's supreme court, the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura halted action on the building project, to hear a legal case from a group of 300 parishioners (collectively known as 'The Gathering') from around Christchurch who opposed the $100 million building plan. The parishioners are challenging the Diocese under Canon Law. The group are hoping that suburban churches can be retained and a replacement cathedral be built on the Barbadoes Street site, formally occupied by the now-demolished Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

The Gathering also stated that Archbishop Martin (then Bishop of Christchurch) did not have the authority to demolish the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in 2019 and the selling of property for funding of the planned Cathedral. The Gathering and the Diocese subsequently sent one of 15 globally-known Canon Law lawyers to the hearings in the Vatican.[10][6]

## Construction

[edit]

### Design

[edit]

Two architect companies that are to design the new cathedral are local architect firm, Warren and Mahoney Architects, based in Christchurch and Franck & Lohsen Architects from the United States. Franck & Lohsen are known to focus on designing traditional design and have built churches all over the World.[7] Bishop Martin stated saying why this firm was chosen:

> "I am looking for us to build something that is more traditional rather than something modern. It needs to tap into why people loved the [cathedral]. People loved the [cathedral] because of the style and elegance."[7]

### Location

[edit]

Despite the land being purchased for the initial site, it was announced on 21 April 2024 that the cathedral will instead be built on the original site of the cathedral before the earthquakes. The purchased land will be sold off.[11]

### Naming

[edit]

On 26 May 2024, Bishop Gielen had his pastoral letter read out to parishes around the Diocese on the new pastoral name of the future cathedral. A choice of three patronal names were chosen by Bishop Gielen, namely: St Francis of Assisi, St John the Baptist, and The Blessed Sacrament. On 4 August 2024, Bishop Michael announced the new cathedral's name will be that of its predecessor: The Blessed Sacrament.[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Bishop announces site for new central Cathedral". Catholic Diocese of Christchurch. 6 December 2019. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
2. ^ "Blessed Sacrament Cathedral to be demolished". CathNews New Zealand. 5 August 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
3. ^ "Bishop announces plans to demolish Catholic Cathedral". Newsline. 4 August 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
4. ^ Bayer, Kurt (6 December 2019). "New $85m Catholic cathedral planned for centre of post-quake Christchurch". NZ Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
5. ^ a b "New Catholic cathedral part of $500m Christchurch development". Radio New Zealand. 7 December 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
6. ^ a b McDonald, Liz (30 March 2023). "Vatican action throws Christchurch's new cathedral plan into uncertainty". Stuff. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
7. ^ a b c "New Catholic complex in central Christchurch will cost $100 million". Stuff. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
8. ^ "New central city Catholic parish precinct to cost $126m". Otago Daily Times. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
9. ^ "Christchurch's new Catholic Cathedral in heart of the city". CathNews NZ Pacific. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
10. ^ McDonald, Liz (29 March 2023). "Vatican action halts Christchurch's Catholic cathedral building plan". Stuff. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
11. ^ "Major U-turn as site of Christchurch Catholic cathedral rebuild announced". 1News. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
12. ^ "The Press". www.thepress.co.nz. Retrieved 4 August 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Christchurch earthquakes

Earthquakes|

| Located in or near Christchurch|

* June 1869
* September 2010
* Boxing Day 2010
* February 2011
* June 2011
* December 2011
* February 2016

|

Located elsewhere causing
damage in Christchurch|

* 1855 Wairarapa
* 1881 Castle Hill
* 1888 North Canterbury
* 1901 Cheviot
* 1922 Motunau
* 2016 Kaikōura

Buildings|

| Lost|

* Christchurch Bus Exchange
* Christchurch Central Library
* Te Pae Convention Centre
* Crowne Plaza
* The Civic
* Clarendon Tower
* Cranmer Centre
* Cranmer Court
* CTV Building
* Durham Street Methodist Church
* Excelsior Hotel
* Fisher's Building
* Guthrey Centre
* Hallensteins Building
* Hornby Clocktower
* Hotel Grand Chancellor
* Linwood House
* Lyttelton Borough Council Chambers
* Lyttelton Road Tunnel Administration Building
* Lyttelton Times Building
* Majestic Theatre
* Manchester Courts
* Oxford Terrace Baptist Church
* PGC Building
* Press Building
* St John's Church
* St Luke's Church
* St Paul's Church
* Warner's Hotel
* Weston House
* Westpac Canterbury Centre
* Wharetiki House

|

Demolition|

* Implosion of Radio Network House
* Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
* Central Police Station
* Lancaster Park
* Music Centre of Christchurch
* Twinkle Toes

Damaged with
uncertain future|

* Antonio Hall
* Odeon Theatre

Remaining|

* Antigua Boat Sheds
* Arts Centre (Dux de Lux, Registry Building)
* Bridge of Remembrance
* Canterbury Club
* Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings
* Chief Post Office
* Christchurch Art Gallery
* Christ Church Cathedral
* Christchurch Club
* St Michael Church
* Citizens' War Memorial
* City Mall
* Curator's House
* Edmonds Band Rotunda
* Forsyth Barr Building
* Godley Statue
* Isaac Theatre Royal
* Knox Church
* McDougall Art Gallery
* McLean's Mansion
* Midland Club Building
* New Brighton Pier
* New Regent Street
* Lyttelton Timeball Station
* Old Government Building
* Our City
* Peterborough Centre
* Public Trust Building
* Riccarton House
* Rolleston Statue
* Scott Statue
* Shand's Emporium
* Sign of the Kiwi
* St Saviour's Chapel
* Town Hall
* Trinity Congregational Church
* Victoria Clock Tower
* Victoria Mansions
* Worcester Chambers

New|

* 185 empty chairs (unofficial memorial)
* Cardboard Cathedral
* Christchurch Catholic Cathedral
* Pallet Pavilion
* Re:START
* Riverside Market

Lists|

* historic places
* tall buildings

Land|

| Categories|

* Central City Red Zone
* Residential red zone (East Lake)
* TC3

|

Suburbs worst affected|

* Central City
* Avonside
* Avondale
* Dallington
* Bexley
* Southshore
* Brooklands
* Kaiapoi

People|

| Associated with earthquakes|

* Ann Brower
* Gerry Brownlee
* Kaila Colbin
* Clayton Cosgrove
* Ruth Dyson
* Antony Gough
* John Hamilton
* Andrew Holden
* Warwick Isaacs
* Sam Johnson
* André Lovatt
* Neil MacLean
* Tony Marryatt
* John Ombler
* Bob Parker
* Nigel Priestley
* Mark Quigley
* Alan Reay
* Ken Ring
* Gerald Shirtcliff
* Roger Sutton
* Deon Swiggs
* Mairehe Louise Tankersley
* Coralie Winn

|

Died in earthquake|

* Jo Giles
* Amanda Hooper

Recovery Plan|

* (1) The Frame (Margaret Mahy Playground)
* (2) Te Pae Convention Centre
* (3) Christchurch Stadium
* (4) Metro Sports Facility
* (5) Christchurch Bus Interchange
* (6) Avon River Precinct
* (7) Te Puna Ahurea Cultural Centre
* (8) The Square
* (9) Performing Arts Precinct
* (10) Justice and Emergency Services Precinct
* (11) Health Precinct
* (12) Cricket Oval
* (13) Residential Demonstration Project
* (14) Tūranga (Central Library)
* (15) Innovation Precinct
* (16) Retail Precinct
* Earthquake Memorial (official)

Organisations|

| Public sector|

* CCDU
* CERA
* Christchurch City Council
* Civil Defence
* Regenerate Christchurch
* SCIRT
* Selwyn District Council
* Waimakariri District Council

|

Private and voluntary sector|

* Farmy Army
* Gap Filler
* Greening the Rubble
* Ministry of Awesome
* Student Volunteer Army
* The Press

Services|

* Christchurch Recovery Map
* The Shuttle

Legislation|

* Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Act 2010
* Canterbury Earthquake Commemoration Day Act 2011
* Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011

Commission of Inquiry|

* Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission
* Mark Cooper (chair)
* Ron Carter (commissioner)
* Richard Fenwick (commissioner)

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