Heritage campaigners have given up their legal battle to prevent the demolition of Christchurch’s Catholic cathedral and say their only hope is to shame the local bishop into saving the historic building. Restore Our Catholic Cathedral (ROCC) spokeswoman Dame Anna Crighton said they had given up their legal battle after receiving legal advice from barrister Read more
About Sixty people from throughout the diocese of Christchurch met at Sacred Heart Hall Addington on Sunday 11 August, to discuss their hopes for the future of the diocese. They were responding to two announcements made recently by the bishop Christchurch Paul Martin. On 9 June he announced a proposal to close 13 churches in the diocese Read more
Christchurch Regeneration Minister Megan Woods does not have the power to intervene and stop possible demolition of the Christchurch’s earthquake-damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. A spokesman for Woods said she “does not have the power to intervene as the rules under the Christchurch District Plan govern and enable the demolition of the Catholic basilica.” Read more
Photographer Glen Howey pieced together this incredible collage. Watch it Source: Seven Sharp
A chair was especially constructed for St John Paul to use during his visit to New Zealand in 1986. The fact that a Protestant was the first person to use it is a source of quiet amusement for the man who constructed it. Upholsterer Colin Loach tells how he put the very large chair in Read more
The Christchurch diocese is calling on international expertise to make sure the restoration of its earthquake damaged cathedral, if possible, is consistent with Catholic traditions. American architect James McCrery arrived from Washington DC this week and saw the cathedral for the first time on Tuesday. In an article in the NationaL Catholic Register McCrery is Read more
On Monday 16 April the Anglican Church announced plans for the “transitional” cathedral designed by a top Japanese “paper architect”. While public debate continues to rage over the decision by the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch to demolish Cathedral in the Square, columnist Jane Bowron notes there has been relative silence over the future of the Catholic Basilica Read more