Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says that the Anglican Church needs to produce a definite plan to rebuild Christ Church Cathedral, having left an “information vacuum” after Friday’s announcement.
The church’s decision to reduce the building to 2 to 3 metres in height because of severe damage in a number of earthquakes has caused vehement debate.
Parker’s view is that cathedral authorities must take a lead in developing plans for a rebuild of the cathedral. He said that some of the building seemed to have survived the earthquakes sufficiently so that they could be taken to pieces carefully and rebuilt as they were.
He suggested that the fallen western spire could be reconstructed taller, while parts of the old spire could be kept as a memorial.
Architect Sir Miles Warren is a member of the cathedral’s Canons Almoner. He said he was in agreement with the decision to demolish the cathedral. He also said that it was “unfortunate” the church had not offered a vision for rebuilding.
Bishop of Christchurch Victoria Matthews said that said no decision had yet been made about how the new cathedral would look, but that safety would be of the highest priority.
Sources