Parishioners in St Mary’s Blenheim will be going to Mass in their own church again on Sunday.
The church has been shut since May after it was initially assessed as being about 8 per cent of the building code and at risk of collapse in a significant earthquake.
The steeple was an area of concern, as was how the roof and walls connected.
Father Bill Warwick, the parish priest, told parishioners last Sunday that the parish knew it had work to do to get the building up to code. A parish working group had been formed.
Project Stronger spokesman David Mullin said a detailed study of the church confirmed the initial assessment.
Mr Mullin said St Mary’s was due for significant maintenance work and the “significant strengthening” work needed as part of the quake response would be dealt with as part of that maintenance.
Project Stronger is the Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington’s response to the Christchurch earthquakes.
Source
- The Marlborough Express
- Image: The Marlborough Express