Pastoral letter covers Christchurch diocese recovery plan

Tuesday, September 1st, 2015

The Bishop of Christchurch has issued a pastoral letter on the Diocesan Recovery Plan.

In the letter, Bishop Barry Jones stated that the plan for the diocese is a “single plan” including the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

The letter sets out the goals in terms of time frame and building standards to be achieved.

The strategy is to focus on getting parishioners back into churches where they are closed as soon as possible.

It is hoped to advance the planning for new churches where churches have been demolished.

Approval has been given for a number of projects to proceed.

These projects include temporary repairs for St Anne’s church, Woolston, and St Peter’s church, Beckenham.

Work on St Anne’s has begun with St Peter’s to follow on shortly.

The work required for St Matthew’s, Bryndwr, has been put out to tender and is soon to start.

Plans to reopen three closed heritage churches are well underway.

The letter expresses a hope that work will start on St John the Evangelist church, Leeston, in early spring.

When the necessary consents have been received, work will commence on St Mary’s church, Hokitika.

With knowledge gained from these two heritage buildings, strengthening plans are in place for St Joseph’s church, Temuka, which is hoped to be reopened in twelve months time.

All the necessary consents have been received for the work to extend St Bernadette’s church at Hornby and to complete the necessary repairs.

The letter states that building five new churches is being investigated.

Initial plans for St Mary’s church, New Brighton, have been presented and St Patrick’s, Lincoln, and St Mary’s, Pleasant Point, are hoping to do the same in the near future.

St Joseph’s, Papanui, is seeking expressions of interest from qualified organisations to draw up comprehensive documentation for the diocese.

In Mairehau the team from St Francis of Assisi has shared its initial thoughts and concepts.

Sources