Large steel frames will be installed on the west wall, the transepts, the back of the cathedral and the southern side of the building near where the tower once stood.

"These frames are designed to stop the building from moving in an earthquake," said Project director Keith Paterson

"But they also provide an opportunity for access and then also encapsulate the building to weatherproof it in the future.

We are using them for multiple purposes."

Workers would then enter beneath portable steel frames to protect them from earthquakes or falling debris.

"It is a bit like Pike River, but the danger isn't omnipresent, it is a discreet danger."

Once workers can access the building they will be able to assess the level of damage to the stone walls from a crane, Paterson said.

At the end of the year, demolition will begin on the visitors centre on the northern side of the cathedral to allow more access to the heritage building.

The two-year stabilisation project also includes removing the cathedral's historic pipe organ so it can be restored and improved.

By the end of the stabilisation stage, Paterson said the building would be about 34 per cent of the current seismic building code.

Three historic trees and the Citizens' War Memorial should only be removed from the Christ Church Cathedral grounds if absolutely necessary, city leaders say.

Proposed planning laws being drawn up by the Government to fast-track the cathedral's restoration allow for three, more than 100-year-old, London plane trees and the war memorial to be removed from the site.

The new planning rules being drawn up by the Government would mean resource consent for restoration would have to be approved within 40 days and would not require public notification

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Due to COVID-19, the country is still under physical distancing restrictions, so only a few people were permitted on the site.

In a first for the project team live streaming was required so that the moment could be shared more widely. Read more

Plans are still being drafted for the rebuild of the cathedral, but today's visit attracted those who worked inside its walls for decades. Read more

Christchurch Cathedral reinstatement Project senior project manager Tim Anthon said the work would prop up the walls of the historic Christchurch building to make it safe for restoration workers to go inside. Read more

The service took place at Christchurch Boys' High School Auditorium.

It was led by Archbishops Philip Richardson and Don Tamihere.

About 1000 people attended including Anglicans from the diocese and the province, members of the Maori Anglican Church, Tikanga Maori, the Pacific Anglican Church, Tikanga Pasifika, heads of other denominations, civic leaders, business leaders and the new Bishop's family and friends.

Carrell's installation was celebrated in a second service in Cathedral Square on Sunday. The bishop said the location of the installation was deliberate.

In an interview prior to his installation, Carrel said he had chosen to hold his installation ceremony in front of the ruined Christ Church Cathedral as a symbol of his commitment to restoration.

"I wanted to make clear that we are really connected to the cathedral and its future in the Square."

On Sunday he reiterated his commitment: "Today I am not able to be installed inside the cathedral but I am glad to be installed as close to it as safety permits.

One day we will be inside the cathedral again and, when we re-open it, I will stand outside the main doors, eager to bang on the doors with my crozier, a custom normally associated with an installation service."

The Gothic-style 138-year-old Anglican cathedral was badly damaged in the 6.3-magnitude February 22, 2011, quake that devastated Christchurch.

Last year, the Government and Anglican Diocese of Christchurch agreed on a funding and joint-venture deal for a $104 million restoration.

Two large cranes began work in December to remove steel framing that has propped up the front of the Cathedral for several years.

At the time Keith Paterson said the aim was for the steel framing to be deconstructed by early February, in time for the installation.

Paterson is the project director for Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Limited (CCRL).

Source

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The rubble was delivered to the cathedral site after the 2011 earthquakes to protect paving stones during the demolition of the remains of the cathedral spire base. Continue reading

She was speaking at a special Choral Eucharist in Christchurch's Transitional Cathedral last Sunday.

She said the Christchurch Cathedral restoration is being driven by "the wealthy and the powerful."

"Business as usual folks, with the wealthy and powerful telling you, the people of Canterbury, that they know best - good luck with that," Matthews said.

The Christchurch City Council decided in principle earlier this year to contribute $10m toward the $104m earthquake-damaged cathedral's restoration but wanted to consult with the public before making a final decision. Continue reading

The Anglican's governing body, the Synod, voted on Saturday to restore the Christ Church Cathedral, with regeneration minister Nicky Wagner saying work could start before Christmas. Continue reading

Inspired by ideas overseas, Walker Community Architects proposed what they call a third way to deal with the earthquake-wrecked church. Continue reading

The third option is gifting the Cathedral to the Government "for the people of New Zealand". Continue reading

On Tuesday, Christchurch Regeneration Minister Nicky Wagner released Government documents that contradicted what the Church Property Trustees (CPT), who manage Anglican properties, have been telling Synod members about the costs of those options. Continue reading

The package comprised a $10 million grant and $15m suspensory loan from government, a $10m city council contribution, at least $13.7m in philanthropic donations and the church's own $42m insurance payout.

The Christchurch City Council pledge, supported in principle unanimously by councillors behind closed doors on Friday, is subject to public consultation.

The offer also proposes new legislation, which would allow reinstatement of the cathedral to be fast tracked, and the formation of an independent fundraising trust to find the remaining money.

These two elements, and the council money, augment the original government offer made last year, and closely follow recommendations of the Cathedral Working Party report, delivered to government in November.

That report said a funding shortfall of up to $50m could be raised in three to five years.

Bishop Victoria Matthews said the latest terms were a "generous offer".

"Because we have only just received this proposal from the Government, alongside the council contribution, there will be much for the Synod members to ponder."

The information would be presented at pre-synod meetings ahead of the September vote.

Wagner said: "The Government contribution is a significant amount of money, but we need to balance the property rights of the church with the historical value of the building and the need to break this deadlock."

"About half of Christchurch wants to see the cathedral reinstated, the other half wants a modernised version or a contemporary new-build, but really, everyone just needs a decision. It's time to move forward, and I think this is our best option."

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At Thursday's city council meeting Dalziel said there was only one decision the synod could make in September that would provide that certainty - voting for restoration. Continue reading

The survey commissioned by Church Property Trustees (CPT) said there was limited support for taxpayer or ratepayer funding of the reinstatement option. Read more

"The role of the wider community (including other Christian denominations) is to respect their decision (whatever it might be) as being one that is true to their understanding of their call from God, in this place, at this time," the letter states.

"The costs - spiritually, emotionally and financially - of all our buildings are borne by those for whom these places of worship are their spiritual home,"

"First and foremost the Cathedral in the Square, like all Christian church buildings, is a place of worship to the God we know in Jesus Christ and a reminder to the wider community of God's presence."

"The reason why all churches exist is to make Jesus Christ known and to enable people to gather in community and worship. The church is not primarily a landlord tasked with caring for stone or wooden edifices."

Presbyterian moderator David Coster wrote the letter as he felt the media and politicians unfairly criticised Matthews.

It was signed by Coster, Methodist district superintendent Kathryn Walters, Catholic diocese administrator Rick Loughnan, Grace Vineyard Church senior pastor David MacGregor, Elim Church lead pastor Nu Telea, Salvation Army divisional commander Ivan Bezzant, King's Church senior pastor Ken Shelley and Baptist regional mission leader Maurice Atkinson.

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A government-appointed working party has been trying to decided the fate of the building and its report, which is due out shortly, is expected to support restoring the cathedral.

Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Nicky Wagner say she is "deeply disappointed" that the decision had been postponed again.

She said that the city urgently needed "some kind of hope of a solution" to what she called a horribly divisive issue. "and we were hoping for a breakthrough."

To try to break the deadlock, 11 months ago a government-appointed working group met for the first time.

Wagner said the group has reached a conclusion, but would not say what it was, or when the report would be released.

In the letter, read out in all the churches in the Christchurch Anglican diocese, Matthews said a survey undertaken by the church found the public was "still divided" over rebuilding the cathedral or building an "inspirational and fit for purpose" contemporary cathedral, Matthews said, but the church and "a majority" of the Church Property Trust wanted the latter.

The synod is a 225-member governing body that includes elected parishioners, priests and youth representatives from the diocese. It is not known if the decision would require a unanimous vote or majority one.

Church property trustees includes National Party Canterbury-Westland chairman Roger Bridge, Deloitte New Zealand partner Steve Wakefield, former Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority boss Roger Sutton, law lecturer Moka Ritchie, civil engineer Bruce Deam, retired equine vet Corin Murfitt and Colliers director Gary Sellars.

The working party comprises of Christchurch developer Alasdair Cassels, former Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Authority general manager Steve Wakefield, National Party regional chair Roger Bridge, former NZ Transport Agency head Geoff Dangerfield and academic Sue McKenzie.

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Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Gerry Brownlee said he wrote to Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews on March 8 to reiterate an offer to contribute a $10 million grant and a $15 million loan towards the restoration costs of the cathedral. Continue reading

But a source close to the process says it could be next week. Continue reading