Tony Sewell is the project director for the Catholic Cathedral precinct, which includes the development and construction of the new Cathedral and the deconstruction/demolition of the old Cathedral.

"The building is very dangerous. We have had one or two incidents of falling pieces of material, which make us glad we are taking the approach we have," Sewell said.

He says many of the important artefacts have already been removed.

Now they are trying to determine if they can save some of the remaining items include stained glass windows, the organ and the Llew Summers Stations of the Cross.

"Can we put that person in there safely and not put their life at risk to save these things.

And what is the cost of doing that? Or do we have to take it down in another way to allow that to happen?

"I can't say to people yes we will save the Stations of the Cross or this or that because we can't ascertain it until we go through these stages."

Sculptor Llew Summers' 14 Stations of the Cross were commissioned for the Cathedral in 2000, but the sculptures attracted controversy due to Jesus being depicted naked in one of the images.

To save the Stations of the Cross, they would need to put someone into the building to physically remove them by breaking them out of the walls, where they are plastered in.

"These are the issues we are dealing with.

It's not just a question of getting someone to walk in there with a chisel and chip them off the wall. It's just not that easy," Sewell said.

He said they also have to consider whether the cost of removing the organ, for example, would be more than the cost of putting a new organ into a new building.

Source

• rnz.co.nz
• Image: tuimotu

Sacred Heart Parish council chairman Gary Shand said after the Canterbury earthquakes the church realised the building was not completely earthquake-proof and needed to be bolstered.

The main work will focus on putting steel structures and extra layers of concrete into areas of the Basilica to make it more stable.

The project had been given the go-ahead because the parish community had managed to raise $1 million of the $1.6 million it needed to contribute.

Along with this, and money kept aside, the Catholic Diocese will contribute close to $700,000 towards the project, but more was still needed.

With $600,000 still to be raised in Timaru, the parish was hoping businesses and the wider community would get involved.

"What we've got to push to the community is that it's used for community events," Shand said.

"If we can get to the $1.6 million, we'd be really happy."

Other possible ideas to raise funds included a pre-closure concert and giving guided tours of the Basilica, although Shand was not sure about going up on the roof.

In an earlier 2015 report, the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch's property and development manager Keith Beal said the cost of three possible schemes ranged between $5 million and $10 million.

However, he said those were very early estimates from the surveyors and the extent of the schemes would be looked at in more detail.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

The decision to shut St Mary's church in Carterton and St Anthony's church in Martinborough was made by the Catholic Parish of Wairarapa's finance committee and pastoral team last week.

It is understood the decision was based on keeping parishioners safe. Continue reading

An assessment has found the building's structural integrity to be just 15 per cent of the standard for a new building.

This means there would be a significant risk to occupants if there was an earthquake.

While Sacred Heart Cathedral is closed, weekday masses will in the short term take place at Sacred Heart Cathedral school.

Sunday masses will be celebrated at St Mary's College Hall, Guildford Terrace.

A spokesperson said while the detailed planning for remediation work has not started yet, it is likely that the building will be closed for several years.

The restoration work will cost several million.

The Cathedral Parish will be enlisting the help of the people of Wellington and others to preserve this Wellington landmark.

Following a verbal report from structural and civil engineers, Dunning and Thornton, the Parish Committee has been working through a process of due diligence regarding the structural condition of the Cathedral.

On Thursday it received a peer review of the detailed seismic assessment (DSA) that recently advised that the Cathedral was ‘earthquake prone' under the Building Act 2004.

Both reports have confirmed that the Cathedral currently presents a significant risk to occupants in the event of an earthquake.

In the 1980s the Cathedral was strengthened and the complex enlarged to include the foyer, Blessed Sacrament Chapel and Connolly Hall.

This work was done well and the building elements that were strengthened are rated well above the 33% minimum of NBS.

However, at roof level, ceiling diaphragms are insufficient to carry loads under the current building codes.

This has resulted in a lower earthquake rating being applied to the building.

Sacred Heart Cathedral, designed by architect Francis Petre, was opened in 1901.

In contrast to most other Wellington churches, its classical rather than Gothic styling has made it a prominent building on the Thorndon landscape.

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Source

• Supplied: Amanda Gregan Communications Advisor - NZ Catholic Bishops/Te Huinga o nga Pihopa Katorika o Aotearoa
• stuff.co.nz
• Image: Supplied New Zealand Catholic Bishops