The Court of Appeal yesterday dealt those fighting for the landmark's restoration a hefty blow when it dismissed an appeal against a High Court decision allowing the Anglican Church to deconstruct.

Bishop Victoria Matthews welcomed the "crystal clear" decision about the church's rights, but said it could be several months before the cathedral's fate was known.

Source:

• The Press
• Image: eqclearinghouse.co

Last week the church revealed three designs for the Christchurch icon - restoration, a reinterpretation of the original cathedral in modern materials, or a completely new building with a sculptural spire.

Anglican diocese spokesman Jayson Rhodes said Bishop Victoria Matthews asked for a ‘‘show of hands'' from the synod about the three designs.

‘‘No one wanted the restoration option, about six or seven people put their hands up for the traditional option and the vast, overwhelming majority put their hands up for the contemporary design.

Those who spoke said it offered flexibility going forward, the rebuild timeframe was only five years, and the cost would spare them years of extensive fundraising.

Subsequently there have been reports of "rumblings of discontent".

People who want to see the existing building restored say the cost of fixing it up has been inflated, to make other options look better.

But Rhodes says cost is only one of the elements being considered.

He says design and appearance are just as important as cost, and no final decision has been made yet.

As of Saturday, 53 percent of members of the public have also voted in favour of the contemporary design compared with 20 percent who want full restoration.

Source

• The Press
• NewsTalkZB
• NewsTalkZB
• Image: TVNZ

After hours of debate, the proposal for women bishops won the required two-thirds majority from the general synod's house of bishops and house of clergy, but was four votes short of the required margin in the house of laity.

The outgoing archbishop, Dr Rowan Williams, admitted his dismay and "deep personal sadness" and said the Anglican Church had "lost credibility". His successor, Bishop Justin Welby, who will take up the office at the end of the year, said the vote marked a "very grim day" in the history of the Anglican Communion.

The result was greeted with emotion, with some supporters in tears.

Women bishops already serve the Anglican Church in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States, but the issue has divided the Anglican Communion for years and member churches in many developing countries oppose any female clergy and are working together to oppose any change.

In New Zealand, the Anglican Bishop of Christchurch, Bishop Victoria Matthews, described the decision as a "product of fear".

"I have to admit I was gutted by the announcement," she said. "I would describe it as more than disappointing. As someone who is a woman in leadership and someone who dearly loves the Anglican Communion, it was quite depressing."

More than 100 members spoke during six hours of discussion in the synod. The discussion focused on ways to designate alternative male bishops to work with traditionalist parishes that might reject the authority of a woman bishop named to head their diocese.

But one lay member, Jane Patterson, urged the synod not to "bow to cultural pressure", warning that more priests would defect to the Roman Catholic Church, where there are no female clergy, if the law were passed.

Sources:

Reuters

BBC

Image: National Post

Matthews said the notice from the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (Cera) on October 28 came "out of the blue".

The order, known as a section 38 notice, gives building owners 10 days to advise Cera of plans to make earthquake-damaged buildings safe.

"Two property people came to my door and said they needed to see me right now and we have been told this has been issued and we have 10 days. From that point, a bit more time was negotiated," Matthews said this week.

The Catholic Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament leaders are considering whether to restore the building for more than $100m or build a new cathedral for about $40m.

"I am still 50-50. Half of me wants to restore it to its former glory and half wants to build a new one," said board chairman Lance Ryan. "I am trying to get a decision from the engineers by Christmas," he said.

A similar decision faces the Anglicans. Divisions became apparent with the resignation of the Dean of the Cathedral, Peter Beck, last week. It is said Bishop Matthews appears to favour demolishing the cathedral and building a new church, either on the same site or elsewhere. Beck, it is said, wants to repair the cathedral and restore it to its former glory.

They also disagree over the distribution of fundraising money - the bishop wanting to scatter the money among all of Christchurch's parishes. The bishop is said to have taken full control of all decisions, leaving Beck out in the cold.

Source

• The Christchurch Press - A Tale of Two Cathedrals
• The Christchurch Press - Bishop at odds with some over future of Catheral
• Image: Popsci and ASC