Christchurch Basilica

Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Barbadoes St.

Jennie Meuldijk

Basilica pre-quake, front view, angled camera shot with sign

Credit: Becker Fraser, 19 February 2011. Source: QuakeStudies

Overview

The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, once called the Architectural Gem of Christchurch, and otherwise known as the Christchurch Basilica or the Catholic Cathedral, suffered significant structural damage from the February 22 earthquake in 2011 which led to its eventual demolition in 2019-2020. Despite the irreparable damage to one of Christchurch’s iconic buildings, no lives were lost at the site of the Basilica during the February 2011 quakes.

The Basilica was opened on 12 February 1905, following four years of construction, and many New Zealanders from outside Christchurch travelled to take part in the opening ceremony. Designed by New Zealand-born architect Francis Petre, the Basilica is regarded as his finest architectural work. The Basilica was registered as a Category I heritage item by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust on 7 April 1983.

For over a century, the Basilica served as the heart of the Catholic Church and a cultural heritage site; it hosted many ceremonies both public and private, including concerts, weddings and funerals. Its distinctive green domes and grandiose columns were visible throughout Christchurch Central. The Basilica has been featured in artwork and photographs as a heritage building of Christchurch, standing with a majesty that was apparent even in the building's post-quake ruins.

Following the September 2010 earthquake, the Basilica was Red-Carded and its doors were closed to the public, never to reopen. Repairs and securing work had begun on the towers, with full structural assessments undertaken in 2010-2011, but this strengthening work had not been completed by the time of the February 22 earthquake in 2011. During the February event, the Basilica suffered extensive damage which increased the costs of repair.

The journey to reach a final decision around the fate of the Basilica was long, undergoing many changes. This decision changed hands three times under the leadership of Bishop Barry Jones, Bishop Paul Martin, and Bishop Michael Gielen. Despite the protest of many Catholic parishioners, the decision to go ahead with demolishing the Basilica was finalised by then-Bishop Paul Martin in August 2019.

Fourteen years after the building was closed to the public as a result of the September 2010 quakes, the site of the Catholic Basilica remains empty, functioning as a parking lot for Christchurch Central. However, plans for a future build on that site are currently underway under the guidance of the current Bishop of Canterbury, Bp. Michael Gielen.

Basilica, damaged post-quake, street view of shipping containers

Credit: Becker Fraser, 17 June 2011. Source: QuakeStudies

Navigation

Building Timeline

  • The project for building a Catholic Cathedral in the heart of Christchurch met against struggle and backlash from the predominantly Anglican community of the late-nineteenth century; the resulting building stood as a testament to their determination and ingenuity to produce such a monumental building with a limited budget.

Earthquake Damage

  • The fate of the Basilica later underwent many changes stemming from the first major earthquake in September 2010. This page tracks notable stages of the Basilica before and after construction in the late nineteenth century, and the changes it underwent as a result of both the September 2010 and February 2011 earthquakes.

Post-Quake Decisions

  • The fate of the Basilica passed hands twice under the guidance of three Bishops. However, a group of parishioners raised their voice to protest these changes, and research was conducted on ways to preserve the ruins. This page tracks the statements and choices made by the decision-makers, the public, and parishioners surrounding the future of the Basilica.

Preserving Heritage

  • Following the February 2011 Earthquakes, the Basilica continued to instil awe and wonder upon its viewers right up until it was demolished. Numerous responses from the public arose to preserve its history, particularly shown through artwork, documentation, and preservation efforts. This page tracks key features of the Basilica that were recovered and preserved, alongside the artwork exhibitions and research projects by the public in an effort to preserve the history of the Christchurch Basilica.

General Searches:

CEISMIC's collection includes hundreds of items of and related to the Catholic Cathedral, mostly surrounding the February 2011 earthquake and its aftermath. To search CEISMIC's database for information and resources on the Catholic Cathedral, include all variations of the Cathedral's name to gather as large a database as possible. This search can then be filtered by year, media type, and content provider to narrow down your search further.

  • For a full search of the Christchurch Basilica, click here.
  • To explore video footage of and connected to the Christchurch Basilica, click here.
  • For audio files relating to the Christchurch Basilica, click here.
  • For a small collection of interior photographs, before the Christchurch Basilica suffered earthquake damage, click here.
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