Preserving Heritage

Efforts to remember and preserve the Christchurch Basilica

Jennie Meuldijk

During Demolition:

The safe recovery of treasured artefacts within the ruins of the Basilica was a top priority and consideration surrounding both the strengthening and demolition processes. However, some artefacts - including the beloved stained windows - would prove more difficult to preserve. Triona Doocey, archivist for the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch, said that many items would be cleaned or restored and put to use; items that were too damaged or costly to repair would be given to Canterbury Museum or put on display in the new cathedral.

The Basilica’s Great Bell, which was originally cast in Belgium in 1904, was recovered and is currently on display at Quake City with a photograph of the Basilica ruins as its backdrop. The 1878 organ was lifted from the ruins in December 2020; records of the organ can be found in the Catholic Archive. In 2021, funding was sought to rebuild the damaged, 10-metre tall Halmshaw organ - Don Whelan, CBS trust spokesman, has claimed that the cost of repair might prove cheaper than buying a new organ. The organ, along with two smaller pipe organs (one damaged, one ready to be reused), are currently in storage in Timaru.

The largest and most difficult piece of the Basilica to safely remove was its iconic central dome. It was feared that the weight of the dome would result in further structural damage to the rest of the building, and the process to disassemble the dome was slow and careful. After the outer structure was removed, the internal copper dome was lifted out; responsibility for salvaging the dome's ornate interior fell to Sisters Thèrése Assémat and Clare Lyons.

Basilica, dome deconstruction with cranes in the background

Credit: Becker Fraser, 19 July 2011. Source: https://quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz/store/object/183541

The demolition process revealed long forgotten relics buried within the Catholic Basilica’s ruins, some of which had been stored beneath the floorboards during the 1970s. Triona Doocey was put in charge of cataloguing each item as they were recovered. Among the finds included 1980s time capsules, old collection boxes and a nativity scene with figures heads ‘taken clean off’. Another unusual find to arise from the rubble of the Catholic Basilica was a collection of old jars containing relics of saints that had been buried by former-archivist Kevin Clarke in the 1970s; this discovery was referred to by the media as "Saints in Coffee Jars".

An exhibition of the discoveries was on display at the Arts Centre on the 6th-10th of February, 2024. To learn more about the relics, read Triona Doocey's article with an accompanying video, or browse the collection of relics online.

Artwork and Exhibition Projects:

In the aftermath of the February quake, numerous art exhibitions popped up over Christchurch to recognise, mourn, and remember all that had been lost. The Catholic Basilica featured in several of these exhibitions.

#WishYouWereHere Chch, former Mayor Lianne Dalziel, Julia Holden's Catholic Basilica Postcard

A photograph of Former Mayor Lianne Dalziel holding a postcard depicting Julia Holden's painting 'Catholic Basilica'. Credit: Julia Holden, 21 July 2014. Source: https://quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz/store/object/225408

  • The Space Between Words (8-28 October 2012) was an exhibition of panels by Guy Frederick, who captured experiences of thirteen Christchurch individuals during and after the earthquakes. Gerard Smythe, one of the thirteen, chose to be photographed in front of the Basilica’s ruins. He shares the story of how his great grandparents were married in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in 1906. “About 36 hours after the quake I saw the state of the Basilica for the first time,” recalls Smythe. “The adrenalin, which I had felt up to that point, flooded out as emotion. I burst into tears. It felt like I was letting my breath out for the first time. The Basilica had been so familiar in my early life. The largest, strongest building I knew. Now it was down.” The exhibition can be viewed on QuakeStudies.
  • The Voices Project (29 June 2014) - A series of sound installations, set up by Olivia Webb at sites around Christchurch where buildings have been lost or relocated since the earthquakes. The Catholic Cathedral was included as one of the three locations for this sound exhibition.
    • Voices Project - the back story, Olivia Webb, 5 August 2016 - A 26-minute YouTube clip explaining the rational for this project.
    • A Sonic Arts Review. Dr Malcolm Riddoch, The Physics Room, 29 June 2014 - An art review of the project by Dr Malcolm Riddoch.
  • #Wish You Were Here (2013-2014) was an art series that consisted of ten oil paintings by Julia Holden depicting landmarks of Christchurch that had been affected by the February quake. These paintings were made into large-format postcards, printed by Phantom Billstickers and exhibited around Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. The Catholic Basilica was among the five chosen by the public to be displayed on billboards.
    • Catholic Basilica Painting 1, Julia Holden, 20 May 2014 - an image of Julia Holden's Basilica painting, which featured as one of the postcards in her #Wish You Were Here art series.
Basilica, Building pieces laid out on the grass, post-quake

Credit: Becker Fraser, 19 July 2011. Source: https://quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz/store/object/183580

Research Projects:

  • Page, Bradley. "Valued But Broken: Reconstructing Damaged Built Heritage." Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, School of Architecture, Thesis, 1 January 2013 - This Master's thesis details the importance of heritage buildings within New Zealand, focusing extensively on how the Catholic Cathedral can be "retained for future generations". The thesis proposes reconstruction methods and is guided by processes undertaken in previous heritage restoration projects.
  • Flett, Alison Ruth. "Approaching the altar: art, agency and appreciation at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch." University of Canterbury, Art History, Thesis, 2016 - This Masters' Thesis in Art History and Theory reflects upon the Catholic Cathedral, with particular focus on the altars of both the Pro-Cathedral and the Basilica. Alison Flett pays homage to its history, outlining the changes that had occurred to the Catholic Cathedral's architecture throughout the years.
  • Basobas, Frances. "Resurrecting the Ruins." Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, School of Architecture, Thesis, 21 August 2021 - This Masters' Thesis explores the possibilities of preserving the original Cathedral through recycling and reusing demolished materials.Drawing from case studies overseas in which waste material and heritage material have been reused, this thesis offers a compelling case towards potential plans for the new Catholic Cathedral in Christchurch.

Basilica, damaged stained glass window, taped up

Credit: Becker Fraser, 19 February 2011. Source: https://quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz/store/object/172299

Articles:

Images and Videos:

  • Shermine Kwok Photograph 48. QuakeStudies, 12 August 2013 - A photograph of the bell from the Christchurch Catholic Cathedral on display at QuakeCity.
  • Fairfax Video, May 2011 (1), Daniel Tobin, QuakeStudies, 5 May 2011 - A video about the removal of the dome of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on Barbadoes Street. The dome is being removed in order to take weight off the building and help stabilise the lower sections.
  • Fairfax Video, August 2011 (2), Charley Mann and Daniel Tobin, QuakeStudies, 25 August 2011 - A video about engineers recovering the internal copper dome of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament by lifting it out in one piece.

<< Back, to Post-Quake Decisions

>> Return to Main: Christchurch Basilica

...