The Christ Church Cathedral

Christchurch Cathedral, Anglican Cathedral

Stephanie Ingham

Black and White photograph of the Christ Church Cathedral with a partially collapsed roof and scaffolding.

Credit: Geoff Trotter. Source: https://www.ceismic.org.nz/search/33693305/

Construction of the Christ Church Cathedral began in 1864 and was completed in 1904, making the Christ Church Cathedral the first Anglican Cathedral to be completed in New Zealand. As the city developed, the cathedral became known as the heart of Christchurch city; surrounded by Cathedral Square, the cathedral was a central landmark of Christchurch City, and at one time could claim the title of most visited church in New Zealand.

On 7 April1983, the Christ Church Cathedral was registered as a Category I historic place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust – meaning that it was considered to be of outstanding cultural and historical significance to New Zealand.

Aerial View of Cathedral Square

Credit: Geof Wilson. Source: https://www.ceismic.org.nz/search/33693328/

On 4 September 2010, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake caused minor damage to the cathedral, mostly external and aesthetic damages. The cathedral was quickly cleared for regular use. Unfortunately, on 22 February 2011, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck, during which the Christ Church Cathedral sustained extensive damages. In the initial earthquake, the cathedral suffered a partial collapse of interior and exterior walls, and a near-total collapse of its iconic 63-meter spire.

Due to fears that people were trapped in the building, the cathedral was partially demolished in the aftermath of the earthquake as part of search and rescue efforts. Despite initial reports suggesting otherwise, the partial collapse of the Christ Church Cathedral did not result in any fatalities. Artist in Residence Sue Spigel was rescued from the partially collapsed upper floor of the building.

Sue Spigel seated in the window of the partially collapsed cathedral

Credit: Richard Cosgrove, Fairfax Media New Zealand. Source: https://www.ceismic.org.nz/search/40064214/

Subsequent aftershocks continued to damage the structure, ultimately causing the destruction of the iconic Rose Window. The future of the cathedral became unclear – rebuilding or reconstructing seemed impossible, expensive and time consuming, but to demolish would be to destroy an iconic Christchurch landmark. Parties formed on all sides, arguing for reconstruction, rebuilding, or demolition, until the case was taken up in the Supreme Court.

Collapsed Rose Window

Credit: Becker Fraser Photos. Source: https://www.ceismic.org.nz/search/40084428/

Ultimately, the mutual decision was to reinstate the Christ Church Cathedral. In May of 2022, reinstatement began. The initial cost estimate for these plans was $104 million NZD, but by the time plans were finalized and released in October of 2020, this estimate had risen to $154 million NZD. After further project reviews in 2024, the reinstatement was revalued to $248 million NZD.

In June 2024, the synod decided that it would reduce the extent of the cathedral's seismic strengthening in order to reduce the cost of restoration. Subsequently, in August 2024 the government announced that it would not continue to fund the rebuild. This left the cost of reinstatement entirely to the Church Property Trustees and work was halted as the project ran out of funding.

As of December 2024, the Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Project is still on pause, with no clear timeline of when reinstatement might continue. However, project chairman Mark Stewart remains hopeful: "We are committed to keeping funding conversations alive with both the Government and the Christchurch City Council, as well as our generous existing and potential donors."

Key Players:

  • The Church Property Trustees are a body corporate, the legal owners of the land and building of the Christ Church Cathedral. In a typical scenario, the body corporate would be responsible for the legal decision-making of the cathedral.
  • Bishop Victoria Matthews served as the Bishop of the Christ Church Cathedral from 2008-2018. She represents a significant role in the cathedral's history, as she was acting Bishop during the majority of the legal proceedings. Matthews initially advocated for demolition and rebuild.
  • The Diocesan Synod is a larger body of counsel consisting of members who represent the people of the cathedral. The Bishop acts in the interests of the synod regarding matters of the church. In the later stages of the cathedral debate, decision-making power was handed to the synod, and they voted narrowly in favour of restoring the Christ Church Cathedral.
  • The New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) states on their website, "the Society provides a forum for technical debate, promotes reconnaissance of local and overseas earthquakes, is involved in the evolution of relevant legislation and regulations, and contributes to planning for, response to, and recovery from, earthquakes." In the matter of the cathedral, the NZSEE resisted the initial plans for demolition and rebuild, taking the Church Property Trustees to court for the right to place a stay on demolition.
  • The Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Trust (CCCRT) is a fundraising trust established by the Crown following court proceedings. The responsibility of the CCCRT is to raise and manage funds for the reinstatement project.
  • The Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Limited (CCCRL) was created to expedite and streamline the reinstatement process, once all parties had come to an agreement on proceedings. This joint venture company acts on behalf of the Church Property Trustees and the CCCRT.
A digital copy of a pen and ink and watercolour painting by Raymond Morris, titled, 'Christ Church Cathedral 2'. Morris has rendered the painting so the spire of the cathedral is simply an outline, to represent the damage it suffered in the 22 February earthquake

Credit: Raymond Morris. Source: https://quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz/store/object/214445

Resources:

  • "The Once and Future Cathedral" - This thesis (Doctorate of Philosophy, Anthropology, 2017) is an ethnographic case study, tracking the discourse related to the Christ Church Cathedral. The abstract states: "Discourses of history and heritage, memory, place and identity, ownership, economics and power are all identified, along with the various actors, because of their significance. However, the thesis is primarily concerned with the differing meanings given to the Cathedral. The major argument centres on the symbolic interaction between material objects and human subjects and the various ways these are interpreted." 
  • "Urban Trauma: The contemporary square and the New Urbanist city - Reintegrating Christchurch Cathedral Square" - This master's thesis (Master of Architecture, Professional, 2021), "seeks to investigate the ways in which central squares can be better integrated with the contemporary city and how New Urbanist design principles can contribute toward this union," using the case study of the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral.
  • Praise Be: Christchurch Cathedral Special - This two-part series offers an extensive view of the pre-quake Cathedral. "TVNZ's long running religious and choral music programme visits Christchurch's Anglican cathedral. Before its devastation by earthquakes, it was the centre of the city and one of the most celebrated of its great Gothic buildings. Host Graeme Thomson explores the cathedral, its chapels and bell tower and outlines its history. He interviews Dean John Bluck and introduces hymns and songs of praise sung by the cathedral's choir and an ecumenical congregation."
  • Christchurch Cathedral has suffered massive damage - This audio file from 23 February 2011 covers the initial reports of visitors potentially trapped inside the Cathedral. "The Christchurch Cathedral has suffered massive damage, with its spire reduced to rubble and the roof caved in. There were visitors inside the building when the earthquake hit, and it is still unclear whether anyone was trapped beneath the rubble."
  • Chch Cathedral should be rebuilt says visiting expert - This RNZ report discusses the contention surrounding the proposed demolition of the Cathedral, including international opinions and input. "An international expert in earthquake recovery who's touring New Zealand says it's inconceivable to think that a building as magnificent as Christchurch Cathedral won't be rebuilt."
  • Christ Church Cathedral's day of restoration - This RNZ report discusses the restabilisation process in the early stages of the Cathedral Reconstruction Project.
  • Debris inside Christ Church Cathedral to finally be cleared more than 11 years after earthquake - This stuff article discusses the first reconstruction efforts undertaken on the cathedral.
  • The demolition of heritage buildings in Christchurch - This RNZ interview with Anna Crighton (Chairperson of the Canterbury Earthquake Heritage Buildings Fund Trust) discusses the demolition of heritage buildings in Christchurch.

General Searches:

To search the CEISMIC collection for information and resources on the Christ Church Cathedral, get started with one of the links below.

  • For general searches related to the Anglican Cathedral, click here.
  • For articles relating to the cathedral, click here, or for audio files, click here.
  • For a general search into the restoration of the cathedral, click here.
  • For research papers relating to the Anglican cathedral only, click here.
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