The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament after the dome was removed. Large cracks are visible in the walls and in the dome's supporting structure, and the facade is supported by haybales and shipping containers. The photographer comments, "The main dome of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament became unsafe after the February Christchurch earthquake - workmen have slowly been dismantling it. Now we are just left with the cracked and twisted walls that supported the beautiful dome".
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Building rubble on the cathedral grounds.
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Building rubble on the cathedral grounds.
A view of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, taken from the Port Hills.
A photograph of an excavator sitting outside the damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The tower on the south-west corner of the building has collapsed and the dome has been removed. Shipping containers support the far wall of the building.
A photograph of members of the New Zealand Police in high-visibility vests and hard hats walking down Barbadoes Street. In the distance, a dome of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament can be seen.
A statue of Mary in a window of the damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Barbadoes Street. After the February earthquake the statue of Mary was facing outwards towards the street, whereas before the earthquakes the statue faced inwards towards the church".
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. View from the side with diggers at work.
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Detail to the front entrance of the cathedral.
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Detail to the front entrance of the cathedral.
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. View from the side with diggers at work.
Flowers that have been woven into the fence around the damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.
A photograph captioned by Paul Corliss, "Barbadoes Street/Tuam street. Earthquake 4th of September 2010".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Hotel Grand Chancellor (viewed from the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament)".
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Detail of the sculpture on top of the cathedral.
Detail of damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The cross on the roof has been removed.
Detail of damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The cross on the roof has been removed.
To those silent sentinels,
the guardians of the night,
who insured our peaceful homes
and sheltered our children from fright.
We give our thanks and praise
for the sacrifice they bore,
and pledge always to remember
their gift of service in war.
Gerard A. Geiger March 23, 1996
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Close-up of some equipment that are being used on site.
The damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The tower on the south-west corner of the building has collapsed.
The damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, seen from the south side. Large cracks are visible below the dome.
The damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, seen from the south side. Large cracks are visible below the dome.
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. A large crack and fallen stonework are visible under the dome.
The damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, seen from the north side. Large cracks are visible below the dome.
A photograph submitted by Raymond Morris to the QuakeStories website. The description reads, "Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Barbadoes Street. The Cathedral was opened in 1905, the architect was Frank Petrie, and was designed in the Italian renaissance style as a basilica. It is not certain yet whether it will be reconstructed after the 2011 earthquakes.".
A photograph of the earthquake-damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on Barbadoes Street. Rubble from the collapsed tower is lying on the ground in front. A car has been crushed under this rubble. Wire fencing, shipping containers, and road cones have been placed around the building as a cordon.
A photograph of the earthquake-damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on Barbadoes Street. Rubble from the collapsed tower is lying on the ground in front. A car has been crushed under this rubble. Wire fencing, shipping containers, and road cones have been placed around the building as a cordon.
A photograph of the earthquake-damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on Barbadoes Street. Rubble from the collapsed tower is lying on the ground in front. A car has been crushed under this rubble. Wire fencing, shipping containers, and road cones have been placed around the building as a cordon.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrement".
