
File reference: CCL-2012-02-19-IMG_0275 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
File reference: CCL-2012-02-19-IMG_0268 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
It was so nearly lost. As the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral is being rebuilt, historian Edmund Bohan is releasing a history of the distinctive Gothic building. It shows it was controversial even before work started on designing it, let alone building in. From the laying of the foundations to the official opening, it took 40 years, after squabbles over pretty much every aspect of its construction - not to mention the huge problems raising the money to build it in the City Centre. In Heart of the City: The Story of Christchurch's Controversial Cathedral, Edmund is critical of the former Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews' determination to demolish the badly-damaged cathedral after the Canterbury earthquakes, to replace it with a modern church. And he tells Lynn Freeman he's very much looking forward to seeing the Cathedral restored to its former glory after a lengthy and pricey rebuild. But first he sets the scene. Back in the 1860s, there was controversy over where the cathedral should go, its design, whether it should be in stone or timber - even if there should be a cathedral built at all! Heart of the City: The Story of Christchurch's Controversial Cathedral, by Edmund Bohan is published by Quentin Wilson Publishing.
A photograph of a sign post in Cathedral Square. A large pile of rubble lies next to the badly-damaged ChristChurch cathedral in the background.
Helicopter Flight over Christchurch New Zealand
Helicopter Flight over Christchurch New Zealand
Helicopter Flight over Christchurch New Zealand
Helicopter Flight over Christchurch New Zealand
Helicopter Flight over Christchurch New Zealand
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Christchurch Cathedral".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Christchurch Cathedral".
A photograph of the Citizens' War Memorial in Cathedral Square. Bracing has been placed around the neck and waist of the angel. In the background, the roof of the Cathedral Visitors' Centre and part of the ChristChurch Cathedral can be seen.
A photograph of the Citizens' War Memorial in Cathedral Square. Bracing has been placed around the neck and waist of the angel. In the background, the roof of the Cathedral Visitors' Centre and part of the ChristChurch Cathedral can be seen.
A photograph of a laminated image tied to the fencing around Cathedral Square. The image depicts the ChristChurch Cathedral as it looked before the Canterbury earthquakes.
A photograph of the west side of the of the ChristChurch Cathedral, and crowds of people in Cathedral Square. Scaffolding can be seen at the front of the Cathedral and The Chalice is in the distance.
A photograph of the west side of the of the ChristChurch Cathedral, and crowds of people in Cathedral Square. Scaffolding can be seen at the front of the Cathedral and The Chalice is in the distance.
A photograph of the west side of the of the ChristChurch Cathedral, and crowds of people in Cathedral Square. Scaffolding can be seen at the front of the Cathedral and The Chalice is in the distance.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "ChristChurch Cathedral, Cathedral Square".
Detail of the Christchurch Anglicain Cathedral viewed from a path between the new Cashel Mall shopping area and Cathedral Square which was opened two weekends ago. This is the first time this section of the city has been open to the public since the 22 February 2011 earthquake. It will be closed off again after 11 December 2011 for the demolitio...
Tuesday 27 March 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-03-27-IMG_0668 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Tuesday 27 March 2012. File reference: CCL-2012-03-27-IMG_0670 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
The Christchurch Cathedral Square showing the Anglican Cathedral after loosing its tower and spire after the 6.3 quake hit Christchurch 22 February 2011. This image also shows the remains of the very heavy snow fall we had on Monday 25 July 2011. The centre of the city is still cordoned off. This image was taken from a helicopter flight over the...
The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christcurch, after the 6.3 magnitude quake on 22 February 2011. The dome has now been taken down (and is on the ground on the right side of this image) and you can see the orange and green of the workmen's hi-vis in the tower section.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "ChristChurch Cathedral, Cathedral Square".
A proposed design by John Raven for a new cathedral, tied to a cordon fence. Clarendon Tower can be seen in the background. The photographer comments, "Someone is asking for designs for a new Christchurch Cathedral after it was announced that the old historical building will not be repaired, to be put on the fences through which people can see the de-construction of the old one. This design looks a great one to me".
As seen from Hereford St over the demolition of the corner buildings.
A temporary (5year) construction of giant cardboard tubes to be in use until the new or restored Christ Church Cathedral is back in the Square
The Press Building, Cathedral Square
The Press Building, Cathedral Square
The Cathedral has been in a state of limbo since the Christchurch earthquakes. Now roosting pigeons are adding to the damage.