The head of the Christchurch cathedral thinks people visiting the church may have been killed there when the quake hit this afternoon. The Dean of Christchurch, Peter Beck, says they rushed to get as many people out of the Cathedral as they could.
Dean of Christchurch Cathedral Peter Beck talks about what the people of Christchurch are going through in the aftermath of the earthquake.
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.
One of the most potent symbols of the earthquake has been the massive amount of destruction caused to Christchurch's Anglican Cathedral, including the toppling of its spire.
The Dean of the Christchurch Cathedral says he's stepping down so he can better serve the city during the earthquake recovery.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christ Church Cathedral holds their Sunday service in the Square. The Reverend Peter Beck conducts the service".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Band Together in Christchurch's Hagley Park as a post-earthquake party. Peter Beck leads the inter-denominational blessing".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Earthquake damage in central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake. Peter Beck, Dean of Christchurch Cathedral, beside the damaged Cathedral".
A video of a press conference with Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews and Dean Peter Beck, about the interim plans for the earthquake-damaged ChristChurch Cathedral. In the press conference Matthews announces that the Cathedral will be deconsecrated, that parts of it will be demolished, and that the rest will be made safe. These measures will allow the recovery of artefacts and heritage items from the building.
A video of a protest against the merging of Phillipstown and Woolston Schools. Staff and students from Phillipstown School lead a march down Ferry Road to highlight the dangers children will face walking to school if Phillipstown is closed. The video also includes interviews with Phillipstown Principal Tony Simpson and Christchurch City Councillors Peter Beck and Makere Hubbard, about the protest and the merger.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Tom McBrearty (second from left) along with the dean of the Christ Church Cathedral Reverend Peter Beck (left), and residents Leanne Curtis and Evan Smith right) have formed a grass roots community group for earthquake-hit suburbs".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Tom McBrearty (second from left) along with the dean of the Christ Church Cathedral Reverend Peter Beck (left), and residents Leanne Curtis and Evan Smith right) have formed a grass roots community group for earthquake-hit suburbs".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Tom McBrearty (second from left) along with the dean of the Christ Church Cathedral Reverend Peter Beck (left), and residents Leanne Curtis and Evan Smith right) have formed a grass roots community group for earthquake-hit suburbs".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Tom McBrearty (second from left) along with the dean of the Christ Church Cathedral Reverend Peter Beck (left), and residents Leanne Curtis and Evan Smith right) have formed a grass roots community group for earthquake-hit suburbs".
As Christchurch prepares to mark 10 years since its deadly earthquake, the impact of that day continues to be felt differently. The less affluent eastern suburbs, which bore the brunt of the damage, continue to lag behind the rest of the city in their recovery. The former dean of Christchurch and fellow east sider, Peter Beck, told Conan Young that while government agencies such as EQC often failed people in their hour of need, what did not fail was the willingness of people to help out their neighbours.