Christchurch. Ruins of the Catholic Cathedral. The poster in front shows how it looked with the two towers now collapsed after the 2011 earthquake.
Christchurch Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament – Catholic Cathedral or Basilica.
It was designed by noted New Zealand architect Francis Petre. This was the finest Renaissance style building in New Zealand with a large dome and twin towers across the façade. This was the second Catholic Church building on this site as the first wooden church opened in 1860. In 1887 a second church became the Pro Cathedral of the Diocese. Construction of a grand new Cathedral designed by Francis Petre began in 1901. It was completed in just four years with a towering nave which supported the grand dome. The exterior walls were built of Oamaru white limestone and concrete. The interior was spectacular and known for its height and brilliant light. Alas after the horrendous 2010 earthquake the cathedral was seriously weakened and closed and then after the 2011 earthquakes the dome was near collapse and the two front towers did collapse leaving the building open to the elements. The dome was removed for safety reasons not long after the February 2011 earthquakes. Shipping containers were placed against the Basilica walls to keep them in place and the rear part was demolished. In 2015 a decision was made to remove the façade and crumbling towers and keep the current nave as part of a new Cathedral building which is expected to take four years to construct at a cost of $45 million. Little of Francis Petre’s masterpiece will survive the rebuild. Petre built around 46 churches and chapels in New Zealand including the Catholic Basilicas in Wellington, Oamaru, Invercargill and South Dunedin.
Christchurch. Ruins of the Catholic Cathedral. The poster in front shows how it looked with the two towers now collapsed after the 2011 earthquake.
Christchurch Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament – Catholic Cathedral or Basilica.
It was designed by noted New Zealand architect Francis Petre. This was the finest Renaissance style building in New Zealand with a large dome and twin towers across the façade. This was the second Catholic Church building on this site as the first wooden church opened in 1860. In 1887 a second church became the Pro Cathedral of the Diocese. Construction of a grand new Cathedral designed by Francis Petre began in 1901. It was completed in just four years with a towering nave which supported the grand dome. The exterior walls were built of Oamaru white limestone and concrete. The interior was spectacular and known for its height and brilliant light. Alas after the horrendous 2010 earthquake the cathedral was seriously weakened and closed and then after the 2011 earthquakes the dome was near collapse and the two front towers did collapse leaving the building open to the elements. The dome was removed for safety reasons not long after the February 2011 earthquakes. Shipping containers were placed against the Basilica walls to keep them in place and the rear part was demolished. In 2015 a decision was made to remove the façade and crumbling towers and keep the current nave as part of a new Cathedral building which is expected to take four years to construct at a cost of $45 million. Little of Francis Petre’s masterpiece will survive the rebuild. Petre built around 46 churches and chapels in New Zealand including the Catholic Basilicas in Wellington, Oamaru, Invercargill and South Dunedin.