New offer to end church ‘deadlock’
New legislation could help reinstate much of the ailing Christ Church Cathedral within seven years, the Government says.
Special legislation makes up part of the Government’s new, and final, cathedral reinstatement offer, which has been presented by Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Nicky Wagner to Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews.
Matthews will take the revised offer to the Synod, a 225-member governing body of elected parishioners and priests, which will decide whether to accept it in September.
The offer includes a $10 million Christchurch City Council pledge – supported in principle unanimously by councillors behind closed doors on Friday, but subject to public consultation – a Great Christchurch Buildings Trust (GCBT) pledge of $13.7m, a $10m Crown cash contribution, and a $15m government loan that would not have to be paid back if the restoration was completed in reasonable time and stayed within budget.
That money, along with the church’s insurance proceeds of nearly $42m, amounted to just over $90m of the estimated $104m restoration cost.
The offer also proposes new legislation, which would allow reinstatement of the cathedral to be fast tracked, and the formation of an independent fundraising trust to find the remaining money.
These two elements, and the council money, augment the original government offer made last year, and closely follow recommendations of the Cathedral Working Party report, delivered to the Government in November. That report said a funding shortfall of up to $50m could be raised in three to five years.
Matthews said the latest terms were a ‘‘generous offer’’.
‘‘Because we have only just received this proposal from the Government, alongside the council contribution, there will be much for the Synod members to ponder.’’
The information would be presented at pre-synod meetings ahead of the September vote.
’’The Government contribution is a significant amount of money, but we need to balance the property rights of the church with the historical value of the building and the need to break this deadlock,’’ Wagner said.
’’About half of Christchurch wants to see the cathedral reinstated, the other half wants a modernised version or a contemporary new-build, but really, everyone just needs a decision. It’s time to move forward, and I think this is our best option.’’
The offer carries an indicative timetable of seven years for completion of the main and ancillary buildings. The tower and spire would take up to three years longer to complete.
The money was enough to reinstate the cathedral itself and the ancillary buildings, ‘‘then they will have to fundraise for the tower’’, Wagner said.
Under the new offer, a joint venture made up of the Church Property Trustees and a fundraising trust would govern and manage the reinstatement. It would also establish a maintenance and insurance fund and allocate $5m to the fund.
Yesterday’s proposal was the Government’s ‘‘final offer’’, Wagner said. ’’It’s the one that we could start as soon as the [Synod] decision is made.’’
GCBT co-chairman Philip Burdon welcomed the latest offer. ‘‘The working party’s report has become the new template and we certainly support that and [would be] delighted if the church and the Government have reached an agreement to restore.’’