No cathedral cash; new vote looms

Anglican leaders will take the future of the earthquake-damaged Christ Church Cathedral back to a Synod vote if councillors do not approve a $10 million restoration grant.

Christchurch city councillors heard submissions on a proposal to grant $10m for restoration of the cathedral yesterday.

The Anglican church’s governing body, the Synod, voted in September to restore the cathedral, conditional upon a multimillion-dollar funding package promised by the Government, Christh church City Council and restoration advocates.

The council received 1063 submissions on the grant, with 54.5 per cent (579) not supporting the move and 45.2 per cent (481) in favour of the grant.

Church Property Trustees

"If the grant was not supported by council . . . it would substantially change the situation."

CPT general manager Gavin Holley

(CPT) general manager Gavin Holley told councillors that the $10m Christchurch City Council grant was essential for the restoration project.

The CPT own and manage Anglican property in Canterbury.

‘‘If the grant was not supported by council I would recommend to Church Property Trustees that they would take the matter back to Synod for their consideration. It would substantially change the situation,’’ he said. ‘‘The support offered by the Government and council has been strongly characterised as providing certainty. These commitments remain as conditions on Synod’s decision to reinstate the cathedral.’’

He urged councillors ‘‘to very carefully consider the potential impact on the reinstatement project of imposing any conditions’’.

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel said the hearings panel of councillors would make a decision on the grant next week, probably at a special meeting on Tuesday.

The proposed grant was supported by heritage groups, including Historic Places Canterbury, Restore Christchurch Cathedral and the Christchurch Civic Trust.

Chris Kissling, of the Civic Trust, told the hearing panel that restoration of the cathedral was essential for the city’s recovery.

‘‘Reinstatement of the cathedral is critical to the rejuvenation of Cathedral Square and for the recovery of the city as a whole.’’

Restore Christchurch Cathedral co-chairman Tim Preston supported the grant and said ‘‘the cathedral is the most important historic building in Christchurch’’.

Submitter Lorraine Gray said the grant was an ‘‘indispensable component of the restoration of the cathedral’’.

The $10m council pledge was part of a larger funding package for cathedral restoration that included a Great Christchurch Buildings Trust promise of $13.7m in donations, a $10m Crown cash contribution and a $15m government loan that would not have to be paid back if certain conditions were met.

The pledges, along with the church’s insurance proceeds of nearly $42m, amount to just over $90m of the estimated $104m restoration.