An enduring link, and a sacred space

It was my good fortune recently to be installed as the ninth Anglican Bishop of Christchurch. My Diocese covers Canterbury, Westland and the Chatham Islands. We have a host of churches in that area but one building stands out and will receive a lot of my attention, the Cathedral in the Square.

I will work with the project team and fundraisers on the reinstatement of Christ Church Cathedral. Battered and broken by the Christchurch quakes, this cathedral remains standing. One day Cantabrians and visitors to our province will be inside the Cathedral again. When we reopen it, I will stand outside the main doors, eager to bang on the doors with my crozier, a custom normally associated with an installation service.

That reopening will be some years away, during which many challenges will be overcome by the terrific teams working on the Cathedral’s reinstatement. Having made the decision in our 2017 Diocesan Synod to reinstate

the cathedral, I am only able to speak in this hopeful way about the reopening because of the generosity of fellow New Zealanders.

On behalf of the Diocese of Christchurch, I want to publicly thank those who found a way forward towards reinstatement.

I thank our local MPs who a few years ago pledged cross-party support to finding a way forward. I thank the New Zealand Government for committing funding to the reinstatement.

On behalf of the public, the Government has been generous and helpful, and I thank fellow Kiwis for supporting this great project.

I thank Mayor Lianne Dalziel and Christchurch City Councillors for their support for the work which lies ahead of us, and I thank the ratepayers of

Christchurch City.

We value your support, not only in terms of finance but also in terms of cooperation and goodwill. Last but not least, I thank the many people and organisations who are pledging their support for the Cathedral reinstatement. With all this support, I believe we will achieve our common goal.

Christ Church Cathedral is an icon of our city and region and working together, we Cantabrians will reinstate it.

At the heart of our new city we will have an enduring link with the settlement of 1850 as well as a continuing sacred space in which God is worshipped, the love of Christ is proclaimed, and the prayers of the people are said.

A thriving reinstated Cathedral will become part of the story of Christchurch’s regeneration, be a testament to our determination and contribute to the life and activity of the central city.

It is my great hope that this project will be completed within my time as ninth Anglican Bishop of Christchurch.