Bishop ‘seriously considering’ $25m offer

Bishop Victoria Matthews has penned a letter to the Government saying she is ‘‘seriously considering’’ its offer to help fund restoration of Christ Church Cathedral, but sources say no decision will be made for at least a week.

Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Gerry Brownlee said he wrote to Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews on March 8 to reiterate an offer to contribute a $10 million grant and a $15 million loan towards the restoration costs of the cathedral. Brownlee said Matthews wrote back on March 21 stating they were ‘‘seriously considering’’ the offer.

Brownlee said Cabinet had approved the $25 million funding offer in December.

It is understood the Church Property Trustees (CPT), who manage the diocese buildings, met about two weeks ago to consider the offer. But a decision was not made on the offer and more external advice was requested. The advice is not expected back until at least the end of next week and discussion on the offer is on hold until then.

Brownlee said he did not know when Anglican leaders would make a decision on the offer, which also includes a promise by campaign group Great Christchurch Buildings Trust to raise $15m from donors.

The Anglican church has about $42 million in insurance money to put towards the restoration project, leaving about $30 million left to raise over a number of years.

A spokesman for the Anglican diocese declined to comment on the status of discussions over the Government offer.

Restoration campaigners had expected an announcement on a possible restoration deal before February 22. A deal was also expected to be made between Government and church leaders in December, but talks faltered at the eleventh hour.

In June, the Government formed a working group to identify ‘‘feasible, achievable and fully costed options to progress the reinstatement of the Christ Church Cathedral’’. Working group chairman and former civil servant Geoff Dangerfield said in September that ‘‘reinstatement’’ meant a ‘‘mixture of restoration, repair and rebuild’’. The group delivered non-binding restoration recommendations in November.

The Christ Church Cathedral has been sitting derelict for more than six years.