Catholic cathedral will return to ‘humble roots’
Christchurch Catholics have welcomed news their new cathedral will be rebuilt on the site of the old one, as the church abandons its grand plan for a central-city riverfront precinct.
Bishop Michael Gielen told mass goers in a letter read from pulpits yesterday that his decision was based partly on their wishes.
“For the last 160 years this [Barbadoes St] site has been the focal point of our diocese,” he said.
“We hope to connect with the inner-city revitalisation.”
A new name will be chosen for the new cathedral.
The decision leaves unknown the future of the 1.4 hectares of valuable land bought up over several years for a new Catholic precinct near Victoria Square.
The block – between Colombo Armagh, Manchester streets and the Ōtākaro Avon River opposite Victoria Square – is owned mostly by the Christchurch diocese, with a piece owned by private developer Philip Carter.
That half-billion-dollar joint project was announced by previous bishop Paul Martin and Carter in 2019, and touted as revitalising the area.
It was to have included a $40 million cathedral to replace the earthquake-damaged 1905 Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament demolished in 2021, plus a new campus for St Mary’s primary school, chancery offices, gardens, apartments, and a parking building.
Emerging from mass at St Mary’s pro-cathedral yesterday morning, many of the congregation were pleased at the change of plan.
“I’m really happy it’s going to be at Barbadoes St – a lot of my family have a history there,” said Matthew Pelenato, 19, whose grandfather attended the old cathedral, and whose parents met and married there.
Pelenato said the previously chosen Armagh St site “seemed like more of a business plan”.
“It would attract more people to go and check out the church. It was moving away from what the church means.”
Christy Immanuel and Immanuel Peter, who live in Shirley, said they were “really happy” and “in 100% approval” of the decision.
Fellow congregation member Pat O’Brien was also in favour, describing the Armagh St location as “too central”.
“Bring it back to where it was before,” he said.
Results from 1600 people who took part in a diocese survey released yesterday revealed 85% chose the Barbadoes St site, which Gielen also favoured.
The land includes the Catholic Cathedral College campus and cleared site of the former Mission Sisters convent.
Some architectural features and fittings from the demolished cathedral were salvaged and stored.
Gielen’s letter said experts found the land was suitable for reconstruction. Financial prudence and space for growth were also considerations, he said.
Another 10% of those surveyed wanted the riverfront block.
The $500m precinct, covering the entire block, was announced in 2019. The new cathedral was being designed by Christchurch architects Warren and Mahoney, alongside American-based Franck & Lohsen. It was due for completion about 2026.
Some 4% opted to expand at St Mary’s, now the pro-Cathedral, on Manchester St.
Carter said the decision was “the bishop’s call” and “his prerogative to listen to feedback and then make a final decision”. “I will catch up with the bishop soon to discuss our options.”
City councillor Jake McLellan, who represents the central ward, said the certainty would be a relief to many, and the decision might help boost the southeast corner of the city.
“This does leave a big question mark over that [Armagh St] land, but I’m sure that part of the city will be regenerated sometime soon.
“There’s demand for commercial property. It’s right next to the performing arts precinct, and there’s a shortage of hotels.”
Gielen called a temporary halt on the precinct last year following a legal challenge lodged with the Vatican by a Catholic group opposing the sell-off ºf some suburban church property.
He later announced that while the Vatican challenge did not prevent the project continuing, he wanted time to prayerfully consider options, including his preference for a return to the diocese’s “humble roots” at Barbadoes St.
Construction will be funded from the sale of the Armagh St land, and potentially other properties as the diocese consolidates suburban parishes.
A $30m insurance payout for the old cathedral was set aside to repair suburban churches.
Gielen said construction would be “a years-long journey” and they would proceed with “urgency and care”.
Alongside the new cathedral will go a cultural and community centre, offices, a presbytery and possibly a new St Mary’s school campus.
“This will be the first new Catholic cathedral built from scratch in New Zealand for more than 120 years, so it will be a complex undertaking.
“Our new cathedral will take time, but the wait will be worth it.”
The decision means the most central Catholic churches – St Mary’s and Barbadoes St – will both be over 15 minutes’ walk from the centre of the city.
Gielen said establishing a central-city chapel was “unaffordable”, and the diocese would assess how to cater for central-city Roman Catholics.
“This does leave a big question mark over that [Armagh St] land, but I’m sure that part of the city will be regenerated sometime soon.”
Jake McLellan
Central ward city councillor