Anglicans ‘across the parish’ asked to help cathedral rebuild
Wednesday, 21 February 2024
Anglicans, including in Timaru, are being asked to donate a portion of their income for up to a five-year period, if possible, to aid the Christ Church Cathedral rebuild.
The diocese has also hired British consultancy firm Global Philanthropic to help find money elsewhere.
In March 2023, the project still had a $50m shortfall.
Parishioners in Timaru have been asked to give to the restoration of Christ Church Cathedral as work at the site appears to have almost ground to a halt.
Acknowledging a big budget shortfall, the diocese launched a five-year fundraising campaign at the Transitional Cathedral in Christchurch on Tuesday night, with a launch to be held at St Mary’s Church in Timaru on Wednesday night.
Anglicans are being asked to donate a portion of their income for up to a five-year period, if possible.
Ahead of Wednesday night’s meeting, the Bishop of Christchurch, The Right Reverend Dr Peter Carrell, said Timaru had been chosen as another place to launch the campaign as it was the second largest urban centre across the diocese.
“The appeal is for all Anglicans across the parish,’’ he said.
Those not living in Christchurch may want to donate to the restoration as the church was the only cathedral for all Anglicans in the catchment.
It was also a chance for all Anglicans to have a stake in its restoration, he said.
In June 2023, Church Property Trustees general manager Gavin Holley told The Timaru Herald the full cost of the recent project to earthquake repair St Mary’s Church was about $3 million.
The cost of that work had been met by insurance funds and a significant contribution from the parish, he said.
When asked if he thought those in Timaru who had contributed to the St Mary’s building project would want to contribute to work being undertaken out of the town, Carrell said all buildings across the parish needed maintenance and repair.
“We totally respect the needs of the local parish.
“We have this single building that is the cathedral for the diocese.’’
Timaru’s meeting was to be led by Carrell, in conjunction with Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Ltd, the dean and the chapter.
The diocese has also hired British consultancy firm Global Philanthropic to help find money elsewhere.
Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Ltd (CCRL) has recently refused to answer questions about the status of the $160 million restoration project, despite receiving $20m from taxpayers and $10m from ratepayers. It is now promising to release a full review with costing and time frames in April.
Few workers have been seen on the cathedral site in recent months, and the organisation confirmed late last year it had slowed the work.
CCRL chairperson Mark Stewart said after investigations at the site, they were still trying to establish repair methods, costs and time frames. Decisions include how to best prop up the building to rebuild its foundations.
“It was always a case that there was never enough money to finish it,” Stewart said.
“You run out of big donations really quickly in a small place like Christchurch.”
Fundraising to date has totalled $24m, including $25,000 from King Charles when he was Prince of Wales.
Last month, CCRL appointed a new campaign director, Carolyne Grant, who previously led a fundraising effort for the Court Theatre.
The city council has not received any requests for further funding for the project.
The last project update was provided by CCRL in March last year when community leaders and workers gathered inside the cathedral for the first time since the February 2011 earthquake to mark the completion of stabilisation work.
Paterson said in November that the project was undergoing a full review and an update would be provided “in a matter of weeks”.
Rumours had been swirling that the restoration was fast running out of money and workers had been cut.
In March 2023, the project still had a $50m shortfall.