Architects invited to design first NZ Cathedral in 120 years

Sunday, 30 March 2025

The Catholic Diocese of Christchurch has begun looking for an architect to design a cathedral worthy of being “a beacon of hope for our city”.

While a new cathedral, to be called the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament was still several years away, a design was expected to be finalised within the next 12 months, Bishop Michael Gielen announced on Sunday.

Gielen said a number of architectural firms - all based in New Zealand - have been invited to pitch their design. The design brief was based on community feedback and a series of working groups which included experts.

A diocesan delegation had also visited cathedrals and churches across Australasia which had been built in the last two decades, for inspiration he said. The Christchurch cathedral would be the first Catholic cathedral built in Aotearoa in 120 years.

“We look forward to choosing a genuine partner in this project – an architect that will share our aspiration to build a cathedral that is worthy of being our spiritual centre in the diocese and can be a beacon of hope for our city,” he said.

The cathedral will be built on the Catholic Church’s Barbadoes St site. Land owned by the diocese on Armagh St, previously earmarked for development of a Catholic precinct, will eventually be sold.

Gielen said concept drawings will be released to the public once the design was finalised.