Christ Church Cathedral (Christchurch)

The Anglican Christ Church Cathedral ( transferred: Christ's Church Cathedral ) was an important church building in the city of Christchurch on the South Island of New Zealand.

In New Zealand, the building was used as Christchurch Cathedral referred to ( the city of Christchurch Cathedral ). Of the two names was the former, however, the more appropriate and customary. In the tourism literature, both terms were used. The Roman Catholic Cathedral of Christ Church is called in contrast, Christchurch Basilica.

Construction

Built in the Gothic Revival style building was located in the center of Christchurch and was surrounded by the Cathedral Square ( Cathedral Square ). The church building was the seat of the Bishop of Christchurch.

The foundation stone of the building was laid on 16 December 1864, however, ensured financial problems of the emerging city that the building work 1865-1873 came to a halt. Was completed in the building until 1904.

The cathedral was originally designed as a civil engineer responsible baubetreuenden by the British architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, along with New Zealand architect Benjamin Mountfort. The original plans called a wooden construction, but were changed as local deposits of good quality bricks were discovered. Wood of the New Zealand Totara tree species and Matai of the Banks Peninsula was processed for the roof construction.

The top of the cathedral handed 63 meters above the Cathedral Square. A publicly accessible vantage point in the tower of the cathedral allowed a good view over the city center. The spire was damaged four times during earthquakes. After the third event in 1901, the stone construction was replaced by a slightly more elastic surface made ​​of weatherproof copper plates.

Use

The cathedral was used until the earthquake on 22 February 2011 for church purposes. As a landmark of Christchurch but the building was also a tourist attraction and was in every city tour with a must. Taking photographs inside the building was allowed for a small fee.

Also as a tourist attraction had been for many years The Wizard of New Zealand made ​​a name. Every day at noon he appeared and announced to the steps of the main portal of the church of his polemics about all sorts of topics. Due to the devastation caused by the earthquake, he announced no longer occur.

Earthquake

In the Christchurch Earthquake of 22 February 2011, the bell tower of the cathedral was destroyed up to half. Shut Collapsing debris damaged adjacent parts of the building. In an aftershock on 13 June 2011, the famous " Rose Window" was completely destroyed. After another strong aftershock on 23 December worsened the condition of the cathedral, the fate of the landmark of Christchurch was long disputed. On 2 March 2012 was finally announced that the Christchurch Cathedral, which was also damaged by the earthquakes in 1881, 1888, 1901 and 1922, will be demolished. That same month, began the demolition work.

Beginning of April 2013 were presented three options for the future cathedral, the reconstruction of the building, a traditional wood construction and a contemporary concrete. The Japanese architect Shigeru Ban designed a replacement church from cardboard tubes, wood and steel beams to hold the quake was better, can have a shelf life of at least 20 years and should be affordable with 3 million euros.