First Stage in Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Completed Witnessed by 50 Social Leaders and FGS NZ Abbess
After a prolonged process of 12 years from the ruins, negotiations, and restoration, the iconic Christ Church Cathedral in New Zealand, which was devastated by an earthquake in 2011, has finally completed its first phase of construction. On 21th March 2023, the Cathedral invited 50 social leaders to witness the progress of the reinstatement, celebrating this historic moment together. Very Reverend Lawrence Kimberley, Dean of Christchurch Cathedral, led the inspection tour.
One of the invited guests was Venerable Manshin, the Abbess of Fo Guang Shan New Zealand. Other attendees included Minister Hon. Megan Woods and Christchurch Deputy Mayor Pauline Cotter, and Anglican Bishop Peter Carrell.
Very Reverend Lawrence Kimberley warmly welcomed Abbess and the BLIA members. He expressed that the reinstatement process of the Cathedral is arduous, but in order to restore this historically important building, the entire team has been working hard and now we can see the preliminary results, which are truly exciting.
Minister Megan Woods said in her speech, "Today is truly a day worth celebrating, and the people of Canterbury are delighted to witness this milestone. The Cathedral is a symbol of Christchurch, and now we see the restored Cathedral back to life, and people have returned here." Deputy Mayor Pauline Cotter said in her speech, "It is incredible to stand in the Cathedral again today, and I have many feelings in my heart. The Cathedral was once an important attraction in Christchurch, and it will be in the future." Mark Stewart, chairman of Christchurch Cathedral Reinstatement Ltd, said in his speech, "After four years of restoration, we can now be in a safe building, which is truly exciting. The entire restoration project is expected to be completed by 2027."
FGS NZ has a deep connection with the Anglican Church of Christchurch Cathedral. From 2001 to 2009, the Buddha’s Birthday festival was held in Cathedral Square, and successive bishops came to the event, attracting many people of different nationalities to participate, helping them to understand Buddhism and delve deeper into the Dharma, and participate in BLIA's activities. In recent years, the Buddha’s Birthday festival has been held inside the FGS Christchurch temple, and the bishop of the Cathedral has almost attended every year.
This is the first time the Cathedral has been open for visitation since the earthquake on 22 February 2011, marking the stable phase of post-earthquake restoration, an important milestone moving forward. The restoration of the Cathedral is estimated to cost $160 million NZD, and after four years of restoration, the first phase of the reinstatement of the Cathedral mainly involved the construction of a solid frame, which is now supported by 408 tons of steel to reinforce the internal structure to ensure the building's safety. Next is the construction of the roof and the tower, followed by the decoration of the interior.
The Christchurch Cathedral was initially planned by the Canterbury Association in 1848 to build a church for early British immigrants and become an important landmark in the centre of Christchurch. This Gothic-style building took 130 years to complete and has become a symbol of the city's spirit for the past 150 years. The cathedral is a rich cultural gathering place, welcoming various festive activities.
The majestic cathedral was damaged in earthquakes in 1881, 1888, 1901, 2010, and 2011, especially in 2011 when a magnitude 6.3 earthquake completely destroyed the century-old church. After six years of lengthy discussions between the New Zealand government and the Christchurch City Council, it was finally decided in 2017 to rebuild the cathedral in three stages of restoration. Located in the heart of Christchurch's central business district and transportation hub, the cathedral plays a crucial role in restoring the city's post-earthquake landscape and injecting vitality into its urban development.