Sadly, yesterday on Sunday the 4th of August 2019, The Most Reverend Bishop Paul Martin SM of the Diocese of Christchurch announced the demolition of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. My Archdiocesan Cathedral, although somewhat smaller was designed by the same architect as the cathedral which I left pictures of on my original post.
The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament was completed in 1905 at a cost of 57,000 pounds (New Zealand used the pound then). It was built with money given by Pope Leo XIII, and Catholics in many countries including England and the United States. The vast majority of money came from New Zealand’s hardworking but poor Irish immigrant population. The Church, huge in size and said to be one of the largest Catholic churches outside of Europe, certainly in New Zealand was based off Churches in France and also St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in London. Architectural experts have stated it is the finest example of renaissance revival in the Italian style in the entire world.
I have never visited it. I always hoped that in 10, 20, 30 years when it was fixed I could visit. Sadly I shall never be able to. It is to be demolished and a new cathedral to be built.
The landmark Anglican cathedral, which cost less, is smaller and is said to be very architecturally insignificant in comparison to the Catholic cathedral is being rebuilt.
I shall only hope for a beautiful new cathedral to replace it.
