" PAST " CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE : CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL SEVERLY DAMAGED

 

BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHEDRAL, CHRISTCHURCH

 

 One of the true jewels of Christchurch, New Zealand's architectural heritage is the Catholic Cathedral on Barbadoes Street about fifteen minutes walk out of the CBD. Reading the tourist literature in this very Protestant inspired city - whose central square is Cathedral Square and another Latimer Square- you wouldn't guess it, for our Cathedral is hardly mentioned. Rather all the talk is of THE Cathedral, the Anglican Cathedral on Cathedral Square which in the media parlance of the day is "iconic"for the City.When a City has a Latimer Square and a not far distant Cranmer Street, Catholics should not expect too much I suppose.

The tragic earthquake which struck the City at lunchtime yesterday has produced an appalling loss of life with 65 confirmed dead (38 identified) and at least 150 missing and perhaps more hidden under mountains of rubble.

Interior of Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, Christchurch

 

Media coverage in Australia has been exhaustive and much has been made of the collapse of the spire of "THE"Cathedral (Anglican)in the centre of town. No mention has been made of the collapse of the facade and two front towers of the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral (shown above). In fact one would not be aware of it save for brief helicopter overflight pictures of Barbadoes Street, in which the damage could very clearly be seen. No commentary was made. The great Cupola appeared intact, as did the nave.But some local contact suggests more extensive damage, perhaps inside. The Cathedral is very beautiful, and it is a shame it is not better known. An unusual feature is the location of the Cupola over the Sanctuary rather than at the Crossing.

The people of Christchurch deserve our continuing prayers - for the dead, the bereaved, those still trapped/missing , those anxiously waiting news of loved ones and friends who are missing, and for all the survivors traumatised by this violent event, following so closely on the earthquake of 4th September last year. Their future holds a great deal of uncertainty in more ways than one, as strong aftershocks continued through the night and Government officials are too immediately pre-occupied to consider the issue of future reconstruction or development. The City's sea port of Littleton has evidently also suffered serious damage and loss of life - it was much closer to the epi -centre of the quake.