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Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament

Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament

Francis Petre

Photo: ChristchurchBasilica_gobeirne.jpg: Photograph by Greg O'Beirne derivative work: · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons

Location
Christchurch, New Zealand
Client / Owner
Catholic Diocese of Christchurch
Year
Completed 1905
Access
Private
Typology
Spiritual

The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament stood on Barbadoes Street in central Christchurch and was the mother church of the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch. Francis Petre designed it, with Bishop John Grimes driving the project. Construction began in 1901, and it opened on February 12, 1905 at a cost of £52,000. The style was Renaissance Revival, modeled on Italian basilicas. It had a concrete structure faced with Oamaru limestone and a green copper-roofed dome above the sanctuary.

Ionic and Corinthian columns lined the nave, and twin towers flanked the front facade. It was registered as Category I in 1983.

The earthquake of February 2011 collapsed the bell towers and destabilized the dome. Demolition was announced on August 4, 2019 and completed in 2021. In April 2024 the bishop announced that a new cathedral would be built on the original site.

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