Following the Canterbury earthquakes a number of our beautiful churches had to be demolished. This was inevitable and necessary. Some of our parishes are still investigating the possibility of retaining their churches and such an investigation is also currently underway on our Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

It was encouraging to read on Stuff NZ today that two of our oldest churches, St. Mary and St Francis de Sales of Rangiora (opened 1886) and St. Mary’s Pleasant Point (1889) are able to be restored.  Each of these churches have a unique link with the Catholic history of our land (each 130 years old) and our transcendent future since Saint Mary MacKillop prayed in each of these churches.

Last month’s visit of architect James McCrery to the diocese helped us to appreciate the beauty and tradition in our oldest churches. You can read today’s article at this link.