Christchurch Catholic Diocese unveils plans for new $80m Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
The Catholic Diocese of Christchurch has unveiled an $80 million design for a new Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament to replace the original structure destroyed by earthquakes. The project includes an 800-seat cathedral and community facilities, with the diocese seeking $16 million in donations from parishioners.
Why it matters
The reconstruction of this landmark represents a significant cultural and religious recovery effort for Christchurch following the devastating 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.
The design of Christchurch's new $80 million Catholic cathedral has been unveiled.
The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is being built on the Barbadoes Street site of the 1905 original, which was demolished in 2020 after suffering irreparable damage in the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.
The damaged Christchurch Catholic Basilica, 2019.
The Catholic Diocese of Christchurch wants to raise $16m from parishioners to help fund the project.
In a pastoral letter on Sunday, Bishop Michael Gielen appealed to Catholic families in Canterbury and on the West Coast to financially contribute.
Gielen announced in 2024 the cathedral would return to the diocese's traditional home on Barbadoes Street and that it would retain the name Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.
A design rendering for Christchurch's new Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.
Supplied / Catholic Diocese of Christchurch
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