The Anglican cathedral in Christchurch was badly damaged in the February 22nd earthquake. Later after-shocks have caused more damage and it is now not a safe building. Today the Bishop announced that the cathedral will be taken down, slowly, to about 2 to 3 metres in height. This is so that someone can remove stained glass windows and other important things inside the building.
This cathedral was built 130 years ago in The Square in the centre of Christchurch. In 1888, the spire on top of the steeple fell off in an earthquake but it was rebuilt. In recent years, the cathedral was strengthened to make it safer in an earthquake, but maybe it was not strengthened enough. It was a beautiful building, built in stone in a Gothic style. It was like the heart of the city. Although it belonged to the Church of England, the Christchurch City Council helped to pay for the new roof a few years ago and for earthquake strengthening. Christchurch people therefore think that the cathedral belongs to the whole city, to everybody.
There will be strong protests from people who are angry about losing this beautiful building. They say that it could be saved if we can find the money to save it. Other people say, “Let’s build a new, safe cathedral.” And some people ask, “Do we need a cathedral?”
Vocabulary
the Bishop – she is the head of the church in Canterbury
high (adj) height (noun)
stained glass windows – coloured glass is used by artists to make pictures in the windows
steeple – tall tower, with big bells inside it
spire – like a pointed cone on top of the tower
strong (adj) strengthen (verb) = make strong
minor – only a little; opposite is ‘major’
Church of England – Anglican church