Cathedrals usually stand as enduring monuments to human skill and inventiveness, and magnificent pointers to the presence of God among us. Their websites will tell you how they are the oldest, the largest, the tallest or the most significant of their kind. ChristChurch Cathedral is slightly different. The original Cathedral was badly damaged in the Christchurch earthquake in February 2011. We are now open and operating from our new temporary home, the Transitional Cathedral in Latimer Square, Christchurch. It is the world’s only cathedral made substantially of cardboard.
This web site aims to tell you something about who we are and what we stand for. It is a work in progress. It offers a glimpse of the building, its history and its environment. It provides information about Cathedral services and events, its music and arts programme, facilities for visitors and pilgrims, educational resources, stories about our community life and outreach, and an archive of recent sermons. I hope you will be inspired to visit Christchurch, and we look forward to welcoming you to the Cathedral.
Very Revd Lynda Patterson
Dean of Christchurch,
August 2013
Please come to any of the services, events and recitals below ...
ORGAN RECITAL
Andrew Lumsden, Winchester Cathedral, UK
Tuesday 10 February at 6.30pm $10.00
Click on the link below for details
The Cathedral Chapter is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr John Linker as the new Cathedral Director or Music.
Mr Linker will start in the new year.
John is currently Organist & Choirmaster at The Church of the Good Shepherd in Lexington, Kentucky. The church has a very strong musical tradition, much of it built up by John. During his tenure John has vastly increased the choir repertoire, taken his choirs on several domestic tours in the USA, including to Washington National Cathedral, and St John the Divine, New York. His choir has toured to the UK on four occasions and last year he took it on a European tour.He is also a keen organist and recitalist, having overseen the design and installation of a new organ.
John hails from a farming family, is married to Molly and they have a two year old daughter, Lila.
We look forward to welcoming John and his family into the Cathedral community early next year.
The Cathedral is available for a wide variety of events. Please see further down this page for full details.
Please note that weekday services of Choral Evensong have concluded for the year. They will resume on Tuesday 3 February 2015 at 5.30pm
During January, weekday services of Holy Communion are held on Wednesdays only, at 12.05pm
WEDNESDAY 28 JANUARY
12.05pm Holy Communion
Sunday 1 FEBRUARY 2015 - CANDLEMASS
8.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Choral Eucharist
Sermon: Ven Nick Mountfort, Acting Dean
Music: The Cathedral Choir
5.00pm The Cathedral Grammar School Opening-of-Term Service
Officiants: Revd Anne Price, Acting School Chaplain
Music: The School Choirs and Cathedral Choristers
The full schedule of weekday services of Holy Communion and Choral Evensong will resume next week
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MONDAY 2 FEBRUARY
12.05pm Holy Communion
TUESDAY 3 FEBRUARY
12.05pm Holy Communion with Prayers for Healing
5.30pm Choral Evensong
WEDNESDAY 4 FEBRUARY
12.05pm Holy Communion in the Celtic Tradition
5.30pm Choral Evensong
THURSDAY 5 FEBRUARY
12.05pm Holy Communion in Te Reo Maori
5.30pm Choral Evensong
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The Transitional Cathedral is open every day from 9.00am. During Summer months (Nov - March) we close either at 7.00pm or at the conclusion of the evening service, whichever is later. During Winter months we close at 5.00pm (or at the conclusion of the evening service)
The regular weekly services are below, but please do check the schedule for the current week at the top of the home page for any changes to the usual schedule. Please note that weekday services of Choral Evensong only take place during school terms, and that the regular schedule is reduced duirng January.
Worship at the Transitional Cathedral
SUNDAYS
8.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Choral Eucharist
5.00pm Choral Evensong
WEEKDAY SERVICES
Holy Communion at 12.05pm
Monday (NZPB), Tuesday (NZPB, with prayers for healing),
Wednesday (Celtic tradition),
Thursday (in te reo Maori), Friday (NZPB)
Choral Evensong at 5.30pm (during school terms)
Tuesday & Wednesday (with the full Choir);
Thursday (with the gentlemen of the Choir)
Choral Evensong at 4.30pm (during school terms)
Friday (with the choristers of the Cathedral Choir)
CHORAL CONGRATULATIONS ...
Congratulations to the Cathedral Choristers who received RSCM ribbons and surplices on Sunday 9 November
The Cathedral is grieving the death of our Dean, the Very Rev’d Lynda Patterson.
Lynda died at home of natural causes after a recent illness. She was aged 40.
The Bishop of Christchurch, Victoria Matthews, says Lynda spoke of the God she loved, in all she did and said. “Lynda was highly respected across the Diocese and Province and we all benefitted from her extraordinary preaching and teaching. She was also a great pastor who brought both compassion and appropriate humour to every situation.”
Bishop Victoria has asked for prayer for Lynda’s family in Northern Ireland.
The Archbishops of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, have asked for prayer for the Cathedral family to remember Lynda, a priest who called others to prayer for the glory of God.
A Funeral Service for Lynda was held at the Transitional Cathedral on Tuesday 29 July at 1.00pm. Details of the service and the sermon preached by Bishop Victoria can be found HERE .
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Cathedral architect, Shigeru Ban, has won the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize.
The Dean, Chapter. staff and worshipping community of the Cathedral congratulate Shigeru on this honour.
Please click on the picture below for full details of the award.
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On Monday 14 April, it was our honour to welcome Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to the Cathedral, during their tour of New Zealand.
Their Royal Highnesses were presented with a copy of "Kia Kaha's Brand New House" a children's book about a Cathedral mouse in the Transitional Cathedral. The presentation was made by author, Clare Erasmus. Copies are available for sale at the Cathedral shop! [Photo: Woolf/Crown]
An Easter Service from the Transitional Cathedral was broadcast on Radio New Zealand on Easter Day. You can listen to it by clicking HERE
"Cathedral Extra" is the Cathedral's bi-monthly magazine with news, information and details of services. Click on the link below to sign up and receive your copy by email.
Please click on the links below to download recent copies:
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"What's Happening" is the weekly Sunday newsletter. Click below to download recent copies.
A new book about the Transitional Cathedral and its Architect
$45.00
To read a review of the book click on the link bwlow
$10 per bag
The second in the "Kia Kaha" series about a cathedral mouse by Clare Erasmus is now for sale in the Cathedral Shop. A copy was presented to The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge during their recent visit to Christchurch to give to Prince George.
Click HERE for a virtual tour of the Cathedral, courtesy of Google Maps © 2013 Google
Please click HERE to view a 2 minute time lapse film of the construction of the Transitional Cathedral
The Cathedral is available for events. if you would like to hold a concert, recital or performance, please contact the Administrator, Chris Oldham HERE
In conjunction with local catering company Moveable Feasts, we can host your fully catered event.
The Transitional Cathedral is located at 234 Hereford Street. An easy walk from the any point in the central city, the Cathedral sits at the southern end of Latimer Square, beside the future 'Green Frame'. Travel to the central city from the airport takes around 20 minutes by bus or taxi. There is no public car parking at the Cathedral. However, there is plenty of street parking nearby. There is a disabled park in the staff carpark off Madras Street for visitors to the Cathedral.
CONTACT - will take you to 234 Hereford St in Google Maps
The Transitional Cathedral is only a five minute walk away from the site of the seriously damaged Cathedral in the Square. Walk northwest through Latimer Square to Worcester Street. 500 metres along Worcester St you'll see the damaged stone Cathedral.
CONTACT - will take you to a street view of the Cathedral in the Square showing both 'pre earthquake' and 'current'
Mailing Address - PO Box 855, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Cathedral Address - Cnr Madras and Hereford Streets, Christchurch, New Zealand
Office Address - at the Cathedral
Email - admin@christchurchcathedral.co.nz
Tel - +64 3 366 0046
The Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch. For information, check out their website by clicking CONTACT.
If you're interested in becoming a volunteer working with the Transitional Cathedral's visitors, it would be good to hear from you. Contact Nicky Lee, Volunteer Manager.
Tel. 353 7883 DDI
The Transitional Cathedral is available for weddings and we welcome your enquiry. Please see Wedding Information below for further details:
The Transitional Cathedral is available for baptisms. Please contact the Cathedral for details.
Please contact a member of staff for enquiries about having a funeral at the Transaitional Cathedral.
Donations in support of the 'Transitional 'Cardboard' Cathedral are urgently sought. Christchurch has suffered enormous damage. The entire central city has been decimated and along with it, our Cathedral heart. We need your support. Please partner us in this important project by making a donation. Thank you.
