Multi-Million Dollar Cash Injection for Cathedral Reinstatement One Step Closer

The Independent Hearings Panel has a sided with the Anglican Church, recommending St James church lose its heritage status. The sale could see millions of dollars of funds for the Cathedral renewal.

The fate of St. James church on Riccarton Road now rests with the Christchurch City Council, after the Independent Hearings Panel released its city-wide recommendations yesterday.

If sold and the local parish agrees to pass on the proceeds, the church could net several millions of dollars in funds for its Cathedral reinstatement.

St. James Church on Riccarton Road

To date, the church’s heritage status has prevented the Anglican Church’s property arm, Church Property Trustees (CPT), from finding a buyer for the building, which was damaged during the Canterbury earthquakes.

The IHP has recommended to council that the heritage order be lifted.

“On the latter point, Mr Holley noted that the Trustees have no right or ability to treat the church as anything other than a property for the benefit of the local Parish, nor could any asset or benefit derived from the building be transferred to other Parishes.”

But subsequent to the hearings, a church synod gave CPT permission to ask Parliament to change the law so the local parish could pass on the proceeds. That will pave the way for the trust to apply some or all of the funds towards the reinstatement of the Christchurch Cathedral.