Earthquake Recovery Update from Church Property Trustees

20 May 2011

You will all be aware that the damage sustained by our Church buildings as a result of the 4 September, 26 December and 22 February quakes has been severe. We now have 23 Churches that cannot be occupied.

Some of the Churches are going to be able to be repaired fairly easily, others are going to take time before there will be the funds available to make the repairs and there will be demolitions. Bishop Victoria has already deconsecrated Christchurch-St Lukes and Christchurch-St Johns in order that they may be demolished.

Of the 23 Churches that cannot be occupied, 16 have heritage status. This gives another layer of consent that is required before any work can be done on the Church, whether it is to have it repaired and open again for worship, or deconstruct.

For your information I have listed below a brief update on the current state of each of the Churches unable to be occupied.

St John’s Okains Bay – Major damage to walls, currently east wall is propped and unable to be occupied.

Avonside Holy Trinity has suffered extensive damage. The most historic chancel and transepts have collapsed. The not so historic nave roof is still in tact but the support from south and north walls is tenuous. The west wall is unstable. CPT and the parish have recommended the demolition of the Church and the initial consent application has been lodged.

The accommodation hall that was leased to the Avonside House Trust has also collapsed. This is to be demolished as soon as possible. Consent application has been lodged.

Christchurch-St Luke’s had the chancel cantilevered roof removed for safety on 6 March 2011. It currently sits behind the vicarage over the pear tree. CPT and parish have recommended demolition and an application for deconstruction has been lodged. The Church was deconsecrated by Bishop Victoria on 10 April and this was attended by a group of parishioners. It is hoped that the contents and some of the historic materials such as the Halswell stone, slates and roof timbers can be salvaged.

The vicarage is also unable to be occupied at the moment, partially due to the Church but also due to the extensive damage it has sustained. We expect this to be repairable.

Christchurch-St Johns has four buildings on their site, St John’s Church, hall, vicarage and 236 Hereford St a commercial building. All of these buildings have been given red stickers and the parish and CPT have lodged an application to demolish all four buildings. Bishop Victoria deconsecrated the Church on 30 April and this service was attended by parishioners and clergy for whom, not only had the Church been their place of worship, but the vicarage had been home.

ChristChurch Cathedral has been partially deconstructed to allow the USAR team to clear the site when it was suspected that people were in the building. The damage to the Cathedral is serious. A Cathedral Project Control Group (PCG) has been established consisting of members of the Cathedral Chapter and CPT. The PCG is in the process of appointing a Project Management contract for the Cathedral.

Fendalton, St Barnabas has survived remarkably well but cannot be used for worship. An engineers report has identified further damage since 22 February.

We have engaged the engineer to undertake the second stage for repair and strengthening scheme. As with all of the heritage buildings; before any repairs can be made a report has to be received from a heritage architect as a part of the Resource Consent application. A heritage architect has been appointed and the building has been shored up.

Geraldine, Holy Innocents, Mt Peel has not suffered further damage as a result of the 22 February earthquake. There was serious damage after 4 September and the local community is committed to rebuild the Church and have the window repaired. The window was destroyed in the 4 September earthquake but all of the found pieces have been packed up and sent to the window restorer Graham Stewart, ready for the restoration of the window. The parish hopes to receive costs for the rebuilding of Holy Innocents in the near future and plan a way ahead.

Glenmark-Waikari, St Pauls, Glenmark has not suffered significant further damage since 22 February. This is again a heritage building that the local community wish to have reinstated. Discussions with the community and parish are on-going.

Heathcote-Mt Pleasant, Church of the Ascension, has been more seriously affected with recent aftershocks. There are now piles missing from under the Church and it has recently received a red card. We are having an engineer prepare a temporary repair scheme and the Church will be propped and will reopen this month.

Mt Herbert, St Cuthbert’s, Governors Bay, has had some more wall failure after 22 February but this does not change the repair and strengthening plan already being considered by the parish.

Hororata, St Johns has suffered some further damage since 22 February but this will not fundamentally change the repair and strengthening process that has being recommended. The parish is fundraising to help meet the cost of the repair.

Lincoln, St Paul’s, Tai Tapu has sustained more serious damage and is not able to be occupied. Engineering reports are being completed. This is a heritage building and the Church is currently holding services in the Sunday School room. They have made some changes to accommodate the parish.

Lyttelton, Holy Trinity has sustained more serious damage. The aftershocks have also compromised the walls further. A heritage building that is one of the few remaining Churches in Lyttelton since 22 February.

The unique west window has been removed. The engineer recently reassessed the building and is preparing possible remediation schemes. The heritage architect has been appointed and the report requested.

Merivale, St Mary’s sustained further damage, most significantly to the bell tower which had the top third removed for safety in the days immediately following 22 February. The bell tower has sunk and the north wall moved which has damaged the north facing stained glass windows.

The windows have all being removed for safety. The engineer is reassessing the building as it appears to be deteriorating with the aftershocks.

The Merivale vicarage is to be demolished as soon as possible.

New Brighton, St Faiths is not being occupied as there is some damage to the west end wall. The damage is not structural but the remediation is to be determined once a second engineering and strengthening report has been completed.

Opawa-St Martins – St Marks Church has floor damage, tiles displaced and broken on the roof and the bell tower has sustained some damage. A second engineering report has been commissioned and in the meantime the building has been made water proof. The work on this Church will proceed as soon as possible.

Papanui, St Pauls has plaster that has created a falling hazard. We are currently seeking approval from CCC Heritage Team to make a permanent repair so that the Church can open and the parish will not be inconvenienced twice. The organ has sustained serious damage.

Riccarton-St James has had further more serious damage to the Church as a result of 22 February. Temporary props have been installed in the Church and a second engineering repair and strengthening scheme has been commissioned.

Shirley, St Stephens has suffered serious liquefaction resulting in the hall and Church foyer being red carded and the Church has more recently also been red carded. The parish has set up a temporary office on the car park and are having their services at a local school.

St Albans, St Matthews also sustained more serious damage to the Church and the hall where the ground has dropped in one corner. The second stage engineering report has been commissioned. There will be a two staged repair with the Church repaired first to allow for its re-occupation and followed by the hall.

Sumner, All Saints. The Church has sustained some damage and has a red card. This is partially due to the proximity of the cliff but also due to damage in the floor and bell tower of the Church. The windows are to be assessed and removed if any in danger.

The fate of the hall, Church and vicarage will not be known for 6-12 months minimum as it depends on the stability of the cliff behind the buildings.

Sydenham, St Saviours the Church is able to be used for small gatherings but the hall cannot be used as it is more seriously damaged. We will have the Church repaired initially and fairly quickly but the hall has more serious damage which will take longer to repair.

Upper Riccarton, St Peters - the engineers are preparing a repair and strengthening report taking into account the additional damage sustained after 22 February. The unstable stones will be removed over the next few weeks and the building waterproofed, then windows removed for safety.

Vicarages: We are in the process of applying for consent to demolish the Merivale vicarage. There is also damage to the Heathcote-Mt Pleasant, New Brighton, Sumner, Ellesmere and Kaiapoi vicarages.

Project Manager:

CPT is in the final negotiations of engaging a Project Management Company to manage some of the larger repair processes that face the Diocese. The process will not change in as much as CPT will continue to have an ongoing conversation with the affected parishes; however, we will be able to benefit by having a professional project manager who, due to the scale of the anticipated projects, will be able to manage the costs and contractors.

Buildings with damage of less than $30,000:

The process established with the assessor before the 22 February earthquake is being reviewed. These buildings identified previously and in the repair system are being reassessed for further damage before being repaired.

Business Interruption Insurance:

CPT has in place blanket business interruption cover that will cover any increased cost of operating. If your parish needs to rent an alternative worship space or office space this may be covered by this policy. Again, please discuss this with Liz Clarke before contracts are entered into. New leases should be signed by CPT to protect the interests of the parish and the diocese.

Once you know what your parish will need please produce a budget for the next 12-24 months and send this to Liz. It will then be presented to the insurer for approval.

Cemeteries:

DecraArt has made some repairs but the cemeteries will be reassessed. They will restart the repair of the headstones as soon as the aftershocks have diminished.

Site Safe:

Site Safe have visited some sites and made recommendations, but we will have in future, a specific safety plan to identifying the risks and recommend safety sign-offs that we should take into consideration when having contractors on our sites. Remember; no-one is to enter into a red stickered building unless accompanied by an engineer and with the prior approval of the property manager.

Archives and Contents:

Jane Teal the archivist has been working with those parishes that have severely damaged buildings and are having to remove the contents. Together they have been recording where the contents are being stored as well as recording any contents that have been damaged beyond repair so removed from the terrier. This is vital information for the insurance company and also important parish history within the Diocese.

Jane can be contacted on 021 055 1733 or 03 328 8561.

Contact:

Please do not hesitate to contact Liz Clarke, CPT Property Manager at property@anglicanlife.org.nz or on her cellphone 027 285 2028 to report any new damage, or to discuss any concerns with her.

CPT appreciates your on-going care and attention to the buildings of your parish. Thank you for your patience and the work you are doing at this most challenging time.

Liz Clarke, Property Manager

Church Property Trustees