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Special e-Life — Council Heritage Projects Submissions
Dear Friends,
I am writing to ask you to make a submission to the Christchurch City Council’s draft annual plan for 2026-27 which supports the City Council prioritising funding for the reinstatement of Christ Church Cathedral. We need you to speak up for the Cathedral in this regard. There will be voices speaking up for other heritage projects in the city in this submission process and it will be vital that we have many voices speaking up for the priority of the cathedral being funded.
You can find out more the Cathedral Reinstatement website here https://christchurchcathedral.org.nz/support-us/speak-up/ and make a submission via that site.
Or, you can make a submission directly to Council here: Our Draft Annual Plan 2026/27 | Kōrero mai | Let’s talk
You can also read the full Council plan concerning four iconic heritage buildings in the city here:Restoring our iconic buildings | Our Draft Annual Plan 2026/27
In essence, the City Council seeks your views on potential future investment in the restoration of these four iconic buildings. The Council estimates there is a funding gap across all four iconic heritage projects of $290m and thus it wishes to understand community views on what investment might be made in the completion of the four heritage projects.
The first question the Council asks is: “How important is completing the restoration of these four heritage buildings to Christchurch’s future?” and we are invited to make one of six responses, from “Critical – these are essential to our city’s identity and economy” down to “Don’t know”.
Then the Council invites us to make comments “about the Council investing in the restoration of these buildings” and this is a golden opportunity to make a comment about the importance and priority of re-opening the Cathedral.
I ask each resident of Christchurch receiving this letter to make a submission in support of the Cathedral’s reinstatement receiving further City Council support and encourage friends and families to do the same. Possible themes for your written submission are:
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The Cathedral as the heart & soul of our community.
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A place of spiritual nourishment & reflection
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A place of refuge.
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A place where all are welcome.
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A quiet space away from the busy world.
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A symbol of hope.
Your support via this submission process will make a difference to the future decision making of the Christchurch City Council in respect of the priority of Christ Church Cathedral among the four major heritage projects of this city. The deadline for submissions is Friday 27 March 2026.
Thank you for your action on this vital step in securing the funding which will enable us to re-open our cathedral.
Arohanui,
+Peter.
Read the full publication
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Bishop of Christchurch Anglican Diocese
The Rt Rev’d Dr Peter R Carrell, BSc (Hons), BD, PhD.
The Right Reverend Dr Peter Carrell is the ninth Bishop of Christchurch. Before being ordained bishop in February 2019, he was Director of Theology House and Director of Education for the Diocese of Christchurch; Archdeacon for Pegasus and East Christchurch (2018); Archdeacon for South Canterbury (2014–2018); and Archdeacon for Mid Canterbury (2015–2018).
Vision for the Regeneration of the Christchurch Anglican Diocese
Bishop Peter shared his vision for the regeneration of the Christchurch Anglican Diocese in March 2019 with clergy, held at All Souls’ Church, Merivale.
Also available is Bishop Peter’s Presidential Address Synod 2023 .
Ordained deacon 1986, priest 1987, and serving his curacy in the Parish of Shirley, Christchurch, he has served as a parish priest and as a theological educator in the Dioceses of Nelson (1993–2010) and Christchurch (1987–90, 2010–2018).
Peter is a member of the General Synod of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.
Born in 1959 in Christchurch, Peter grew up in Hororata, Dunedin, and Christchurch where he attended Christ’s College. He is a graduate of Canterbury, Otago and Durham (UK) Universities.
His doctorate is in New Testament studies (Durham, 1990–93) and he has taught biblical studies as an adjunct lecturer for University of Otago, St John’s College (Auckland), Laidlaw College and Seminari Theoloji Malaysia.
Peter is married to Teresa Kundycki-Carrell and they have four adult children. Teresa is Lay Chaplain at Cathedral Grammar School, Christchurch.
Peter is well known in the Diocese as a preacher and teacher. His diocesan roles have focused on theological education and ministry training of clergy and laity for church ministry.
He has written or co-authored eight books including six yearly Lenten study guides since 2013.
Peter is a Fellow of Christ’s College Canterbury, and a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, of the Riccarton Rotary Club and of the Christchurch Club.