The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament after the dome was removed. Large cracks are visible in the walls and in the dome's supporting structure, and the facade is supported by haybales and shipping containers. The photographer comments, "The main dome of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament became unsafe after the February Christchurch earthquake - workmen have slowly been dismantling it. Now we are just left with the cracked and twisted walls that supported the beautiful dome".
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Building rubble on the cathedral grounds.
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Building rubble on the cathedral grounds.
A view of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, taken from the Port Hills.
A statue of Mary in a window of the damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.
A photograph of an excavator sitting outside the damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The tower on the south-west corner of the building has collapsed and the dome has been removed. Shipping containers support the far wall of the building.
A photograph of members of the New Zealand Police in high-visibility vests and hard hats walking down Barbadoes Street. In the distance, a dome of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament can be seen.
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. View from the side with diggers at work.
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Detail to the front entrance of the cathedral.
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Detail to the front entrance of the cathedral.
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. View from the side with diggers at work.
Flowers that have been woven into the fence around the damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Barbadoes Street. After the February earthquake the statue of Mary was facing outwards towards the street, whereas before the earthquakes the statue faced inwards towards the church".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Hotel Grand Chancellor (viewed from the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament)".
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Detail of the sculpture on top of the cathedral.
A photograph captioned by Paul Corliss, "Barbadoes Street/Tuam street. Earthquake 4th of September 2010".
Detail of damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The cross on the roof has been removed.
Detail of damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The cross on the roof has been removed.
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Close-up of some equipment that are being used on site.
The damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The tower on the south-west corner of the building has collapsed.
The damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, seen from the south side. Large cracks are visible below the dome.
The damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, seen from the south side. Large cracks are visible below the dome.
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. A large crack and fallen stonework are visible under the dome.
The damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, seen from the north side. Large cracks are visible below the dome.
To those silent sentinels,
the guardians of the night,
who insured our peaceful homes
and sheltered our children from fright.
We give our thanks and praise
for the sacrifice they bore,
and pledge always to remember
their gift of service in war.
Gerard A. Geiger March 23, 1996
A photograph submitted by Raymond Morris to the QuakeStories website. The description reads, "Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Barbadoes Street. The Cathedral was opened in 1905, the architect was Frank Petrie, and was designed in the Italian renaissance style as a basilica. It is not certain yet whether it will be reconstructed after the 2011 earthquakes.".
The damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The tower on the north-west corner of the building has partially collapsed.
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Flowers have been put on the fence in front of the cathedral.
Damage to Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. A member of the public looks through the fences with diggers at work.
The damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The corner towers on the west side of the building have partially collapsed.
