Hope for St Mary's but doors stay shut

JOHN BISSET/Fairfax NZ

ADMIRATION: Anglican Bishop of Christchurch, Victoria Matthews, with Grantlea Downs pupils James Grice and Oscar Whyte, made a fleeting visit to the Aigantighe Art Gallery yesterday to see a work of art created by Opihi College pupils. Year 13 students Rebecca Stratford, Ashleigh Cook and Daniel Roberts made a replica of Christ Church Cathedral out of photocopied papers of The Press to enter into the Artarama. ‘‘It’s a nice parallel with the temporary cathedral,’’ she said. ‘‘I think it’s very creative and I’d love to talk to them about the process.’’ Artarama is a partnership project between Aigantighe and the Rotary Club of Timaru North. The exhibition of the work is on until August 19. Visitors can explore 630 entries at the gallery.

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St Mary's Church representatives have been told there will be no use of any Anglican Church buildings that do not meet safety standards.

The church and hall have been closed since February when they were were found to meet just 10 per cent of the building code, rather than the required 33 per cent.

A report noted the buildings required significant earthquake strengthening.

Frustrated at delays, the church vestry committee last month decided to reopen the church if an engineering report was not received by August 10.

But during a meeting with Bishop Victoria Matthews, Church Property Trustees (CPT) staff, the diocesan manager and Holmes Engineering on Wednesday night, six church representatives were told any Anglican buildings identified as under 34 per cent of the building code were not to be used.

However, vicar Indrea Alexander said an engineering progress report had given fresh reassurances progress was being made. It confirmed additional connections between the roof and walls would bring the church to between 33 per cent and 40 per cent of the building standards, she said.

Holmes Engineering engineer Mark Whiteside said roof-tying work done in 2007 needed to be supplemented in light of what had been learnt following the Canterbury earthquakes.

A full engineering report for St Mary's, to consider what was needed to bring the church to between 67 per cent 100 per cent of the building code, was expected within 30 days.

Church warden Barrie Wood, who announced plans to reopen the church to applause from the parish two weeks ago, welcomed the update.

"We always knew that something like this would come to pass.

"It was just that we didn't know really know where we were going with this. Now we've got some facts to progress with. We know what we're dealing with. That's what we were in need of."

The vestry committee would discuss the new information and report back to the vestry, however it was "probably unwise" to reopen the church in light of the new information.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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