By Jayson Rhodes, Diocese of Christchurch
(To see the three designs see the Picture Galleries)
A community consultation on designs for ChristChurch Cathedral has produced more than 3700 submissions and 19,000 visits to the website.
The high number of submissions during the month-long "conversation," which ended on May 3, has been welcomed by the Church Property Trustees as part of its commitment to build a Cathedral in the Square.
Bishop Victoria Matthews says the time people took to engage with the process through the website, at forums, in churches and meetings shows high interest and is greatly appreciated.
‘Some people wrote detailed comments on each of the options as well as giving their preferred option. We had phone calls, impromptu voting papers from people with no computer access as well as designs and written letters.
“It has been a rich conversation with many voices that assist us in the decision making process.”
The website gave access to 25 documents with information on the three options. Reports were updated and expanded from requests made during the public engagement process.
Web Feedback (period April 3 to May 3 2013)
- A total of 3741 submissions
- 19,272 website visits viewing 74,573 pages
- 14,849 unique visitors to the website
- 2917 submissions from Canterbury
- 253 submissions from Auckland, 85 from the United States, 62 from the United Kingdom
- 3833 referrals from Facebook
- Three forums in Christchurch and one in Auckland attracted approximately 500 participants
The three design options received the following votes:
Restore 1088 (29.1%) Traditional 504 (13.5%) Contemporary 1915 (51.2%) No preference 234 ( 6.2%) Total 3741
Voting for Christchurch City for a preferred option was:
Restore 749 (30.5%) Traditional 315 (13%) Contemporary 1240 (50.5%) No preference 146 (6%) Total 2450
The Church Property Trustees are responsible for the property holdings of the Diocese of Christchurch, including ChristChurch Cathedral, the mother church.
The trustees have maintained from the beginning of the engagement process that voting is only one component in a wide decision-making process.
Critical issues in any decision making include the mission and ministry of the Diocese.
The mission priorities are Christ-centered mission, faithful stewardship and young leadership.
Other critical issues are human safety, the heritage nature of the building, the fiscal risk of all the options, sound financial stewardship, and the complex matters of engineering.
A trustees’ meeting last week continued the consultation with those in engineering, project costing (QS) and project management, heritage, fundraising and architecture.
No date has been set yet for a final decision as the trustees are still evaluating the information. Engagement with groups included the Christchurch City, Historic Places Trust, Great Christchurch Buildings Trust and the IPSE, Restore Christchurch Cathedral, Cathedral Square Owners Group, Christchurch City Council Councillors and staff, the Diocesan Synod, Canon Almoners, Anglican Youth and other church leaders.
“The response and level of feedback has provided the trustees with even more information on which to base their decision,” Bishop Victoria says.
“During the public engagement, issues were raised and responded to in conversations as well as through work with different groups. This can only enhance the decision-making process.”
The trustees are due to meet in early June as they move towards a decision.
Public feedback can be viewed on the website www.cathedralconversations.org.nz