27 Oct 2015

Divine intervention for Catholic churches

7:26 pm on 27 October 2015

The Catholic church believes it can save all 13 of its heritage churches in Canterbury and the West Coast.

Christchurch's Catholic Basilica.

Christchurch's Catholic Basilica. Photo: RNZ / Sally Murphy

The Christchurch diocese, which covers both regions, had thought two would have to be demolished.

But diocese development manager Keith Beal said there was growing confidence in the possibility of saving all 13, after new information from a study it commissioned..

The two yet to be finalised were in Rangiora and Pleasant Point, both in Canterbury, he said.

The condition of the Rangiora church would be investigated to see if it was viable to remodel it to retain its existing heritage, while the Pleasant Point parish was considering incorporating significant parts of the existing church into a new design, he said.