A new “church from scratch” built after the earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, will be consecrated early next year. The members of All Souls Church began using their new building on the parish’s feast day in early November, and the Bishop-elect Peter Carrell dedicated the church Nov. 3.
Carrell will return to the church early in 2019 with Archbishop Philip Richardson, who will consecrate the building. He said the members of All Souls worshiped in halls, other churches, school buildings and marquees as they waited for their new home.
“Looking forward to this new building has kept the parish highly motivated, and the final result is impressive,” he said.
The Rev. Megan Herles-Mooar, vicar of St Albans, said the beginning of worship in the new building as a milestone that signals hope and renewal for the whole community. “Some who were heartbroken at the earthquake losses — including of their beloved church buildings — have already found healing coming into this new space.” she said.
The new complex houses treasures saved from two former church buildings that are incorporated into the new design, such as the stained-glass windows that now hold pride of place in a conical glass tower that forms the entrance chapel at All Souls.
Adapted from ACNS, which draws from an in-depth article by Julanne Clarke-Morris for Anglican Taonga. That article offers a slide show of nine exterior and interior images.
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
