(photograph © Kiwidutch)
St Mary’s Church in Church Lane, Merivale, Christchurch City, New Zealand is a beautiful stone (Church of England / Anglican church) that was built in the 1920′s.
I used to pass it quite often when I lived in Christchurch because friends lived close by, and so I was keen to see how it had fared during the earthquakes and subsequent aftershocks.
Only a few days after I took these photographs, we were hit by a cluster of over 30 aftershocks, several of them very large indeed.
It was with great sadness that I learned on the local News that pre-Dec23rd it had been supposed that much of St Mary’s might be slavagable and that with appropriate strengthening it might be (mostly) saved, but now, the December earthquakes had dealt a lethal blow and that only a fraction of it is now repairable.
CERA (Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Agency) quickly assessed the building and made their decisions and since my photogrpahs were taken it’s appearance has changed completely (see link below for photos)
http://anglicantaonga.org.nz/News/Common-Life/Quake-memorial-service
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
The Google Street view vehicle doesn’t appear to have gone down Church Lane, (probably because its a cul-de- sac) so the closest “before” shot I could get is this close up , taken from a side view from Papanui Road.
(photograph © Thank you Google Street View)
