Business South March 2021

6 | COMMUNITY St Peter’s Anglican Church Richard Loader L ike so many beautiful old buildings in Christchurch, St Peter’s Anglican Church suffered extensive damage during the series of Canterbury earthquakes. With its origins dating back to 1858, the stone church is a sacred space, a place of peace and prayer on Christchurch’s Church Corner. Initially built in timber from Akaroa, the church has undergone many additions and extensions over time, notably in 1874 when Benjamin Mountfort was engaged as archi- tect and made an addition in stone. His great great-great nephew, the Venerable Nick Mountfort, is the church’s current Vicar. Following two years of extensive earth- quake repairs, seismic strengthening and modernisation the official re-opening and re- dedication of the church was held on February 28, attended by Archbishop Philip Richardson along with Bishop Peter Carrell. Suzanne Price, Church Property Trustees (CPT) Recovery Programme Manager, says while the $5 million project has been complex, the integration of the new elements of the church with the heritage elements have been hugely successful. “It’s absolutely amazing to walk in and see how the old and the new have been brought together. “For many people they will not notice any differences and all the strengthening work has been hidden away.” “It’s absolutely amazing to walk in and see how the old and the new have been brought together. For many people they will not notice any differences and all the strengthening work has been hidden away.” to page 9 Bringing new life to historic church While Wellington practice Tennent Brown Architects were engaged as lead architects for the project, Christchurch practice Chaplin Crooks Architects handled all contract admin- istration and the day-to-day work. Christchurch commercial builders Higgs Construction was engaged as lead contractor and Suzanne says the success of the project was in no small part due to the company’s site manager who presented practical solutions to the numerous issues encountered. “You had extensive earthquake damage to a structure that had been built in stages over the years.” ST PETER’S ANGLICAN CHURCH, UPPER RICCARTON PROUD TO BE REBUILDING CANTERBURY’S HERITAGE “Your Canterbury-owned Construction Partner” www.higgsconstruction.co.nz . i i . .