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Rh arrival of the "Canterbury pilgrims" in 1852, when the Canterbury Association reserved its site in the centre of Christchurch, a commanding position, but not so spacious as one could wish in these days. It would have been more convenient to have had the Diocesan offices and Synod hall, which are in the grounds of Christ's College, within the cathedral site. The Bishop has a scheme for accomplishing this, which may come about, though the available space is small.

The foundation was laid on December 16th, 1864, the anniversary of the arrival of the first colonists, by my Father, the Bishop of Christchurch. Plans had originally been furnished by Sir Gilbert Scott. He had taken the idea of the building from a church in Normandy in the Early French Gothic style. The proportions are good, but there is a lack of ornament or carving; massive pillars, with the plainest possible capitals; open timber work in the roof, suggestive of strength rather than beauty. Perhaps he thought that this severe style of Gothic would suit a cathedral in a new country, and, as if to emphasize that, he had planned columns in the nave of wood, to be constructed out of the massive stems of Kauri pine, which grows in the North Island. His plan was modified by Mr. Mountfort, the Diocesan Architect, who substituted stone pillars for wood.

After the foundations were laid, owing to times of commercial depression, nothing further was done for some years. The nave was then completed, and consecrated by the Bishop of Christchurch on All Saints' day, 1881, the tower and spire being the gift of the Rhodes family.

Christchurch is the only Diocese in New Zealand