The Prince of Wales has agreed to become the reinstatement project’s Royal Patron.
In his backing of the project Charles’ has also made a substantial donation to the cause.
As it stood in 2009
To fully restore the Cathedral an estimate of $104 million is being reported, with the church's $42m insurance payout being well short of the budget requirement to do so.
Christchurch ratepayers have been levied 10 million dollars to help rebuild the Christ Church Cathedral.
Cathedral Square
Cathedral Square was first named Ridley Square to commemorate Bishop Nicholas Ridley, martyred at Oxford in 1550, It was laid out in the form of a cross.
His co-martyrs and colleague bishops, Cranmer and Latimer have Squares named after them.
The Square was originally designed to be a privately owned space for the Cathedral and a grammar school on the Christ Church, Oxford, model. However, the Square gradually became a community focal point and a major centre of activity.
In 1974 it was redeveloped to provide large pedestrian areas, and traffic was diverted around the perimeter of the square.
Some will remember seeing the Christchurch Wizard and the Bible Lady, Renee Stanton, in Cathedral Square, the Bible lady always seemed to place herself close to the Wizards audiance much to his frustration.
Ian Brackenbury better known as the Wizard started to speak on his ladder in Cathedral Square around the early 1970’s. The city council of the day attempted to have him arrested, however he had became so popular that they made the square a public speaking area.
Wearing his costume as a false prophet of the Church of England, or his wizard's pointy hat, he could be found speaking there during the summer months. He later became recognised as the Wizard of New Zealand.
See latest Cathedral Square upgade information here.
Sources Christchurch public libraries, Wizard photo Lossenelin
