Cathedral under microscope

WelCom June 2018: Engineers have told the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Wellington that it meets less than 33 percent of the new building standard. The 117-year-old cathedral has been evaluated by…

Photo: WelCom


WelCom June 2018:

Engineers have told the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Wellington that it meets less than 33 percent of the new building standard.

The 117-year-old cathedral has been evaluated by engineers in a verbal report and a brief written assessment.

Sacred Heart Cathedral’s Fr James Lyons said beams in the roof needed to be strengthened. But everything else met the earthquake code.

‘Our Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart has been under scrutiny by architectural engineers. Following the 2014 earthquake, a visual inspection gave the all clear for continued use, but last year a full examination of the cathedral complex was requested. This report has yet to be finalised, although the Parish has been told that a structural problem in the roofing has been identified. Until the extent of this is known the Cathedral can remain open.

Parishioners were advised of the situation in early May and will be kept informed of developments.

CathNews NZ.