Thursday, November 24, 2011

Good Shepherd Cathedral, Ayr, Scotland

Good Shepherd Cathedral by Mantawoman2009
Good Shepherd Cathedral, a photo by Mantawoman2009 on Flickr.
It seems being listed did not save this Catholic Cathedral from demolition.

Listing information [Grade C(S)]
Built 1955-57 to the designs of John Torry, refurbished in 1985. It became a cathedral in 1961 following the destruction of Dumfries Cathedral by fire.
Near-rectangular-plan Roman Catholic church with modernist Scandinavian. Brick. Cill band course to entrance elevation. Predominantly square-headed window openings. NE (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: gabled entrance porch; round-arched entrance; 2-pairs of timber doors; fanlight; flanking single windows; single windows to re-entrant angles; stepped E window to gable (central opening round-arched); cross to gablehead. 2 round-arched windows to return of canted bay to outer left. Square-plan tower to outer right; rectangular plaque; band course to 3 corniced openings; vertical round-arched narrow stair window; 2 windows flanking; smaller louvred square-plan bell-tower atop.
The church is a good example of post-war architecture with its distinctive brick work and cream stone detailing, ennobled by its fine square-plan tower

The cathedral closed in 2007 and largely demolished in 2010. The facade and tower have been kept as the site is turned into housing.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Christchurch Catholic Cathedral, NZ

It Say's it All! by Jocelyn Kinghorn
It Say's it All!, a photo by Jocelyn Kinghorn on Flickr.

Work continues to assess the catholic cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, and this picture shows that the cracked central dome and tower have been removed. Hopefully this will ensure that the interior can now be inspected and precious objects retrieved. Press reports suggest that although badly damaged what still stands is capable of rebuilding.

Christchurch Anglican Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral by Caacrinolaas
Christ Church Cathedral, a photo by Caacrinolaas on Flickr.

The damage to the cathedral, once the most recognisable building in the city, if not in New Zealand, is more serious than originally thought. An after shock brought down the rose window months after the original damage occurred. The authorities are deconsecrating the cathedral ahead of further controlled demolition which will allow further assessment of the remains and whether parts are capable of preservation.