Bishop Victoria Matthews says the situation across Christchurch is far more grave than in the wake of the Sept 4 quake.

“In September,” she says, “there was a sense of pervasive hope.

“This time there are high, high levels of anxiety, and a sense of despair.”

“We are facing an entirely different scene, a crisis of an entirely greater order of magnitude.”

“People are suffering terrible anxiety. There are still many people who have been unable to make contact with members of their family and with their closest friends.”

Last evening, Bishop Matthews was at the tent city set up in Hagley Park. She walked and talked with people as hundreds inched forward, in the rain, towards shelter.

Churches damaged

It's already clear, too, that churches across the city have suffered more widespread damage than in the 7.1 quake of September 4 last year.

Oxford St Baptist, Durham St Methodist and Knox Presbyterian – which were each being repaired under the supervision of heritage architects following the September quake – have now been destroyed.

On the Anglican scene, it’s too soon to form any clear picture of the extent of the damage, but it will be widespread.

The Anglican Centre – a multi-level office building in the CBD which houses the diocesan office – has been evacuated, and it’s known that all 14 diocesan staff were able to make their way to safety.

In the days immediately after the September 4 quake, Bishop Matthews called daily meetings of key diocesan staff in an office at the foot of the garden of her own home.

Her own home has suffered much greater damage this time around. 

The Editor of Anglican Taonga is Canon Brian Thomas, who is a long-time resident of Christchurch.

He’s another who says yesterday’s quake poses severe questions for his city.

“The September quake knocked us to the ground,” he says.

“This one has kicked us in the teeth.”