Christ Church Cathedral has held its first service of Choral Evensong in twelve years at the construction site inside the Cathedral in the Square.

On Thursday 3 August the sound of power tools and heavy machinery stopped at Christchurch’s Cathedral in the Square, for it to echo once again to the Evensong order of worship first sung in the building back in 1881. 

Over the 140 years of Choral Evensong on the site, the monastic-inspired services were often sung up to five times a week. Last week’s Evensong took place for the first time since February 2011, when the earthquakes that damaged much of the city of Christchurch destroyed large sections of the Cathedral and barred entry to the Cathedral. 

Last week’s service took place in the window of opportunity that is open only while the building is fully braced and safe to enter, but its floor has not yet been removed to fortify the foundations. 

Acting Dean Very Rev Bosco Peters welcomed the intimate collection of helmet-wearing worshippers to the service on Thursday 3 August who sang and prayed in the Cathedral construction site surrounded by floodlit scaffolding.

Bosco reminded those who gathered – and those tuning in to the livestream or watching it screened in the Square – that the liturgy of Evensong harks back not only to 19^th century beginnings of this Gothic Revival building, but much further back in the history of the church. 

“The service comes from the Book of Common Prayer and brings together centuries of Christian traditions of evening prayer, even going back into the Jewish roots of daily prayer.”

Cathedral Precentor Jill Kerr, who was lead voice in the service, found it different to singing in the 10 year-old cardboard Transitional Cathedral. 

“The highlight for me was the atmosphere created by the feeling of continuing the tradition of worship that had been going on for so long in that place.”

“Hard to describe really, except it sent shivers down (up!) my spine.”

James Atherton tuned in from the UK and had a similar experience.

“This was such an emotional service to join in with. What a monumental occasion for you all. The choir and clergy were superb, and I hope this offering of worship reminds the people of Christchurch that their Cathedral is coming back, and why it is so important that it is reinstated.”

Cathedral administrator Chris Oldham says that although the Cathedral was deconsecrated back in November 2011, it still feels like a church, especially when there’s singing.

“We are keen to worship in the Cathedral construction site again, but services have to fit in with the schedule of works.”

“Once the floor is removed for foundation work, it will be hard to hold such a service in there.” 

The Evensong livestream at Christchurch Cathedral is available on the Transitional Cathedral Youtube channel here.