Built in 1881, the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church was one of the many buildings conspicuously absent from the landscape when we flew over Christchurch last month. I’ve circled the relevant piece of dirt in the photograph below (click on the photo for a closer look). The building was badly damaged by the September 2010 earthquakes and then completely collapsed in the February 2011 earthquake. It was famous for having a sign out the front which read: “Our building is cracked, the Church is fine!” Although the neoclassical structure (an unusual style for Christchurch) is not going to be rebuilt, there are reports that the damaged Oamaru stone is to be used in a sculpture ― what a wonderful way of honouring the spirit and tenacity of its congregation.
The sketch is originally from this student project. Ben Heine’s ingenious Pencil Vs Camera images were my inspiration for this series.
Anna Cull ~ Art & Music 
Wonder if the church will rebuild…
I believe they plan to build on the site again… but I’m not sure when. As always, I’ll keep you posted.
these are real nostalgia trips for me. Maybe when I get down to Christchurch again one day I’ll be able to call on you…
That would be so cool — if you give me a bit of warning, I’ll even tidy up the garden (and pretend that grown-ups live here) : )
not sure if I can relate to grown-ups 🙂
Oxford Tce Baptist was the first church Mum and I attended when we arrived in New Zealand in 1974. You’re right; its architecture was unusual for the city. Even though it is gone, may its memory live on. Thanks for being part of that.
Of all the pen vs earthquake posts, this one was the most challenging to shoot because there was nothing left of it — which was very disconcerting — and I have such fond memories of rehearsing here with Celebration Singers (all those years ago). Sigh.