Rose Historic Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rose Historic Chapel |
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The Rose Historic Chapel following the February 2011 earthquake
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| 43°31′23″S 172°38′14″E / 43.52312°S 172.6371°E | |
| Location | Christchurch Central City, Christchurch |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Denomination | Non-denominational |
| Previous denomination | Catholic |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St Mary's Convent Chapel |
| Status |
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| Founder(s) | Bishop John Grimes |
| Events | 2011 Christchurch earthquake |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Preserved |
| Architect(s) | Sidney and Alfred Luttrell |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1910 |
| Closed | 1994 (as a Catholic chapel) |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Hoon Hay and Oamaru stone |
The Rose Historic Chapel, once known as the St Mary's Convent Chapel, is a special old stone building in Christchurch, New Zealand. It used to be a Catholic chapel, which is a small church. Today, it's recognized as a "Historic Place" because it's very important to New Zealand's history. The chapel was built in 1910 and has a beautiful Gothic Revival style, which means it looks like old European churches.
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The Chapel's Story
Building a Community
The first leader of the Catholic Church in Christchurch was Bishop John Grimes. He arrived in 1888. Bishop Grimes helped bring people together in the Catholic community. He also helped build many churches and other buildings.
One of these buildings was the St Mary's Convent, which included the chapel. Bishop Grimes was honored for all his hard work.
The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy, a group of nuns, came to Christchurch in 1894. They started the St Mary's Parish School and Convent. The chapel, built in 1910, is the only part of the original St Mary's Convent that is still standing today. The rest of the convent buildings were taken down in 1994.
The chapel was designed by two brothers, Alfred and Edward Luttrell. They were famous architects. This chapel was their first project for the Catholic Church in Christchurch. After this, they designed many more churches and buildings for the diocese.
Restoration and Reopening
The Christchurch City Council bought the chapel. They worked with groups like the Rose Chapel Trust to fix it up. The chapel was damaged during the big 2011 Christchurch earthquake. After about two years of repairs, the chapel was able to open its doors again in July 2018.
Why the Chapel is Special
On July 14, 1995, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust officially listed the chapel as a Category II historic place. This means it's an important building that needs to be protected.
The chapel is special for many reasons:
- Its Beauty: It has lovely stained glass windows and a beautiful design.
- Its Architecture: The Luttrell brothers were known for designing amazing churches.
- Its History: It was an important place for religious teaching and spiritual life for the nuns.
