Bronzed tabernacle doors found

[Statement on behalf of the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch]

The Ria Bancroft bronzed doors believed missing from the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Christchurch have been found.

The doors, which were stored in a container, had been moved and placed further back in the packed container.

Paddy Beban, Diocesan Financial Administrator, said that a staff member had gone into the container to find some altar vestments and had found the tabernacle doors.

“It is a great relief to have found them. The doors are wrapped for their protection and the person who moved them obviously did not realise what they were moving,” he said

The Ria Bancroft doors are 51cm high and 79cm wide and have a replacement value of $185,000.