More than 70 people, including numerous former pupils of the Catholic girls boarding school at Teschemakers, attended.
Willie Campbell, of Dunedin, brought a petition signed by 41 former pupils. They wanted the chapel to remain intact and, if that was not possible, then for all the chapel's artefacts to remain in North Otago.
Susie Scott, who applied for an injunction which meant work could not start to remove the altar and transfer it to Holy Name Church in Dunedin, said she was looking for a "pathway forward". Resource consent must now be obtained from the Waitaki District Council to remove the altar.
Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton, who chaired the meeting, said a decision would have to be made as to whether an application, if lodged, needed to be publicly notified.
There would also need to be a decision as to whether it was heard by the local hearings group or by a commissioner. He was "almost certain" a commissioner would be sought.
Asked the criteria for it to be publicly notified, Mr Familton said an expression of public interest by a large number of people would lead to a situation where it would be "very unwise" not to publicly notify. He pointed out he would not be part of that decision.
Bruce Albiston suggested forming a trust, involving civic, community and Catholic representatives. That met with favour, although John Walker suggested that as the Teschemakers property, including the chapel, was owned by Japanese company Nikken Seil, the next step should perhaps be to meet representatives of the company to find out if there was any "glimmer of hope".
Danny Hailes suggested a meeting be held with Fr Mark Chamberlain and Holy Name Parish, while Oamaru stonemason Bill Dooley suggested a meeting with the Dominican Sisters who gave the altar to Holy Name Parish.
It had been designed for the shape of the chapel and if put in another church, it would look out of place, particularly at Holy Name Church, Mr Dooley said.
If the altar was removed and the windows [which are not part of the issue], it would leave "a stable, or something for cows or horses", he said.
Lawyer Garth Lucas, who attended at the request of the Dominican Sisters and their leadership team, was asked if he wanted to speak.
He said he came to ensure nothing was said against the processes the Sisters had gone through. It had been very torturous and very troubling for them over a long period.
After the meeting, former pupil Mary Flaherty said she travelled from Dunedin due to her desire to see the chapel retained in its entirety, but hopefully in a "loving and charitable way".
