Invercargill South Pastoral Area parish priest Fr Pat McGettigan said gale-force wind of 150kmh damaged the dome of St Mary’s Basilica church last week.
Ribbing came off the 115-year-old church dome and panels were loosened.
‘‘The force of that wind got underneath one of the ribbing [strips] of the dome and ... took a long part of the timber that has been covered with copper plating and threw it into our car park and the building next door.
‘‘Fortunately, nobody has been hurt because it probably happened in the middle of the night.’’
Repair work started this week and he believed the church would be closed for seven to 10 days.
‘‘The church has been closed down as other pieces could fall off.’’
Invercargill South Pastoral Area parish secretary Karen Ralston said services had being transferred to other churches in the city.
However, she hoped the two concerts scheduled for next week did not need to be cancelled.
‘‘They still are very keen to use the basilica because it has such great acoustics, but they also have a back-up plan.’’
Fr McGettigan said did not know the cost of the repair work.
It would be covered by insurance, he said.
Completed in 1905 to the design of the prominent late Victorian architect F.W. Petre, of Dunedin, St Mary’s Basilica is an Invercargill landmark,
and listed as a category 1 historic place.
The basilica’s church services this weekend will now be held at: Saturday vigil 6pm, St Patrick’s Church; Sunday 7.30am, Sacred Heart Church; and 10.30am, St Theresa’s Church.
Monday to Thursday and Saturday 9am weekday Masses normally held in the Basilica would be held in the classroom beside the marae.
