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A bell is recovered by crane from the earthquake-damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Christchurch - Source: ONE News -
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Christchurch Catholic Cathedral staff are delighted to get back 11 stolen chalices they did not even know were missing.
Christchurch police last week returned the chalices to the church after finding them in a stash of stolen goods accumulated by a group of squatters living near the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Barbadoes St.
They are continuing to investigate the theft.
One of the gilt silver chalices was donated by Pope John Paul II when he visited Christchurch in 1986 and another was given to the cathedral by Pope Leo XIII in 1891.
Many of the other chalices were donated by Catholic families in Christchurch and were used most days in mass. Most were inscribed with the cathedral's name.
The custodian of artworks in the cathedral, Max Broadbent, said the return was "very positive".
"We could have lost them for good."
He said the cathedral was closed after the February earthquake and Bishop Barry Jones had forbidden anyone to enter the building to ensure no further risks were taken.
Because no staff had been able to enter the building from February the thefts were not discovered until the police got in touch last Thursday.
Fortunately, thieves had left many other valuable items.
Broadbent said most of the cathedral's precious artworks had been rescued from the building undamaged. They included bronze tabernacle doors sculpted by Ria Bancroft and a life-size crucifix carved by Pat Mulcahy.
Stations of the Cross sculpted by Llew Summers were fixed to the walls of the cathedral but all appeared to be intact.
Historic musical instruments in the cathedral had also survived.
Broadbent said the chalices were now in secure custody.
The fate of the building has yet to be decided.
