A sad day for the Garden City - with the rebuild of Christ Church Cathedral put on hold

The Reinstatement Group says its 85-million dollar shortfall is too big a gap - and Cabinet rejected a Government lifeline this month.

The original gap was 114 million, reduced after an agreement to lower seismic strengthening and scrap elements of the original plan.

Mayor Phil Mauger says the council will continue to support the group's efforts to find funding.

He says the Cathedral is an important part of Christchurch's history - and so much more than a church.

The group's asked the council to hold onto its seven million dollar project grant for it - to be released if a pathway's found.

In coming months the site's scaffolding will be removed and the building be made weather tight.