( CNN ) -- The remains of what was Christchurch Cathedral , whose shattered spire became a symbol of the New Zealand city 's quake devastation , is to be dismantled after Anglican church officials said the earthquake had damaged the structure of the iconic church beyond repair . Bishop Victoria Matthews said the existing church walls would be brought down to about 3 meters and the base of the church kept for use as a prayer garden . Officials had thought part of the building could be saved but said on Friday that recent aftershocks had made the existing structure unsound . `` What we need to do is bring the walls down to a safe level which is probably about 2-3 meters , '' Bishop Matthews said . `` There will be no bulldozers , no wrecking ball . This will be done with deep respect and love . '' The cathedral -- one of the city 's best-known historic buildings -- was severely damaged in the earthquake on February 22 , 2011 , its neo-gothic spire crashing to the ground . The quake destroyed many buildings in Christchurch 's central business district and killed 185 people . When the deadly quake hit New Zealand . News of its demolition was greeted with dismay in Christchurch where heritage campaigners say the decision was taken without public consultation . Christchurch City Councillor Aaron Keown vowed to protest to stop the demolition and said there was widespread support for his position . `` I would be in there chaining myself to the building to stop that and I know lots of other volunteers would come in to do that , '' he told the Christchurch Press . Bishop Matthews said the cost of saving the cathedral was `` staggering '' and that NZ $ 50 million ( US $ 42 million ) would be needed to rebuild existing parts of the building or NZ $ 100 million for a complete reconstruction . She said bringing the walls down to a safe level would allow officials to retrieve artworks and other church relics still inside the structure . The cathedral is within Christchurch 's `` red zone , '' the worst-hit area of the city where many of the buildings still remain too unstable to enter . The Anglican Church has said that it is committed to building a new cathedral , but no plans have been drawn up about where it will be placed , how much it will cost or what it will look like . The 131-year-old cathedral had previously been damaged in earthquakes in 1881 , 1888 , 1901 and in 2010 , according to its website .
Church officials say quake-damaged cathedral will be demolished . Walls to be reduced to three metres and the base kept as a prayer garden . - The church is expected to reopen in late March or early April after repairs are completed.