A key spiritual leader in the Christchurch earthquake recovery has vowed to continue helping rebuild the city in his new role.

Peter Beck delivered his last sermon as Dean of Christchurch yesterday morning before taking up a position on the city council.

Cr Beck told the congregation that the building may be gone but "the ministry and the mission and the destiny we have lives on".

He has stepped down after nine years as dean to take up a new mission as a city councillor for the quake-ravaged Burwood-Pegasus ward.

The by-election was called after the withdrawal of Cr Chrissie Williams due to ill health.

Cr Beck said a key priority is to get things moving for people who are feeling trapped and unsure and to have "good clear honest open communication so people can be helped to be where they are".

And despite losing their central city landmark, he believes the city has a bright future.

"I was just blown away after February the 22nd by the amazing commitment and courage as people reached out to one another and rebuilt that sense of community which is what makes human beings human.

"That was phenomenal; for me that was the act of God."

Tough job ahead

Cr Beck now faces the tough job of helping unite an under-fire council which he says has been given a wake up call.

In the run up to the election he had made a stand over council chief executive Tony Marryatt's controversial 14.4% pay rise, saying it wasn't a good look.

"At a time when things are so rough for people in so many parts of the city, especially here in the eastern suburbs, I think the leaders of our community and our city need to say 'hang on, let's show some restraint'.

"My understanding is all the councillors want to get on, work together, build trust and respect amongst each other and I want to be part of that."

Reg Garters, lay canon at Christ Church Cathedral, says Peter Beck can see what's required to make changes and organise things.

Services have been held at the Christ's College chapel since the February quake and a new location for the temporary cardboard cathedral is expected to be announced next month.

"It's a beautiful building and we hope will be a sign of hope and confidence as we rebuild, a place where the city can come and gather again as they did in the old cathedral, to grieve and to celebrate," said Cr Beck.

His successor has the job of rebuilding not just a cathedral but a city's spirit.

Community farewell

The Christ's College chapel was full for Cr Beck's last evensong yesterday, and most of the people moved to the college dining room for an informal farewell.

Speakers included Bishop Victoria Matthews and the chair of the Cathedral Chapter, Anthony Wright. The Cathedral Choir then sang a humorous variation on Handel's Messiah, including the refrain "Wonderful councillor."

A powerpoint presentation picked out highlights of the former dean's nine-year stint, including some of his bizarre costumes for the annual KidsFest service.

In his closing speech, he reiterated that the Christchurch dean's position was still the best church job in New Zealand.

He paid special tribute to the cathedral community which had stood by him through various controversies, especially the row over a controversial new altar cloth.