Christchurch Cathedral paid back 135 years of rent it ‘owed’ to the Governor of the Falkland Islands in the form of 135 peppercorns, at a tongue-in-cheek ceremony hosted by Government House this morning.

Christchurch Cathedral stands on land that was granted by Queen Victoria in 1887, an agreement which was secured on the basis that rent of one peppercorn per year should be paid to the Governor. 

However, a recent look into the Cathedral’s records revealed that this payment has never actually been made.

Members of the Cathedral gathered at Government House on Tuesday morning as Rector, Ian Faulds, presented 135 peppercorns to current Governor, Nigel Phillips CBE.

Commenting, Governor Nigel Phillips said he now “looks forward to an annual ceremony where we receive one peppercorn!”