An interim enforcement order issued by the Environment Court on Monday meant work could not start on removing the altar to Holy Name Church in Dunedin and resource consent must now be obtained from the Waitaki District Council.
On Monday night, Fr Mark Chamberlain, of Holy Name Parish, said the Dominican Sisters offered a proposal to establish a trust for the chapel and give all the sacred objects, with the exception of the marble altar, to the trust.
"Alex was on that group and he and the group never got back to the sisters," he said.
When contacted yesterday, Mr Familton said the proposal excluded the altar, reredos, lamp and stand, brass crucifix, candlesticks, portraits, brass lectern, choir stalls, single chairs, kneelers, flower stands and inside statues.
At that stage, he and Oamaru lawyer George Berry, as representatives of the community, had not formed a group.
No time limitation was made over the proposal.
"We were still acting in good faith over the matter and are still in a position to do so. There had been no mutual agreement for us to presume the offer no longer existed."
They did not act quickly because a large number of people they consulted were unhappy to see "an undertaking of that sort" hurried through and wanted an opportunity to include the altar.
A trust would also need to know that it had some security.
"It would have been a doubtful procedure for us to rush ahead and form a trust and then find someone else had taken the building and were reluctant to give access to it."
Japanese company Nikken Seil has the Teschemakers property, which includes the chapel, on the market.
The Dominican Sisters own the contents of the chapel, and have given the altar to Holy Name Parish.
Mr Familton had written to Nikken Seil, pointing out the wish to preserve the building, but he had not received a response.
His preference was to retain the altar in the chapel, saying he saw that as a matter of supporting the community.
"I know the community want that. The altar is the heart and soul of the building. The building is the heart and soul of part of our heritage and history."
