[1] The Godley statue is located in Cathedral Square, the heart of Christchurch, to commemorate the "Founder of Canterbury".

[3][4] In 1904, a Christchurch City Councillor advocated for the statue to be moved, as the soon to be built trams would not leave enough space around it.

In 1907, the City Council gave permission for the erection of a tram shelter to be built that completely hid the statue from view from the cathedral.

[4][5] The tram shelter was demolished in 1931 and the statue was moved back into its original location in April 1933 after the removal of some trees from this part of the square.

[8] Christchurch mayor Bob Parker said in late February 2011 "the first thing that we will do in this city is put back up on that plinth the man whose vision it was.

"[9] After a conservation process that included the strengthening of the bronze, the statue was put back on 18 February 2015, "just shy of four years since he tumbled from his plinth.