Cathedral Church of the Redeemer
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral Church of the Redeemer is located in the city centre of Calgary
, Alberta
. It is the seat of the Anglican Diocese
of Calgary.
The original Church of the Redeemer, a wood frame building erected just east of the present site, was completed and opened for worship August 3, 1884. It was the first Anglican church to be constructed in what is now the Diocese of Calgary
. Originally intended to serve as a parish church, it was proclaimed the temporary pro-cathedral on February 14, 1889, following the creation of the Diocese of Calgary and pending the assumed ultimate construction of a cathedral.
The parish replaced the frame church with a more elaborate structure in 1905, during Calgary's famous sandstone era. It is of local, rough cut Paskapoo sandstone, and has one of the oldest tin roofs in Calgary. It was designed by J.C.M. Keith of Victoria
, British Columbia
. The original cornerstone (since replaced by a new cornerstone, laid to mark the centennial of the building) stated that it was laid by the Earl of Minto
, Governor General of Canada
on September 8, 1904. It was completed and opened for services on July 30, 1905. It was designated a full cathedral
in June 1949, when it was obvious that a large edifice of British or European proportions would not be built in Calgary. In September 1974, the Cathedral building was designated a Registered Heritage Site, under provisions of the Alberta Heritage Act, 1973.
In December 2004, the seventh Bishop of Calgary made the very controversial proposal to undesignate the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer and appoint another church as the diocesan seat. This controversy in addition to the controversial closures of three parish churches within the Diocese of Calgary (one of which was reversed) led to the resignation of the Bishop. The eighth Bishop of Calgary, the Rt Rev Derek Hoskin
, was consecrated and enthroned in the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer on September 29, 2006.
The Cathedral measures 145 feet long and 70 feet wide. The height from the floor of the nave to the pine ceiling is 45 feet. In 1936, the Lady Chapel
, the gift of Henry and Eleanor Tomkins, was constructed. In its tower hangs a bell, which had originally hung in the tower of the first wooden church on the site. The bell was donated as a remembrance to Corporal Lowry of the North-West Mounted Police who died during the Riel Rebellion
of 1885.
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. It is the seat of the Anglican Diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Calgary.
The original Church of the Redeemer, a wood frame building erected just east of the present site, was completed and opened for worship August 3, 1884. It was the first Anglican church to be constructed in what is now the Diocese of Calgary
Anglican Diocese of Calgary
The Anglican Diocese of Calgary is a diocese of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land of the Anglican Church of Canada, located in the southern part of the civil province of Alberta. It was established in 1888...
. Originally intended to serve as a parish church, it was proclaimed the temporary pro-cathedral on February 14, 1889, following the creation of the Diocese of Calgary and pending the assumed ultimate construction of a cathedral.
The parish replaced the frame church with a more elaborate structure in 1905, during Calgary's famous sandstone era. It is of local, rough cut Paskapoo sandstone, and has one of the oldest tin roofs in Calgary. It was designed by J.C.M. Keith of Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. The original cornerstone (since replaced by a new cornerstone, laid to mark the centennial of the building) stated that it was laid by the Earl of Minto
Earl of Minto
Earl of Minto, in the County of Roxburgh, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1813 for Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Baron Minto. The family descends from the politician and judge Gilbert Elliot, who served as a Lord of Session under the judicial title of Lord...
, Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
on September 8, 1904. It was completed and opened for services on July 30, 1905. It was designated a full cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
in June 1949, when it was obvious that a large edifice of British or European proportions would not be built in Calgary. In September 1974, the Cathedral building was designated a Registered Heritage Site, under provisions of the Alberta Heritage Act, 1973.
In December 2004, the seventh Bishop of Calgary made the very controversial proposal to undesignate the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer and appoint another church as the diocesan seat. This controversy in addition to the controversial closures of three parish churches within the Diocese of Calgary (one of which was reversed) led to the resignation of the Bishop. The eighth Bishop of Calgary, the Rt Rev Derek Hoskin
Derek Hoskin
Derek Balfour Erskine Hoskin is the current Anglican Bishop of Calagary. He was consecrated on 29 September 2006, having previously been the incumbent at Red Deer, Alberta.-References:...
, was consecrated and enthroned in the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer on September 29, 2006.
The Cathedral measures 145 feet long and 70 feet wide. The height from the floor of the nave to the pine ceiling is 45 feet. In 1936, the Lady Chapel
Lady chapel
A Lady chapel, also called Mary chapel or Marian chapel, is a traditional English term for a chapel inside a cathedral, basilica, or large church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary...
, the gift of Henry and Eleanor Tomkins, was constructed. In its tower hangs a bell, which had originally hung in the tower of the first wooden church on the site. The bell was donated as a remembrance to Corporal Lowry of the North-West Mounted Police who died during the Riel Rebellion
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
of 1885.