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Christ Church Cathedral (Montreal)
Encyclopedia
Christ Church Cathedral is an Anglican
Gothic Revival cathedral
in Montreal
, Quebec
, Canada
, the seat of the Anglican Diocese of Montreal
. It is located at 635 Saint Catherine Street West
, between Union Avenue and University Street. It is situated on top of the Promenades Cathédrale
underground shopping mall, and south of Tour KPMG
. It was classified as historical monument by the government of Quebec on May 12, 1988. In 1999, it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
in 1814. In 1850, it had been designated as the cathedral for the new Anglican Diocese of Montreal
upon its separation from the Anglican Diocese of Quebec
. The original Christ Church Cathedral was destroyed by fire in 1856.
The present cathedral, an Neo-gothic structure, was designed by architect Frank Wills
(1822–1856), who also designed Christ Church Cathedral
in Fredericton
, New Brunswick
. Before construction began, Willis died, and Montreal architect, Thomas Seaton Scott
(1826–1895) was commissioned to carry out his design. It was completed in 1859 and consecrated in 1867.
Andrew Taylor (Architect)
performed alterations and restoration on the Christ Church Cathedral (Montreal)from 1890-91 and installed a memorial window for Mrs. A.C. Hooper, 1902-03.
Modeled after the 14th century Gothic
-style churches of the English
countryside, the cathedral features a square shaped crossing tower
.
Unfortunately, the design, though acclaimed for its architecture, suffered from important engineering flaws. The soft ground could not support the heavy central stone tower and steeple, which began to subside and lean. By 1920, the tower leaned 4 feet to the south. This defect formed the basis of an important lawsuit (Wardle v. Bethune) often cited as precedent relating to Article 1688 of the Quebec Civil Code
.
George Allan Ross (architect) performed alterations, 1923 and reconstructed the tower, 1939-40. In 1927, the stone steeple, weighing 3500000 pounds (1,587,573.3 kg) had to be removed. New foundations were poured in 1939, and in 1940, an anonymous donation permitted the construction of a much lighter steeple made of aluminum, molded to simulate the former stone spire. It is 38 metres high, attaining a height of 70 metres off the ground.
Recent additions to the church include a choir gallery, built in 1980, and the church's third organ
, completed in 1981. Notable musicians to have served as the church's organist include Alfred Whitehead
(1922–1947) and S. Drummond Wolff
(1952–1956).
built north of the Cathedral, underground parking, and two levels of retail stores situated beneath the cathedral. In 1987, the Cathedral had to be supported on stilts during the construction of Promenades Cathédrale
, an underground shopping mall. This project allowed for the linkage of the eastern and western branches of Montreal's underground city
, connecting Eaton's
(now Les Ailes de la Mode
) and The Bay
.
. The old regimental colours are kept inside the church.
Anglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
Gothic Revival cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the seat of the Anglican Diocese of Montreal
Anglican Diocese of Montreal
The Diocese of Montreal is a diocese of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada of the Anglican Church of Canada, in turn a province of the Anglican Communion. The diocese comprises the 21,400 square kilometres encompassing the City and Island of Montreal, the Laurentians, the South Shore opposite...
. It is located at 635 Saint Catherine Street West
Saint Catherine Street
This article is about the street in Montreal called the rue Sainte-Catherine in French. For other streets of this name, see Rue Sainte-Catherine ....
, between Union Avenue and University Street. It is situated on top of the Promenades Cathédrale
Promenades Cathédrale
Promenades Cathédrale is a major retail complex on Saint Catherine Street in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada.Originally named Promenades de la Cathédrale, the complex is located beneath Montreal's Anglican Christ Church Cathedral...
underground shopping mall, and south of Tour KPMG
Tour KPMG
The Tour KPMG, formerly Maison des Coopérants or Place de la Cathédrale, is a 34 storey skyscraper located in downtown Montreal that was completed in 1987. It is located at 600 de Maisonneuve Ouest. It has an official height of 146 m...
. It was classified as historical monument by the government of Quebec on May 12, 1988. In 1999, it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
History
The original Christ Church opened on Notre-Dame Street in Old MontrealOld Montreal
Old Montreal is the oldest area in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, dating back to New France. Located in the borough of Ville-Marie, the area is bordered on the west by McGill St., on the north by Ruelle des Fortifications, on the east by Berri St. and on the south by the Saint Lawrence River...
in 1814. In 1850, it had been designated as the cathedral for the new Anglican Diocese of Montreal
Anglican Diocese of Montreal
The Diocese of Montreal is a diocese of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada of the Anglican Church of Canada, in turn a province of the Anglican Communion. The diocese comprises the 21,400 square kilometres encompassing the City and Island of Montreal, the Laurentians, the South Shore opposite...
upon its separation from the Anglican Diocese of Quebec
Anglican Diocese of Quebec
The Anglican Diocese of Quebec was founded by Letters Patent in 1793, and is a part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada of the Anglican Church of Canada, in turn a province of the Anglican Communion...
. The original Christ Church Cathedral was destroyed by fire in 1856.
The present cathedral, an Neo-gothic structure, was designed by architect Frank Wills
Frank Wills (architect)
Frank Wills was a British-born architect who is associated with the design of early Gothic Revival churches in North America.-Biography:Frank Wills was born in Exeter, Devon England in 1822, where he started working under John Hayward, he was a member of the Exeter Architectural Society, and his...
(1822–1856), who also designed Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral (Fredericton)
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral church located in Fredericton, New Brunswick, the see city. Construction on the cathedral began in 1845. It was officially opened in 1853. The "Gothic Revival" style cathedral is modelled after St. Mary's Church, Snettisham, Norfolk.G. Ernest Fairweather ...
in Fredericton
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton is the capital of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by virtue of the provincial parliament which sits there. An important cultural, artistic, and educational centre for the province, Fredericton is home to two universities and cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. Before construction began, Willis died, and Montreal architect, Thomas Seaton Scott
Thomas Seaton Scott
Thomas Seaton Scott was a Canadian architect. Born in Birkenhead, England he immigrated to Canada as a young man first settling in Montreal...
(1826–1895) was commissioned to carry out his design. It was completed in 1859 and consecrated in 1867.
Andrew Taylor (Architect)
Andrew Taylor (architect)
Sir Andrew Thomas Taylor J.P., R.C.A., F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A. was a British architect and Conservative Party municipal councillor. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and practised architecture in Scotland and London before immigrating to Montreal, Quebec, in 1883, where he designed many of the...
performed alterations and restoration on the Christ Church Cathedral (Montreal)from 1890-91 and installed a memorial window for Mrs. A.C. Hooper, 1902-03.
Modeled after the 14th century Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
-style churches of the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
countryside, the cathedral features a square shaped crossing tower
Crossing (architecture)
A crossing, in ecclesiastical architecture, is the junction of the four arms of a cruciform church.In a typically oriented church , the crossing gives access to the nave on the west, the transept arms on the north and south, and the choir on the east.The crossing is sometimes surmounted by a tower...
.
Unfortunately, the design, though acclaimed for its architecture, suffered from important engineering flaws. The soft ground could not support the heavy central stone tower and steeple, which began to subside and lean. By 1920, the tower leaned 4 feet to the south. This defect formed the basis of an important lawsuit (Wardle v. Bethune) often cited as precedent relating to Article 1688 of the Quebec Civil Code
Civil Code of Quebec
The Civil Code of Quebec is the civil code in force in the province of Quebec, Canada. The Civil Code of Quebec came into effect on January 1, 1994, except for certain parts of the book on Family Law which were adopted by the National Assembly in the 1980s...
.
George Allan Ross (architect) performed alterations, 1923 and reconstructed the tower, 1939-40. In 1927, the stone steeple, weighing 3500000 pounds (1,587,573.3 kg) had to be removed. New foundations were poured in 1939, and in 1940, an anonymous donation permitted the construction of a much lighter steeple made of aluminum, molded to simulate the former stone spire. It is 38 metres high, attaining a height of 70 metres off the ground.
Recent additions to the church include a choir gallery, built in 1980, and the church's third organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, completed in 1981. Notable musicians to have served as the church's organist include Alfred Whitehead
Alfred Whitehead
Alfred Ernest Whitehead was an English composer, organist, choirmaster, and music educator who was primarily active in Canada. He taught music at several Canadian institutions of higher learning during his career and held the post of organist/choirmaster at a number of prominent Canadian churches...
(1922–1947) and S. Drummond Wolff
S. Drummond Wolff
Stanley Drummond Wolff was an English organist, choirmaster, composer, and music educator who was primarily active in North America. His compositional output primarily consists of anthems for choir and works for solo organ. In the 1980s he completed and published four volumes of hymns...
(1952–1956).
Promenades Cathédrale
In the 1980s, a vast real estate project was undertaken below the cathedral. The project consisted of a 34-floor skyscraper, Tour KPMGTour KPMG
The Tour KPMG, formerly Maison des Coopérants or Place de la Cathédrale, is a 34 storey skyscraper located in downtown Montreal that was completed in 1987. It is located at 600 de Maisonneuve Ouest. It has an official height of 146 m...
built north of the Cathedral, underground parking, and two levels of retail stores situated beneath the cathedral. In 1987, the Cathedral had to be supported on stilts during the construction of Promenades Cathédrale
Promenades Cathédrale
Promenades Cathédrale is a major retail complex on Saint Catherine Street in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada.Originally named Promenades de la Cathédrale, the complex is located beneath Montreal's Anglican Christ Church Cathedral...
, an underground shopping mall. This project allowed for the linkage of the eastern and western branches of Montreal's underground city
Underground city, Montreal
Montreal's Underground City is the set of interconnected complexes in and around Downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
, connecting Eaton's
Eaton's
The T. Eaton Co. Limited was once Canada's largest department store retailer. It was founded in 1869 in Toronto by Timothy Eaton, an Irish immigrant. Eaton's grew to become a retail and social institution in Canada, with stores across the country, buying offices across the globe, and a catalogue...
(now Les Ailes de la Mode
Les Ailes de la Mode
Les Ailes de la mode is a Canadian retail store chain. Its flagship store is in downtown Montreal and is the anchor tenant of the Complexe Les Ailes....
) and The Bay
The Bay
The Bay is a chain of 91 department stores that operate across parts of Canada. It is the main brand of Hudson's Bay Company , North America's oldest company. It has its headquarters in the Simpson Tower in Toronto. In French, the chain is known as la Baie, short for "Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson"...
.
Canadian Grenadier Guards
It is the regimental church of the Canadian Grenadier Guards. Their traditional ties are maintained, as the guards march from McGill University Arts Building (with whom they also keep close ties) to Christ Church Cathedral, annually in commemoration for Remembrance DayRemembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
. The old regimental colours are kept inside the church.
Further reading
Commission des biens culturels, Les chemins de la mémoire, Monuments et sites historiques du Québec, Vol. II, Les Publications du Québec, Québec, 1991, pp. 81–83.External links
See also
- List of cathedrals in Canada