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St. Peter's Cathedral (London)
Encyclopedia
St. Peter's Cathedral
Basilica
, located at 196 Dufferin Avenue, in London
, Ontario
, Canada
, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of London
.
A larger frame church was built with donated materials and labour, but this church also burned in August 1850. This was replaced by a new St. Lawrence Church constructed of brick. The new church was located at the northeast corner of Dufferin and Richmond, just in front of the present structure. This land was granted by the Crown
to Bishop
Alexander Macdonell
of the Diocese of Kingston
. The cornerstone for the new church was laid 29 June 1851, on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.
The Diocese of London was created in 1856 and Bishop Pierre-Adolphe Pinsoneault
selected St. Lawrence as his cathedral renaming the church St. Peter's. In 1859, Bishop Pinsoneault moved the seat to Windsor
where it remained until 1868 when Bishop John Walsh, Pinsoneault's successor, moved it back to London.
Bishop Walsh felt that the diocese should have a cathedral that was a true monument to its people. He selected Joseph Connolly
as architect and construction began in July 1880. The structure was built in a 13th-century French French Gothic Revival
style between 1880 and 1885. The Cathedral was dedicated on 28 June 1885. The first stained glass windows were added in 1889 but the interior decoration was not completed until 1926. The Casavant organ was also installed in that year.
In 1958, the twin towers on the facade, Lady Chapel and sacristy were added, stained glass windows were installed in the narthex and additional interior painting and decoration completed. St. Peter's was raised to the status of a minor basilica
on 13 December 1961 by Pope John XXIII
. The current bishop of the Diocese of London is the Most Reverend Ronald P. Fabbro
, CSB
.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
Basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
, located at 196 Dufferin Avenue, in London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, 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...
, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of London
Diocese of London, Ontario
The Roman Catholic Diocese of London was created out of the Diocese of Toronto, along with the Diocese of Hamilton, Ontario, by Pope Pius IX on February 21, 1856. Pierre-Adolphe Pinsoneault was named the first Bishop of London on May 18 of that year...
.
History
The parish now known as St. Peter's was established 10 August 1834 and the first church was constructed of logs at the southwest corner of Dufferin Avenue and Richmond Street. Prior to this, a travelling priest visited the area to celebrate Mass for Catholic residents. The church was dedicated to St. Lawrence and could hold 180 people. It was destroyed along with much of the town in the London fire of 11 April 1845.A larger frame church was built with donated materials and labour, but this church also burned in August 1850. This was replaced by a new St. Lawrence Church constructed of brick. The new church was located at the northeast corner of Dufferin and Richmond, just in front of the present structure. This land was granted by the Crown
Monarchy of the United Kingdom
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
to Bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
Alexander Macdonell
Alexander Macdonell (bishop)
Bishop Alexander Macdonell was the first Roman Catholic bishop of Kingston, Upper Canada.-Early years:...
of the Diocese of Kingston
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in Canada that includes part of the Province of Ontario and includes the suffragan dioceses of Alexandria-Cornwall, Peterborough, and Sault Sainte Marie....
. The cornerstone for the new church was laid 29 June 1851, on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.
The Diocese of London was created in 1856 and Bishop Pierre-Adolphe Pinsoneault
Pierre-Adolphe Pinsoneault
Bishop Pierre-Adolphe Pinsoneault, , , was born in Lower Canada and became a Roman Catholic priest in the Sulpician Order....
selected St. Lawrence as his cathedral renaming the church St. Peter's. In 1859, Bishop Pinsoneault moved the seat to Windsor
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
where it remained until 1868 when Bishop John Walsh, Pinsoneault's successor, moved it back to London.
Bishop Walsh felt that the diocese should have a cathedral that was a true monument to its people. He selected Joseph Connolly
Joseph Connolly (architect)
Joseph Connolly was an Irish Canadian architect, born in Limerick, Ireland. He trained as an architect under J.J. McCarthy in his native Ireland before coming to North America. Connolly specialized in Gothic Revival design...
as architect and construction began in July 1880. The structure was built in a 13th-century French French Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style between 1880 and 1885. The Cathedral was dedicated on 28 June 1885. The first stained glass windows were added in 1889 but the interior decoration was not completed until 1926. The Casavant organ was also installed in that year.
In 1958, the twin towers on the facade, Lady Chapel and sacristy were added, stained glass windows were installed in the narthex and additional interior painting and decoration completed. St. Peter's was raised to the status of a minor basilica
Minor basilica
Minor basilica is a title given to some Roman Catholic churches. By canon law no Catholic church can be honoured with the title of basilica unless by apostolic grant or from immemorial custom....
on 13 December 1961 by Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
. The current bishop of the Diocese of London is the Most Reverend Ronald P. Fabbro
Ronald Peter Fabbro
Ronald Peter Fabbro, CSB is the Roman Catholic Bishop of London, Ontario, Canada. He was born in Sudbury, Ontario, and was educated at St...
, CSB
Congregation of St. Basil
The Basilian Fathers, also known as The Congregation of Saint Basil, is an international order of Catholic priests and students studying for the priesthood, who focus on education and ministering through oratories....
.
External links
- St.Peter's Cathedral Basilica Official Site