Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (St. John's)
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist | ||
---|---|---|
Style Gothic Revival | | |
Years built | 1847 – 1905 | |
Specifications | ||
Length | 200 feet (61 m) | |
Nave width | 60 feet (18 m) | |
Width across transepts | 99 feet (30 m) | |
Height | 80 feet (24 m) | |
Nave height | 57 feet (17 m) | |
Administration | ||
Diocese | Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador | |
Parish | Cathedral Parish of St John's | |
Clergy | ||
Bishop(s) | Samuel Rose | |
Dean | Roger Whalen | |
Laity | ||
Director of music | Sharon Whalen | |
Official name | St. John the Baptist Anglican Cathedral National Historic Site of Canada | |
Designated | 1979 |
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is an
The cathedral is the seat for the Bishops of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador, Sam Rose, since 2020.[1]
The Anglican parish in the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador was founded in 1699 in response to a petition drafted by the Anglican townsfolk of St. John's and sent to Henry Compton, Bishop of London. In this petition, the people also requested help in the rebuilding of their church, which had been destroyed, along with the rest of the city, in 1696 by the French under the command of Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville.
During the centuries, at least six wooden churches stood on or near this site; each was destroyed by military operations during the various wars between the French and the British. The British finally won control of eastern North America. As of 2019, this Parish allows clergy to officiate same-sex marriages.[2][3][4]
History
Construction of the first stone church was begun in 1843 under the direction of Aubrey Spencer, the first Bishop of Newfoundland and Bermuda.[5][6] Little progress was made on this relatively modest edifice beyond the laying of a cornerstone before Spencer resigned due to ill health. The stone church was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1846.
The present cathedral was begun in 1847 by
Construction on the choir and transept section did not commence until 1880 and was completed in September 1885, under the direction of
On July 8, 1892, in an unhappy coincidence to the fate of its chapel-of-ease in Bermuda, the cathedral was extensively damaged in the
In 1923 the Congolese-English sculptor Mahomet Thomas Phillips, and his son Lancelot, completed a reredos for the cathedral that took them 2,779 hours to create.[8]
The Te Deum Window was donated in 1952 in memory of Bermudian-born Sir Joseph Outerbridge by his family.[9][10] A large four-manual organ was constructed by Casavant Frères in the 1950s.[11]
The Cathedral remains incomplete as the structure still lacks the spire which its designer, Scott, had envisioned. Although an engineering team has established that the proposed 150-foot (46 m) tower and steeple is structurally feasible, the cost was estimated to be $3,000,000. The clergy and parishioners remain committed to completing Scott's plans and are hopeful that they will see the spire erected.[citation needed]
The cathedral was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1979 as a nationally significant example of Gothic Revival architecture.[12] The building was also designated as a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1991,[13] and a City of St. John's Heritage Building in 1989.[14]
Design
The Cathedral stretches 200 feet (61 m) from the Great West Doors to the Sanctuary, with a 60-foot (18 m)-wide nave and a maximum width of 99 feet (30 m) at the transepts. Where nave and transept cross, the floor-to-ceiling height is 57 feet (17 m); outside, the roof stands 80 feet (24 m) high at the ridge.
See also
- Architecture of St. John's
- Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador
References
- ^ Robotham, Robert (December 1, 2020). "Samuel Rose elected as Bishop of E. NFLD & Labrador".
- ^ "Anglican Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador affirms same-sex marriage | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
- ^ "Diocese of Central Newfoundland". Anglican Samizdat. 2019-10-27. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
- ^ Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (2020). "Baptisms & Weddings". Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
Any couples who are legally permitted to be married in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, can request to be married here at the Cathedral. In other words, we welcome and celebrate with same-sex couples, just as we do with male-female couples.
- ^ "Our History". Anglican East NL. Anglican Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
- ^ Piper, Liza (2000). "The Church of England". Heritage Newfoundland and Labrador. Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Web Site. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
- ^ "Church of England Cathedral, Saint John's, Newfoundland." Vol. 3, No. 13 Canada Farmer (Toronto) (April 1, 1871), p. 204.
- ^ Hughes, H (17 October 2022). "Mahomet Thomas Phillips Part 2". University of Lincoln.
- ^ "Passing of Sir Joseph Outerbridge, Kt.," The Western Star, Newfoundland. 18 October 1933.
- ^ A Brief History of the Cathedral and the Parish of St. John the Baptist. 'The source for the document was the Cathedral's former website, which credits Dr. Stephanie Kennell and Mrs. Julia Mathieson. The former website was developed by the Rev'd Roger Whalen, and later maintained by Andrew Reid. Copied with minor modifications 11 October 2008 by Dr. David Tulett, and revised 2 February 2009.'
- ^ "Events of the Year 1955 in the Organ World in Review" (PDF). The Diapason. 47 (2): 6. January 1, 1956. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ St. John the Baptist Anglican Cathedral National Historic Site of Canada. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ Anglican Cathedral of St. John The Baptist Registered Heritage Structure. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ Anglican Cathedral of St. John The Baptist Municipal Heritage Building. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
External links
Media related to Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (St. John's) at Wikimedia Commons