Christ Church Cathedral (Montreal)
Christ Church Cathedral | ||
---|---|---|
Consecrated 1867 | | |
Architecture | ||
Architect(s) | ||
Architectural type | Neo-Gothic | |
Groundbreaking | 1857 | |
Completed | 1860 | |
Specifications | ||
Length | 62 metres (203 ft) | |
Width | 33 metres (108 ft) | |
Nave width | 34 metres (112 ft) | |
Height | 70 metres (230 ft) | |
Number of spires | 1 | |
Spire height | 38 metres (125 ft) | |
Administration | ||
Province | Canada | |
Diocese | Montreal | |
Clergy | ||
Bishop(s) | Mary Irwin-Gibson | |
Dean | Bertrand Olivier | |
Assistant priest(s) | Deborah Meister | |
Honorary priest(s) | Jennifer Bourque, Ralph Leavit | |
Deacon(s) | Peter Huish | |
Laity | ||
Reader(s) | Vivian Lewin, Sam Keuchguerian, Michel Gagnon, Jean Robert Bellarmin | |
Director of music | Nick Capozzoli | |
Organist(s) | Nick Gagnon-Choy | |
Organ scholar | Owen Spicer | |
Official name | Christ Church Cathedral National Historic Site of Canada | |
Designated | 1999 | |
Patrimoine culturel du Québec | ||
Official name | Monument historique classé | |
Designated | 1988 |
Christ Church Cathedral (
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Christ_Church_1852.jpg/220px-Christ_Church_1852.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Church_in_Montreal.jpg/220px-Church_in_Montreal.jpg)
An Anglican ministry first began in Montreal in 1760. Services were held in chapels of the Roman Catholic Church for the first half-century. In 1789, the Anglican congregation of Montreal received a former
In 1850, the second Christ Church was designated as the cathedral for the new Anglican Diocese of Montreal upon its separation from the Anglican Diocese of Quebec. The cathedral was destroyed by fire in 1856.[5]
The present cathedral, a
Modeled after the 14th century Gothic-style churches of the English countryside, the cathedral features a square crossing tower.[8]
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. This defect formed the basis of an important lawsuit concerning builder's liability, which went all the way to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, at that time the highest court in the British Empire. The Judicial Committee upheld the decisions of the Quebec courts, which had held that the builder was liable for having built the steeple on ground that could not support its weight: Wardle v. Bethune[9] The case was often cited as precedent relating to article 1688 of Quebec's original Civil Code.
By 1920, the tower leaned 1.2 m (3.9 ft) to the south.
Recent additions to the church include a choir gallery, built in 1980, and the church's third organ, installed in 1981. Notable musicians to have served as the church's organist include Alfred Whitehead (1922–1947), S. Drummond Wolff (1952–1956) and Patrick Wedd ( 1996–2018).
The organ is opus 77 of Karl Wilhelm, Inc. of
The organ replaced the earlier instrument that served the congregation from 1859. The earlier instrument was constructed by
Promenades Cathédrale
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Christ_Church_Cathedral_night.jpg/220px-Christ_Church_Cathedral_night.jpg)
In the 1980s, a vast real estate project was undertaken below the cathedral. The project consisted of a 34-floor skyscraper,
Canadian Grenadier Guards
Christ Church Cathedral is the regimental church of the Canadian Grenadier Guards. The guards maintain their traditional ties with the church, as well as to McGill University, by marching from the Arts Building on campus, to the cathedral, annually in commemoration of Remembrance Day. The cathedral also houses the guards' retired regimental colours.
L'Oasis musicale
Every Saturday at 2pm throughout the year the cathedral hosts a series of free weekly concerts, "L'Oasis musicale," which supports and promotes young aspiring musicians, many of whom are studying at music colleges in Montreal and starting out on their careers. The concerts are open to all. The concerts feature a range of musicians, from solo instrumentalists and singers to ensembles, small orchestras, and choirs. The repertoire is mainly classical music, but occasionally, popular, folk, religious, or traditional music is also played.
See also
References
- ^ "Christ Church Cathedral". Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada. Parks Canada. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ Christ Church Cathedral. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ "History". Christ Church Cathedral. 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
- ^ Lambert, James H. (1979). "CHABRAND DELISLE, DAVID". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. 4.
- ^ "Christ Church buildings". Our History. Christ Church Cathedral (Montreal). 2009-02-07. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
- ^ a b c "FAQs and Urban Myths". Our History. Christ Church Cathedral. 2008-09-08. Archived from the original on 16 November 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
- ^ "Sir Andrew Thomas Taylor". Biographic Dictionary of Architects in Canada 1800-1950. Archived from the original on 2015-02-03. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
- ^ "Guided tour". Our History. Christ Church Cathedral. 2009-04-03. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
- ^ Wardle v Bethune, [1872] UKPC 10, LR 4 PC 33.
- ^ "George Allen Roaa". Biographic Dictionary of Architects in Canada 1800-1950. Archived from the original on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
- ^ "Christ Church Anglican Cathedral". uquebec.ca. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
Further reading
- (in French) 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
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)