Cathedral Church of the Redeemer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral Church of the Redeemer |
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Southeast view of the cathedral
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| Location | 604 1st Street SE Calgary, Alberta T2G 5H8 |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Founded | 1884 |
| Dedication | 1905 |
| Dedicated | September 8, 1904 |
| Consecrated | July 30, 1905 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Norman-Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 145 feet long |
| Width | 70 feet wide |
| Height | 45 feet high |
| Materials | sandstone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Anglican Diocese of Calgary |
The Cathedral Church of the Redeemer is an important church in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is located right in the city's downtown area. This church is the main church for the Anglican Diocese of Calgary.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
Early Beginnings (1884-1905)
The very first Church of the Redeemer was a wooden building. It was finished and opened for services on August 3, 1884. This was the first Anglican church ever built in what is now the Anglican Diocese of Calgary.
At first, it was just a regular church. But on February 14, 1889, it became a "pro-cathedral." This means it was a temporary main church for the new Diocese of Calgary. Everyone expected a much bigger, grander cathedral to be built later.
Building the Sandstone Cathedral
The church community decided to build a new, stronger church in 1905. This was during a time when many buildings in Calgary were made from local sandstone. The new church was built using rough-cut Paskapoo sandstone. It also has one of the oldest tin roofs in Calgary!
The church was designed by J. C. M. Keith from Victoria, British Columbia. The first stone, called a cornerstone, was laid by the Earl of Minto. He was the Governor General of Canada at the time, and he laid the stone on September 8, 1904.
The new church was finished and opened for services on July 30, 1905. It officially became a full cathedral in June 1949. This happened when it became clear that a very large European-style cathedral would not be built in Calgary. In September 1974, the cathedral building was named a Registered Heritage Site. This means it is a special historical building protected by law.
Changes in Leadership
In December 2004, there was a discussion about the future of the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer. The bishop at the time, Barry Hollowell, suggested that another church might become the main church. This led to a change in leadership.
A new bishop, Derek Hoskin, became the eighth Bishop of Calgary. He was officially welcomed into the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer on September 29, 2006.
Cathedral Architecture
The Cathedral Church of the Redeemer is quite large. It measures 145 feet long, which is about the length of four school buses! It is also 70 feet wide. The ceiling inside the main part of the church, called the nave, is 45 feet high. That's as tall as a four-story building!
In 1936, a special small chapel was added. It is called the Lady Chapel. This chapel was a gift from Henry and Eleanor Tomkins.
The church tower holds a bell. This bell is very old! It used to hang in the tower of the first wooden church on this same spot. The bell was given to the church to remember Corporal Lowry. He was a police officer who died during the Riel Rebellion in 1885.
See also
- Dean of Calgary
- List of cathedrals in Canada
