Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist (Saskatoon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist (Saskatoon) |
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| 52°07′48″N 106°39′21″W / 52.129905°N 106.655917°W | |
| Location | 816 Spadina Crescent East Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7K 3H4 |
| Country | Canada |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Founded | 1902 |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1912 |
| Completed | 1917 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 800 |
| Length | 40 metres (130 ft) |
| Width | 14 metres (46 ft) |
| Spire height | 44 metres (144 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Anglican Diocese of Saskatoon |
| Province | Rupert's Land |
The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist is an important church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is the main church, or "cathedral," for the Anglican Diocese of Saskatoon. You can find it at 816 Spadina Crescent East in the city's downtown area.
Contents
History of St. John's Cathedral
Saskatoon was founded in 1883. However, the first Anglican church, St. John's, was not built until 1902. This was because many early settlers were Methodist or Presbyterian.
The very first St. John's church was a simple wooden building. It was built in 1903. The large stone building you see today was constructed between 1912 and 1917.
Becoming a Cathedral
In 1924, St. John's was named a "pro-cathedral." This meant it was a temporary main church. At that time, the main Anglican church for the area was still in Prince Albert.
Then, in 1932, the Anglican Diocese of Saskatoon was created. St. John's officially became its cathedral. For many years, the church had only a small organ and a piano for music. In 1956, a bigger organ was installed. This was later replaced by a new Casavant Frères organ in 1981-1982.
Architecture and Design
The current church building is made of brick, Tyndall stone, and terra cotta. It is built in a style called "neo-Gothic," which means it looks like older Gothic churches but without too much decoration.
One special feature inside is a "rood screen." This is a decorative screen near the front of the church. The rood screen, the pulpit (where sermons are given), the lectern (where readings are done), and the main altar are all made from a special material called Carrara ware. This material looks like beautiful Italian marble.
Building Details and Royal Visits
The first stone of the church was laid in 1912 by the Governor General of Canada, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. The church's foundation is made from strong fieldstone.
The main part of the church, called the nave, is about 40 meters (131 feet) long and 14 meters (46 feet) wide. It used to hold 1100 people. Now, it can seat about 800 people because some pews were removed to make space for a special altar.
St. John's Cathedral has welcomed important visitors. Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh attended services here three times (in 1951, 1959, and 1987). The Governor General Viscount Alexander also worshipped here in 1948.
The beautiful stained glass windows in St. John's Anglican Cathedral have been recorded by the Institute for stained glass in Canada.
See also
- The Canadian Crown in Saskatoon
- Monarchy in Saskatchewan
