Christ Church Cathedral (Fredericton) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church Cathedral |
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| 45°57′27″N 66°38′06″W / 45.95750°N 66.63496°W | |
| Location | 168 Church Street Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 4C9 |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | cccath.ca |
| History | |
| Founded | 1845 |
| Founder(s) | John Medley |
| Consecrated | 1853 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Frank Wills, William Butterfield |
| Architectural type | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1845 |
| Completed | 1853 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 172 feet (52 m) |
| Width | 67 feet (20 m) |
| Height | 60 feet (18 m) |
| Spire height | 198 feet (60 m) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Fredericton |
| Province | Canada |
Christ Church Cathedral is a beautiful and historic church in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. It's the main church for the Anglican Diocese of Fredericton. Building started in 1845, and it was officially opened in 1853. The church is designed in a style called Gothic Revival. It looks a lot like St. Mary's Church in Snettisham, England.
Contents
History of Christ Church Cathedral
How the Cathedral Began
The Anglican Diocese of Fredericton was created in 1845. John Medley became its first bishop. Bishop Medley really liked the Gothic Revival architecture style. He believed new churches should look like English churches from the 1200s and 1300s.
These old churches had certain features. Their wooden beams should be visible. They also had a large area for the choir, separate from the main seating. And they used open bench seats instead of closed-off box seats.
Bishop Medley chose St. Mary's Church in Snettisham, England, as his model. Before leaving England, he hired architect Frank Wills. Wills visited St. Mary's and drew detailed plans. Bishop Medley brought these plans with him to Fredericton in June 1845.
Some people thought St. Mary's was a great church, but maybe not perfect for a cathedral. They worried the choir roof was too low. During construction, they made the roof heights equal. They also made other changes to save money or because local builders had limited skills. But Bishop Medley always made sure the designs matched existing English Gothic churches.
Building the Cathedral (1845-1853)
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When Bishop Medley became bishop in May 1845, he received £1,500 for the cathedral. A meeting in Fredericton in June raised another £3,100. Medley chose a spot next to the Saint John River. The landowner gave him 2.5 acres. Work began in August, and the first stone was laid on October 15, 1845.
Frank Wills, the architect, came to Canada with Bishop Medley. He oversaw the cathedral's construction. He also designed St. Anne's Chapel of Ease. This chapel was built quickly, in just eight months, from 1846 to 1847. It was used for services while the main cathedral was being built.
The main walls of the cathedral were finished by late 1847. But they ran out of money, so work stopped. Bishop Medley went back to England in 1848 to raise more funds. He also needed advice because Frank Wills had moved to New York City.
An architect named William Butterfield designed the choir and tower. Bishop Medley raised another £2,000. The choir and tower were finished in 1849. Medley made the choir longer and the tower taller than Butterfield's original plan. In 1851, Medley traveled again, collecting more money and donations for church furnishings.
Bishop Medley designed the cathedral's spire himself. It was built in 1851 from wood and covered in zinc. He wanted the spire to be 198 feet tall. But because they worried about the church's foundation, it was built 26 feet shorter.
The cathedral's clock is a copy of Big Ben in London. Its face is four feet wide and sits above the choir. The clock mechanism is in the tower. It was made by Dent of London in 1853 and installed in 1854. The clock still needs to be wound by hand every month. The weights that power it are very heavy, about 454 kg (1,000 lbs) and 136 kg (300 lbs). You have to climb 51 steps to reach the clock room. The hour strike stopped in 2007 due to noise complaints. But the chimes still play the Westminster chime every 15 minutes.
The cathedral has 15 bells. They are played using compressed air. A small keyboard behind the organ controls them. When a key is pressed, air pushes a hammer to ring the bell. The bells stay still, and only the clapper moves. As of 2019, only four other churches in Canada use this same system.
Most of the church's stained glass windows were put in between 1850 and 1852. The large east window was made by William Wailes. Its design copies a window from Selby Abbey. It shows Christ and six of his apostles. This window was a gift from Wailes and Trinity Episcopal Church in New York City.
The west window, made by William Warrington, looks almost exactly like the west window of St. Mary's, Snettisham. The Beer studio from Exeter made the aisle windows. Most of these also copy the windows at Snettisham.
The upper windows, called clerestory windows, are copies of those at Exeter Cathedral. Two smaller windows next to the west window were installed in 1879. These are the only windows in the church made with gold dust. The last window was added in 1908 in the choir vestry. It has a design similar to a 14th-century church window.
Fire and Rebuilding (1911-1912)
On July 3, 1911, lightning struck the cathedral. This caused a fire that completely destroyed the spire. The church's eight bells melted. The organ and much of the furniture, designed by William Butterfield, were also ruined.
During the rebuilding, the church's foundation was made stronger. The spire was rebuilt to its full planned height of 198 feet. A rich man named James Hamet Dunn paid for new bells and added seven more. In 1912, 2500 new organ pipes were installed. The cathedral was officially reopened on August 24, 1912. The only part of the tower saved from the fire was the clock.
Later Repairs and Another Fire
In the 1990s, the cathedral had a big restoration project costing $2.5 million. Workers repaired the stone, cleaned the wood, and fixed the pews. Copper plating and a new cross were put on the spire in 1995.
On August 6, 2006, a fire started in the bell tower. The sprinkler system turned on, causing water damage to the choir area. Repairs took several months, and the cathedral was closed during that time.
A National Historic Site
The cathedral was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1983. This means it's a very important place in Canadian history. Experts say it's "one of the best examples of Gothic Revival architecture in Canada." It also set an example for many other churches built in Canada in the 1800s.
Music at the Cathedral
The cathedral has a large organ with four keyboards. It was built in 1957 and updated in 1981. This organ replaced one that was installed after the 1911 fire.
There are two choirs at the cathedral. An adult choir sings for the main Sunday service and a monthly evening service. There's also a contemporary choir and band that plays at a more informal Sunday morning service. J. Thomas D. Gonder is the current organist and director of music.
How the Cathedral is Run
Christ Church Cathedral is unique in Canada. It has its own congregation, but it's not set up as a regular parish church. It's the only cathedral in Canada that isn't also a parish. The cathedral is managed by the "Bishop and Chapter." This group works like a church board, with members elected by the congregation and others chosen by the Bishop of Fredericton.
People Who Work at the Cathedral
The main leader of the cathedral is called the Dean. Currently, this is Geoffrey M. Hall. He is the only full-time paid priest at the cathedral. Other staff members help with the church's activities. These include a music director, office administrator, Christian education director, and a nurse. There are also people who help with maintenance and services. Many retired priests volunteer as honorary assistants.
