Church of Our Lady of Good Hope facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of Our Lady of Good Hope |
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66°15′07″N 128°38′38″W / 66.2519°N 128.6439°W | |
Country | Canada |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Website | Listing at Diocesan website |
History | |
Status | Mission |
Founded | 1864 |
Dedication | Our Lady of Good Hope |
Architecture | |
Functional status | Active |
Heritage designation | National Historic Site of Canada |
Designated | 1977 |
Architectural type | Carpenter Gothic |
Groundbreaking | 1865 |
Completed | 1885 |
Specifications | |
Length | 45 feet (14 m) |
Width | 25 feet (7.6 m) |
Number of floors | 1 |
Number of spires | 1 |
Materials | Wooden frame |
Administration | |
Archdiocese | Grouard-McLennan |
Diocese | Mackenzie-Fort Smith |
Official name: Church of Our Lady of Good Hope National Historic Site of Canada | |
Designated: | 1977 |
The Church of Our Lady of Good Hope (which is Église Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Espérance in French) is a very old and special church. It is a Roman Catholic church located in Fort Good Hope, in the Northwest Territories, Canada. This historic building sits high up on a hill, looking over the Mackenzie River.
It was built a long time ago, between 1865 and 1885. It served as a mission for the Oblate Fathers. A famous person named Father Émile Petitot lived and worked at this mission from 1864 to 1878. He was known for studying different cultures, languages, and geography of the Canadian northwest.
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What Makes This Church Special?
The Church of Our Lady of Good Hope is quite small, only about 45 feet long and 25 feet wide. It might look simple from the outside, but it has a very interesting style.
Carpenter Gothic Style
The church is built in a style called Carpenter Gothic. This means it looks like a grand Gothic church, but it's made from wood. It has a steep roof and tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. The entrance also has a pointed arch shape, and there's a bell tower with a steeple. Even though it's made of wood, it tries to look like the big stone churches you might see in Europe.
Amazing Art Inside
While the outside of the church is simple, the inside is truly amazing! It has extraordinary painted decorations. These paintings make the interior very colorful and unique. They tell stories and add a lot of beauty to the church.
A National Historic Site
The Church of Our Lady of Good Hope is so important that it was named a National Historic Site of Canada on June 6, 1977. This means it's a place that is officially recognized for its historical value to Canada. It's a protected site, helping to preserve its history for future generations. The old cemetery next to the church is also historic, but it's not part of the official designation.