Holy Rosary Cathedral (Vancouver) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Rosary Cathedral |
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| The Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary | |
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| 49°16′55″N 123°06′53″W / 49.281846°N 123.114606°W | |
| Location | 646 Richards Street, Vancouver |
| Country | Canada |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Consecrated | October 3, 1953 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Julian and Williams |
| Style | French Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | July 16, 1899 |
| Completed | December 8, 1900 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 700 |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver |
The Holy Rosary Cathedral is a beautiful church in Downtown Vancouver, Canada. It is also known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. This church was built in the late 1800s in a style called French Gothic revival.
It serves as the main church, or cathedral, for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. The cathedral is located where Richards and Dunsmuir streets meet. Its construction began in 1899 and it opened in 1900. The church was officially made a cathedral in 1916. It is a protected heritage building in Vancouver.
Contents
History of Holy Rosary Cathedral
Building the First Church (1887–1899)
The church community started in June 1885. Father Patrick Fay, who worked with Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) workers, became its first leader. He held the first church service on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary that same year.
At first, services were held in rented halls. But soon, a bigger, permanent church was needed. There were 69 families in the community, and they needed their own space.
Legend says Father Fay chose the spot for the new church by looking for the tallest tree. Construction began in 1886. The first wooden church was finished and blessed in 1887. Two years later, it was made bigger, and a bell tower was added.
The Present-Day Cathedral (1899–Present)
Vancouver grew very quickly, so plans were made for an even larger church. Father James McGuckin took over the project in 1897. The church community had grown too big for the old building.
To pay for the new church, a religious group called the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) helped. They used their headquarters in France as a guarantee for a loan. Some people doubted the project because the church already had debts. They even called it "McGuckin's Folly."
Despite these challenges, the first stone of the new church was laid on July 16, 1899. Architects Thomas Ennor Julian and H.J. Williams designed it. The building was finished in just 491 days. When it was done, people called it "the finest piece of architecture west of Toronto."
The new Church of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary opened on December 8, 1900. It was blessed the next day. By 1910, it was the most important church in the area financially. Because of this, Archbishop Timothy Casey wanted it to become the main cathedral.
The OMI group did not want to give up their church. But in 1916, the church officially became a cathedral. The OMI continued to manage the parish until 1927.
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A Catholic church can only be officially consecrated (made sacred) once all its debts are paid. So, the Holy Rosary Cathedral was consecrated on October 3, 1953. This was 53 years after it first opened. Many bishops from Canada and the United States attended the special event.
The cathedral has hosted many important events. In 1936, it held a large church gathering called a Eucharistic Congress. In 1984, Pope John Paul II visited the church during his trip to Canada. In 2001, the cathedral was the first place in Canada to host the relics (special items) of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.
Many important people have had their funeral services at the cathedral. These include local hero Joe Fortes (1922) and Chief Dan George (1981). Funerals for popes Pius XI (1939) and Pope John Paul II (2005) were also held here.
Architecture and Design
The Holy Rosary Cathedral is built in a French Gothic style. It is shaped like a Latin cross. The outside walls are made of sandstone from Gabriola Island. Its strong foundations are made of granite.
The two bell towers are a key feature of the cathedral. They are not exactly the same height. Inside, red marble columns support the main area, called the nave. The main altar is in the center of the sanctuary.
The church building is about 49 meters (161 feet) long. It is about 32 meters (104 feet) wide and 19 meters (62 feet) tall. The taller steeple reaches about 66 meters (217 feet) high.
Over the years, the cathedral has been updated. In the 1930s, the taller steeple was cleaned and repaired. The inside was changed in the 1960s after the Second Vatican Council. More updates happened before Pope John Paul II's visit in 1984. The roof was replaced from 1995 to 1997. In 2002, some carpet was replaced with Italian tiles. The inside of the church was repainted from 2004 to 2006.
Cathedral Bells
When the cathedral was first built, seven bells were made in France. They were blessed in 1900. However, they were not in tune, so they were sent back to Europe.
Eight new bells were made in England to create a full musical octave. They were put in the cathedral in 1906. These bells are special because they use a method called change ringing. This is rare in North America. They were rung for the first time in Canada on Canada Day in 1911. They were also rung for the opening of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Pipe Organ
The cathedral's pipe organ was built in 1900 in Ontario. It is the oldest "romantic-style organ" in British Columbia still in its original place. Over time, the organ needed repairs.
In 1999, the organ was taken apart and sent away for restoration. It was brought back and blessed in 2000. Since then, the cathedral has hosted an annual organ concert series. The organ has 2,899 pipes.
Stained Glass Windows
The cathedral has 21 beautiful stained glass windows. Five of the most famous ones were made by Canadian artist Guido Nincheri. These windows show scenes like Our Lady of the Holy Rosary and Jesus healing the sick.
One window, showing Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, was even featured on a Canada Post Christmas stamp in 1997.
Homeless Jesus Sculpture
A bronze sculpture called Homeless Jesus was placed in front of the cathedral in 2017. It was made by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz. The sculpture shows a life-size man lying on a park bench. His face is hidden, and his bare feet show marks like those of Jesus.
The church leader, Stanley Galvon, said the statue is meant to make people think. It helps them consider the issue of homelessness in the city.
Modern Day Challenges
In 2007, the cathedral staff faced challenges with people gathering outside the building. The Vancouver Police Department was sometimes called to help manage the situation.
On March 23, 2008, First Nations protesters gathered outside the cathedral during an Easter Sunday Mass. They wanted the Church to address historical issues related to residential schools and land. A similar protest happened in 2011.
In March 2020, for the first time, Sunday Mass was held without a congregation. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Public masses started again in June, but with fewer people allowed inside to keep everyone safe.
See also
