St. Andrew's Cathedral (Victoria, British Columbia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Andrew's Cathedral |
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| 48°25′32″N 123°21′46″W / 48.425417°N 123.362861°W | |
| Location | 740 View Street Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1J8 |
| Country | Canada |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | standrewscathedral.com |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Perrault and Messier |
| Architectural type | Maurice Perrault and Albert Mesnard |
| Style | High Victorian Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1890 |
| Completed | 1892 |
| Construction cost | C$81,052 |
| Specifications | |
| Nave width | 22 metres (72 ft) |
| Spire height | 53.4 metres (175 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St. Andrew's Parish |
| Metropolis | Vancouver |
| Diocese | Victoria |
| Province | British Columbia |
St. Andrew's Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in Victoria, Canada. It serves as the main church for the diocese of Victoria. Built in a style called High Victorian Gothic, St. Andrew's was the third cathedral built in Victoria.
Contents
History of St. Andrew's Cathedral
The current St. Andrew's Cathedral is the third building used by its church community. The first church building was used from 1858 to 1884. Today, it is part of the Chapel of St. Ann's Academy.
The second building served the community from 1884 to 1892. It was located behind where the current cathedral stands. After 1892, the church moved into the beautiful building we see today.
Work on the new, larger cathedral started in 1890. On October 30, 1892, Bishop Jean-Nicolas Lemmens officially blessed the building. A special church service was held that morning. Since 1990, St. Andrew's Cathedral has been recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it is an important place in Canadian history.
Design and Architecture of the Cathedral
The architects Maurice Perrault and Albert Mesnard designed St. Andrew's Cathedral. The total cost to build it was C$81,052. The design was inspired by a church in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec. It also borrowed many ideas from the old medieval architecture of European churches.
Unique Towers and Spire
The cathedral has two towers that are not the same height. This "asymmetrical" design is common in churches from Quebec. It also shows the "High Victorian Gothic" style. This style tried to look like the "unfinished" churches that were popular in the 1300s and 1400s. The main tower has a tall spire, which is like a very tall, pointed roof. This spire is 53.4 meters (175 feet) high. It was planned to hold a clock and church bells.
The main part of the church, called the nave, is 22 meters (72 feet) long. It features a beautiful round window called a rose window. The cathedral is famous for its amazing stained glass windows. There are 21 large windows in the Portland style. There are also two big rose windows and a smaller one above the gallery.
Special Altar and Lectern
A special altar was made for the cathedral to celebrate Bishop Remi Joseph De Roo's 25th year as a bishop. This altar was carved by Charles W. Elliott. He was the first Native American person to graduate from St. Louis College. The altar is made of two bentwood boxes. These boxes can be turned to show four different designs for different times of the year in the Catholic church calendar. The top part of the altar is carved from yellow cedar wood and weighs about 400 pounds.
The cathedral also has a carved lectern, which is a stand where readings are given. This lectern was created by artist Roy Henry Vickers. It shows a black and red image of Christ. This image represents both Christ on the cross and Christ risen from the dead.
The Crypt: Resting Place of Bishops
Below the cathedral, there is a special underground room called a crypt. Three former Bishops of Victoria are buried here:
- Bishop Modeste Demers, who was the first Bishop of Victoria.
- Charles John Seghers, who was the second and fourth Bishop. He passed away in Alaska.
- Rt. Rev. John J. Jonckau, who was a Vicar General for the Diocese of Victoria. He was chosen to be a Bishop but passed away before he could officially become one.
Images for kids
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View of the altar from the nave
See also
