St. George's Cathedral (Kingston, Ontario) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Cathedral Church of Saint George |
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St. George's Cathedral
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| 44°13′46″N 76°28′59″W / 44.22944°N 76.48306°W | |
| Location | 270 King Street East Kingston, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Denomination | Anglican Church of Canada |
| Website | stgeorgescathedral.ca |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Founded | 1792 |
| Founder(s) | John Stuart |
| Dedication | St. George |
| Consecrated | 1828 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Rogers |
| Style | Georgian & Neoclassical |
| Groundbreaking | 1825 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St. George |
| Diocese | Ontario |
| Province | Canada |
St. George's Cathedral in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, is a very important church. It is the main church for the Anglican Diocese of Ontario.
Contents
The Story of St. George's Cathedral
The first St. George's church was a wooden building. It was built in 1792. This church was the first one in the Kingston area. It stood across from what is now Kingston Market Square. John Stuart was its first leader, called the Rector.
Building the Current Church
The church you see today was built in a different spot. Construction happened between 1825 and 1828. This new building is located on King Street at Johnson Street.
Later, from 1838 to 1840, an architect named William Coverdale made it bigger. He added a new steeple and a special entrance called a Doric portico in 1842.
Becoming a Cathedral and Rebuilding
In 1862, the church became a cathedral. This means it became the main church for the area's Anglican diocese.
More parts were added between 1891 and 1894. These included the transepts (side sections), the choir area, and a dome. But in 1899, a fire badly damaged the inside.
Architect S. George Curry and Joseph Power worked together. They completely fixed and restored the church from 1899 to 1900.
Visiting and Worshiping at the Cathedral
St. George's Cathedral holds regular services. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Service Times
- Choral Eucharist: Sundays at 10:30 AM. This is a main worship service with singing.
- Choral Evensong: On the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. This is an evening service with hymns and prayers.
You can find more weekday service times on the Cathedral's official website.
St. George's and the Royal Military College
For many years, students from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) have visited St. George's. They often march to the cathedral for special worship events.
Early Traditions and Memorials
One tradition was 'Copper Sunday'. This started in 1882 or even earlier. RMC students would march to the church. They would collect copper coins for charity.
Before 1899, a special plaque was put up. It remembered three RMC graduates who died serving in Africa. These were Huntly Brodie Mackay, William Henry Robinson, and William Grant Stairs. Sadly, this plaque was lost in the 1899 fire and was not replaced.
Important Flags and Displays
In 1918, a large flag was given to the church. It was the Royal Military College's Great War Memorial Flag. This flag was 18 by 24 feet! It hung in the cathedral until 1934. Then, it was moved to the college museum to keep it safe.
The flag has 932 maple leaves. These represent the graduates who served in the Great War. It also has 147 crimson (red) leaves. These honor those who died in the war.
In 1942, another important event happened. General Hertzberg asked to place the RMC's official colours (flags) in the cathedral. This was part of a special church parade ceremony.
Stained Glass Windows
The cathedral has a special gallery for the Royal Military College. It features beautiful stained glass windows. Some of these windows show soldier saints, like St. George. The newest windows in this gallery were added in 2002 and 2003. They are called the St. Cecilia window and the St. Margaret window.
More to Explore
- List of cathedrals in Canada
- Saint George in devotions, traditions and prayers
