St. Jude's Cathedral (Iqaluit) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Jude's Cathedral |
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The new St. Jude's Cathedral, opened June 2012.
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Anglican Church of Canada |
| District | Diocese of The Arctic |
| Province | Nunavut |
| Year consecrated | 2017 |
| Location | |
| Location | Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada |
St. Jude's Cathedral (also known as the Cathedral of St. Simon and St. Jude) is an Anglican church in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada. It is the main church for the Diocese of The Arctic. This diocese covers a huge area, including the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Nunavik part of Northern Quebec. It is the largest Anglican church area in the world! The cathedral also serves as the local church for Iqaluit. It holds services in both English and Inuktitut.
The Story of St. Jude's Cathedral
The first St. Jude's Cathedral was built in 1972. A person named Ronald Thom designed it in 1970. Local volunteers helped to build this unique church.
This first cathedral was famous for its beautiful decorations. Many of these items were made by Inuit artists. These included special wall hangings and woven baskets. There was even a cross made from narwhal tusks. A carved soapstone baptismal font was also very special. Queen Elizabeth II herself dedicated it during a visit to Iqaluit.
Sadly, the first St. Jude's Cathedral was badly damaged by a fire in November 2005. Because of the damage, the building had to be taken down in June 2006.
A new church was built to replace it. This new building is often called the Igloo Cathedral. It opened its doors on June 3, 2012. The church looks like a traditional igloo. It is a well-known landmark and a popular place for tourists to visit in Iqaluit. It is also a very important spiritual place for the people of Iqaluit, known as Iqalummiut.
