St. Jude's Cathedral (Iqaluit)
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St. Jude's Cathedral (formally the Cathedral of St. Simon and St. Jude) was the Anglican cathedral in Iqaluit, Nunavut. It was demolished in June 2006 following a fire.
The cathedral was the seat of the Diocese of The Arctic, which covers the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Nunavik (Northern Quebec). It has the greatest area of any Anglican diocese in the world. The cathedral was also the parish church for the parish of Iqaluit.
The unique building, in the shape of an igloo, was a landmark and tourist attraction in Iqaluit, besides its important spiritual role for Iqalummiut. It was well known for its decorations, most the product of Inuit craftsmanship; these included wall hangings, woven collection baskets, a cross made of narwhal tusks, and a carved soapstone baptismal font dedicated by Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to Iqaluit.
Sadly, most of these works of art within the cathedral were destroyed by a fire, suspected to be arson, on November 5, 2005. The cathedral was subsequently found to be structurally unsound, and was demolished on June 1, 2006. A new cathedral is planned, and the congregation continue to meet in the parish hall, with services offered in English and Inuktitut.
