| Christ Church Cathedral | |
Christ Church Cathedral, with the Tour KPMG office tower in the background.
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| Location | Montreal, Quebec |
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| Country | Canada |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | www.montrealcathedral.ca |
| History | |
| Founded | 1814 |
| Consecrated | 1867 |
| Architecture | |
| Status | active |
| Heritage designation | Bien culturel du Québec, National Historic Site of Canada |
| Designated | 1988, 1999 |
| Architect(s) | Frank Wills, Thomas Seaton Scott |
| Architectural type | Neo-Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1857 |
| Completed | 1860 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 62 metres (203 ft) |
| Width | 33 metres (108 ft) |
| Nave width | 34 metres (112 ft) |
| Height | 70 metres (230 ft) |
| Number of spires | 1 |
| Spire height | 38 metres (125 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Montreal |
| Province | Canada |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop(s) | Barry Bryan Clarke |
| Dean | The Very Revd J Paul Kennington |
| Assistant priest | The Reverend Karla Holmes |
| Laity | |
| Director of music | Patrick Wedd |
Christ Church Cathedral is an Anglican Gothic Revival cathedral in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the seat of the Anglican Diocese of Montreal. It is located at 635 Saint Catherine Street West, between Union Avenue and University Street. It is situated on top of the Promenades Cathédrale underground shopping mall, and south of Tour KPMG. It was classified as historical monument by the government of Quebec on May 12, 1988. In 1999, it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.[1][2]
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The original Christ Church opened on Notre-Dame Street in Old Montreal in 1814. In 1850, it had been designated as the cathedral for the new Anglican Diocese of Montreal upon its separation from the Anglican Diocese of Quebec. The original Christ Church Cathedral was destroyed by fire in 1856.[3]
The present cathedral, an Neo-gothic structure, was designed by architect Frank Wills (1822–1856), who also designed Christ Church Cathedral in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Before construction began, Willis died, and Montreal architect, Thomas Seaton Scott (1826–1895) was commissioned to carry out his design.[4] It was completed in 1859 and consecrated in 1867.[4]
Andrew Taylor (Architect) performed alterations and restoration on the Christ Church Cathedral (Montreal)from 1890-91 and installed a memorial window for Mrs. A.C. Hooper, 1902-03. [5]
Modeled after the 14th century Gothic-style churches of the English countryside, the cathedral features a square shaped crossing tower.[6]
Unfortunately, the design, though acclaimed for its architecture, suffered from important engineering flaws. The soft ground could not support the heavy central stone tower and steeple, which began to subside and lean. By 1920, the tower leaned 4 feet to the south. This defect formed the basis of an important lawsuit (Wardle v. Bethune) often cited as precedent relating to Article 1688 of the Quebec Civil Code.
George Allan Ross (architect) performed alterations, 1923 and reconstructed the tower, 1939-40. [7] In 1927, the stone steeple, weighing 3,500,000 pounds (1,600,000 kg) had to be removed. New foundations were poured in 1939, and in 1940, an anonymous donation permitted the construction of a much lighter steeple made of aluminum, molded to simulate the former stone spire. It is 38 metres high, attaining a height of 70 metres off the ground.[4]
Recent additions to the church include a choir gallery, built in 1980, and the church's third organ, completed in 1981. Notable musicians to have served as the church's organist include Alfred Whitehead (1922–1947) and S. Drummond Wolff (1952–1956).
In the 1980s, a vast real estate project was undertaken below the cathedral. The project consisted of a 34-floor skyscraper, Tour KPMG built north of the Cathedral, underground parking, and two levels of retail stores situated beneath the cathedral. In 1987, the Cathedral had to be supported on stilts during the construction of Promenades Cathédrale, an underground shopping mall. This project allowed for the linkage of the eastern and western branches of Montreal's underground city, connecting Eaton's (now Les Ailes de la Mode) and The Bay.
It is the regimental church of the Canadian Grenadier Guards. Their traditional ties are maintained, as the guards march from McGill University Arts Building (with whom they also keep close ties) to Christ Church Cathedral, annually in commemoration for Remembrance Day. The old regimental colours are kept inside the church.
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