Christ Church Cathedral (Fredericton)

Coordinates: 45°57′27″N 66°38′06″W / 45.95750°N 66.63496°W / 45.95750; -66.63496

Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Fredericton. The Cathedral is located in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Construction on the Cathedral began in 1845 and it was consecrated in 1853. The Gothic Revival cathedral is modelled after St. Mary's Church, Snettisham, Norfolk.^[1]

History

Christ Church Cathedral (Fredericton) in 1909

G. Ernest Fairweather (architect) performed additions for Christ Church Cathedral (1907). He made alterations to Bottreaux House for Bishop John A. Richardson (1907).^[2]

Fires

The Cathedral has suffered two fires in its century and a half. In both, damage was largely contained to the tower and the choir area underneath it.

Restoration

In the 1990's the Cathedral underwent a restoration consisting of refacing its stonework, repointing tracery, cleaning its woodwork, refinishing of pews and shoring up the masonry on the east end. The copper plating and a new cross were installed on the spire.

The Cathedral was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1981.^[3]

Present

Deans

The first Dean was Francis Partridge and the current incumbent is Geoffrey Hall.^[4]

Music

There are three choirs: an adult choir which provides music for principal Sunday services and monthly evensong; a treble children's choir which sings monthly at Sunday morning and evening services; and a contemporary choir and bank which sings at the Sunday morning contemporary service.^[5]

The four-manual Casavant Frères organ was built in 1957, replacing a 1912 instrument which was built after the first fire.^[6]

Willis Noble is the current Director of Music and Organist. Former Directors of Music and Organists include:

• Michael Capon (now at St. George's Cathedral, Kingston)
• Paul Murray (interim)
• Geoffrey Campbell

Governance

The Cathedral is extra-parochial. It has a congregation, which acts in many ways like a parish, but does not exist as a parish itself. The parish lands of downtown Fredericton belong to the Parish of Fredericton (Christ Church (Parish) Church and St. Anne's Chapel), St. Anne's being the former Chapel of Ease constructed by Bishop Medley upon the demolition of the original parish church. As a community, the Cathedral is governed by the "Bishop and Chapter" whose function is similar to a parish rector, church wardens and vestry and that of the usual "chapter" of other cathedrals. For instance, there are congregation representatives on Bishop and Chapter elected annually by the congregation along with other members appointed by the Bishop of Fredericton.

Clergy

The Cathedral is often considered to be understaffed for a church of its stature. The Dean, Geoffrey M. Hall, former executive assistant to the Bishop of Fredericton, Claude Miller, is the only stipendiary cleric currently associated with the Cathedral. The appointment of a lay youth ministry coordinator occurred in late 2011, which ended in 2014. There are however, several retired clergy who serve as honorary assistants.

The canons of the Cathedral Chapter typically do not have a liturgical or governance role at the Cathedral unlike other foundations. In the Diocese of Fredericton, these positions are largely ceremonial rather than collegiate to the Cathedral itself.

Former deans of the Cathedral include:

• Keith Joyce
• William Hockin (now a retired Bishop of Fredericton)
• John Wright
• Donald Noseworthy
• Rhodes Cooper

Notes

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Christ Church Cathedral (Fredericton).

External links

• Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton website