Holy Cross Church, Wikwemikong

Holy Cross Church

Church entrance with the mission ruins in the background
Coordinates: 45°48′29″N 81°42′40″W / 45.808173°N 81.711237°W / 45.808173; -81.711237
Location Wikwemikong
Country Canada
Denomination Roman Catholic
History
Founded 1838
Founder(s) Society of Jesus
Dedication Feast of the Cross
Events Interior burnt in 1954
Architecture
Status Active
Functional status Parish church
Architect(s) Fr. Nicholas Point, S.J.
Groundbreaking 31 July 1849
Completed 25 July 1852
Administration
Diocese Sault Sainte Marie
Province Kingston

Holy Cross Church is a Roman Catholic Parish church in the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve, north-eastern Manitoulin island. It was originally built in 1852. It has been served by the Society of Jesus since 1845. It is situated to the north of Wikwemikong on Wikwemikong Way, next to the Giizhigaanang Community Centre. A large residence was built next to the church. After a fire in 1854, the residence burnt down, but the external walls remain, and are used in the summer by the De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre Group to host theatrical productions.

History

Foundation

The first known European person to go to Manitoulin Island was a Jesuit priest, Fr. Joseph Poncet. He arrived in 1648. No one followed to sustain a European presence on the island. After the War of 1812, the Odawa, Ojibwe and Potawatomi tribes moved to the island. Further First Nation people also moved to the island after the Treaty of Washington in 1836. In 1838, a Roman Catholic priest, Fr. Jean-Baptiste Proulx, was asked to come to the island to serve the local Catholic population. In 1845, he left and the Jesuits continued in his place. They built a school, a residence, a sawmill and an agricultural training centre for the local people.[1]

Construction

In 1848, plans were made to build a permanent church structure. One of the Jesuits there, Fr. Nicholas Point, was an architect and designed the church. The foundation stone of the church was laid on 31 July 1849. It was built using limestone bricks. The builders were local people. Construction finished nearly three years later and the church was opened on 25 July 1852. In 1899, the church steeple was built.[1]

Rebuilding

In 1954, both the church and the residence next to it were damaged by a fire. The church interior was burnt, and was rebuilt. The residence was more severely damaged. The building had to be abandoned. The interior was demolished, leaving only the exterior walls.[2]

Mission ruins

Since 1994, the ruins of the residence next to the church have been used by the De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre Group. Every summer, between July and August, the theatre group use the empty space enclosed by the external walls as a venue to show theatrical productions. The first one was The Manitoulin Incident written by Alanis King. During the Good Friday Mass, the theatre group stage a production of the Passion of Christ for the parish community in the Holy Cross Mission Church.[3]

Parish

The church has one Sunday morning Mass at 11:00am.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Holy Cross Mission from Ontario Abandoned Places, retrieved 18 January 2015
  2. ↑ Wikwemikong mission ruins from Unique Ontario, retrieved 18 January 2015
  3. ↑ Holy Cross Parish Church from De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre Group, retrieved 18 January 2015
  4. ↑ Mass schedule from Anishinabe Spiritual Centre, retrieved 19 January 2015
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