Churches and Cathedrals in Canada

Churches and Cathedrals in Canada

Churches and Cathedrals in Toronto

Canada has no official religion and the preamble to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms refers to God and the monarch carries the title of “Defender of the Faith”, and the Queen’s title includes the phrase “By the Grace of God”.

However, support for freedom of religion is an important part of Canada’s political culture. Today, Christians represent around 65% of the population of Toronto, but the rates of religious adherence are steadily decreasing. Actually, with Christianity in decline after having once been central and integral to Canadian culture and daily life, Canada has become a post-Christian, secular state. The practice of religion has become a private matter throughout society and the state, even when the majority of Canadians still believe in God and many Canadians recognize the supremacy of God.

St. James Cathedral open in 1853. 65 Church Street, Toronto, ON M5C 2E9. Photo by © Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

In the Canada 2011 National Household Survey, 67% of the Canadian population list Roman Catholicism or Protestantism or another Christian denomination as their religion, considerably less than 10 years before in the Canada 2001 Census, where 77% of the population listed a Christian religion.

Representing one out of three Canadians, the Roman Catholic Church in Canada is by far the country’s largest single denomination. Those who listed no religion account for 24% of total respondents. In 2001 in British Columbia, however, 35% of respondents reported no religion — more than any single denomination and more than all Protestants combined.

Here are some of churches, cathedrals and other places for warship of God and superior beings in Toronto. All the photos have been taken by © Megan Jorgensen and you should contact her if you are interested in Megan’s artwork.

St. James Cathedral. Photo by © Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

Amos Cathedral

The cathedral Ste.Therese d’Avila in Amos is one of the most ambitious achievements in terms of religious architecture in Quebec.

Its architect, Aristide Beaugrand-Champagne, designed the cathedral in 1922-1923. He showed great daring by using reinforced concrete to protect the enormous church from forest fires. He also introduced in Quebec a Roman-Byzantine style, hitherto unknown in a northern context.

The interior, which was not completed until 1960s, provides a truly unique decorative ensemble of wood and marble. Mosaics from Italy and stained glass from France constitute the major artistic components of the monument.

Amos Cathedral. Photo: courtesy of © Fondation du patrimoine religieux du Québec

In terms of regional history, the construction of the building is a testament to the optimism and determination that motivated the local population at that time, for it was completed in 16 months in a region newly opened for settlement and in a village with only ten years of existence behind it.

The Amos cathedral has been classified as a historic monument by the Quebec government.

Cathedral of the Holy Trinity

The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity is located on 31, rue des Jardins (des Jardins Street) in Quebec City.

The Recollets Church stood on the site of this cathedral before the fall of New France, in 1760. After the Conquest, they shared the church with the Anglican congregation. Every Sunday the English called for a religious service as soon as the Catholic mass was over.

But in 1796, the Catholic Church burned down and the Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity was built between 1800 and 1804. It was conceived as a symbolic statement of British presence, pretensions, powers and privileges. Its size is indicative of the English influence in Quebec at that time.

Cathedral of Holy Trinity. Credit photo : Anglican Diocese of Quebec

Major William Robe and Captain William Hall of the Royal Artillery designed the building in the Palladian style. For their work they adapted the plans of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church in London. Most of the stonework and masonry were done by John and Lawrence Cannon.

In fact this was the first Church of England Cathedral ever built outside of English isles. The government assumed of the costs and King George III donated fabric for an altar frontal which had been used for his coronation. He also gave ten silver altar vessels which are still in the possession of the temple.

The Cathedral is notable for its Royal Pew, set apart on a gallery and to be used only by the sovereign or his or her representative.

Jacob Mountain, Quebec’s first Anglican Bishop is buried in the Cathedral.

Besides, Cathedral’s archives contain records of birth, marriages and burials in the parish dating back to 1766.

Address of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity:

31 Des Jardins Street

Quebec

Cathedral St-Michel of Sherbrooke

The Cathedral St-Michel of Sherbrooke, the seat of the Archidiocèse of Sherbrooke, was built on the heights of the St-Michel cliff just a step of the downtown. Perched on an acropolis, it overlooks Sherbrooke and its surroundings with is massive figure and looks like a fortress. The cathedral reveals the evolutional spirit of its main architect, Louis-Napoléon Audet. The first church at the site of the Cathedral St-Michel was completed in 1826.

That church was dedicated to St. Columban, but it 1854, a new St.Michel church was built here. The church was 41 meters long by 15 meters wide church that would become the first cathedral in 1874. Its construction was carried out at the cost of $5,200. Pope Pius IX created the Diocese of Sherbrooke twenty years later, thus Bishop Antoine Racine chose this church as cathedral of Sherbrooke. Construction of a new cathedral began in 1956.

Materials from neighbouring regions were used to build exterior walls: granite came from St. Sébastien, bricks were manufactured in East-Angus and Richmond, and terra cotta came from Terra Cotta Co., of Montreal.

While the old cathedral was facing south, the new chancel faces east. Ogival windows give the building a Medieval look. The cathedral has 105 stained glass windows – 34 large windows, 11 medium, and 60 small, executed between 1959 and 1965 by master glassmaker Raphaël Laudeur, from Paris, upon drawings by Brother Gerard Brassard.

A large main altar is installed right in the center of the chancel. The polished granite table, from Chicoutimi, is 12 feet long by 8 feet wide. It is supported by eight onyx pillars, from Maroc, and two green marble columns from St. Barthelemy. The cathedral was consecrated in June, 1959 by Bishop Georges Cabana.

A Cathedral in Toronto. Photo by Elena

Shrine of the Sacred Heart at Beauvoir

The Shrine of the Sacred Heart at Beauvoir (Sanctuaire de Beauvoir) is a unique site, located in the Eastern Townships, close to the highway and to the major road crossings.

The Shrine is a pilgrimage site, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This is a quiet place of silence, of solitude, of prayer and spiritual counselling with a priest and spiritual sessions for small groups.

Along the shaded paths of Beauvoir, eight scenes from the life of Jesus remind the pilgrims of the love of the Son of God. The statues are made with great simplicity by Joseph Guardo.

Visitors admire the beautiful scenery from the summit of the mountain. A few paths run across the estate, allowing pilgrims to pray and meditate in a peaceful setting, and admire the beautiful sunsets or sunrises.

On the premises, in addition to the historic chapel, the outdoor chapel and the church, you will find a religious articles and souvenir boutique souvenir shop.

A mountain with a magnificent view, a lovely rest area and picnic places for groups, families and solitary people, with a cafeteria and restaurant are part of the site.

To get to Beauvoir: from Highway 10 and 55, take the exit 143 and then the exit 146.

Address of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart at Beauvoir:

675, Cote de Beauvoir

Sherbrooke

J1C 0B8

St. Sophia Cathedral

The Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, St-Sophia, was built in 1960 and named for both St-Sophia in Kiev and the 6th century mother church in Istanbul, Turkey. The architect is Vladimir Sichynsky, the interior of the cathedral was painted by Boris Makarenko et Fils Company, in 1988-1990.

The Cathedral has the distinctive Byzantine architecture of the onion dome and ornate, gilded interior. The acoustics are wonderful, and if guests happen to enter as the choir is singing, there is an almost ethereal quality to the sound which seems to emanate from everywhere.

Address of the St Sophie Orthodox Cathedral:

6255, 12e avenue
Montreal
H1X 3A5

Phone: 514-727-2236

Photo of the Cathedral: © Fondation du patrimoine religieux du Québec

Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre Basilica

Facing Ile d’Orleans, the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre Basilica near Mont Sainte-Anne has welcomed pilgrims since the mid 17th century. It is set along the Saint Lawrence River 30 kilometres (19 mi) east of Quebec City.

The basilica has been credited by the Catholic Church with many miracles of curing the sick and disabled. It is an important Catholic sanctuary visited by about a half a million pilgrims each year.

The basilica was initially a shrine to honour Saint Anne. It was built to provide a place of worship for the new settlers in the area and to house a marvellous statue of the saint.

The first reported miracle at the site happened during its construction. A man named Louis Guimond was hired to help build the shrine even though he suffered from rheumatism. After placing three stones upon the foundation, Guimond reportedly was cured of all his ailments. This was followed by other testimonies of healed people and the shrine soon grew in popularity. Pilgrims flocked there hoping to witness a miracle while others like Anne of Austria, the mother of the King of France, supported the shrine from their homes.

Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré Basilica. Photo in public domain

To accommodate all the pilgrims, the Catholic Church had to enlarge the building several times. In 1876, the first basilica opened for worship. The dimensions of the basilica, including the side chapels, were impressive: 158 × 77 m (200 ft × 100 ft). The first shrine was destroyed in a fire in 1922.

The present-day basilica was built on the site of the prior church in 1926. Miracles are still believed to be performed at the basilica. When entering the church one can see two pillars filled with racks of crutches, canes, braces, and other signs of disabilities.

Every item has reportedly been left by a pilgrim who claims being healed at the basilica. The wooded hillside next to it has a memorial chapel and a Way of the Cross, or Stations of the Cross.