Holy Rosary Cathedral (Regina, Saskatchewan)
| Holy Rosary Cathedral | |
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Holy Rosary Cathedral in 2008
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| Location | Regina, Saskatchewan |
| Country | Canada |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | Holy Rosary Cathedral |
| History | |
| Authorising papal bull | 1910 |
| Founded | November 11, 1911 |
| Consecrated | June 29, 1913 |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Regina Heritage Holding Bylaw List |
| Designated | 1989 |
| Architect(s) | Joseph Fortin |
| Style | Romanesque Revival |
| Groundbreaking | Dec. 8, 1912 |
| Completed | 1917 |
| Construction cost | $135,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 200 feet (61 m) |
| Height | 90 feet (27 m) |
| Number of spires | 2 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Regina |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Most Reverend Daniel J. Bohan |
| Rector | Reverend Father Lorne Crozon, Vicar General |
Holy Rosary Cathedral at 13th Avenue and Garnet Street in Regina, Saskatchewan, is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Regina.
Contents
History
Construction began in 1912 and the cornerstone was blessed by the Apostolic Delegate to Canada, Archbishop Peregrin-François Stagni, O.S.M.[1] on 30 June 1913 before an assembly of approximately 2000 people. The building was completed in 1917.[2][3]
It was designed in the Romanesque Revival style by the firm of Joseph Fortin of Montreal, who also designed the Roman Catholic cathedrals of St. Paul's in Saskatoon and Our Lady of Assumption in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan.[4] Modelled after churches in northern France, it is faced in yellow brick with limestone accents. Smith Brothers & Wilson oversaw construction and the final cost was $135,000.[3]
Redecorations
The interior of the church has been extensively redecorated five times:
- 1928
- 1951 - 43 stained glass windows by André Rault were installed[3]
- 1968 - A more fundamental renovation to conform with the directives of the Second Vatican Council. The high altar at the east end of the choir was dismantled and a nave altar installed at the crossing. The choir was converted into a chapel.
- 1976 - A disastrous fire occurred April 12. In the months following the fire the Cathedral was unusable and masses were held in the neighbouring Westminster United Church.
- 1992 - The opaque screen separating the nave from the choir was removed and the main altar restored to a position in the choir closer to the site of the original high altar in the former sanctuary.
The light and airy interior of the cathedral is decorated sparingly in keeping with Canadian aesthetic sensibilities. The Institute for stained glass in Canada has documented the stained glass at Holy Rosary Cathedral.[5]
Organs
Casavant Frères of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec constructed and installed the gallery organ in 1930, to replace a large reed organ. It underwent extensive repairs after the 1976 fire, and was renovated again in 1992–1993 after which it was named The McGuigan Organ in honour of Sister Marion McGuigan, a much loved local humanitarian and educator.[3]
Sacred Heart Academy
Immediately to the west of the Cathedral, across the closed Garnet Street, is the building that formerly housed Sacred Heart Academy, a girls' high school operated by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions,[6] who also conducted music tuition for music students from across the city. The Sisters, whose numbers were waning, closed the school in 1969.
The building has now been converted to strata title and sold as townhouses, but the Archdiocese has retained a portion of the east basement, once the piano studios, for offices.
Notes
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