CHRIST CHURCH

C A T H E D R A L

168 CHURCH STREET, FREDERICTON. NB E3B 4C9 TEL. 450-8500

welcomes you!

A Christian Community which exists to know and love the Lord
and be committed to Him through worship, mission and fellowship.

A GUIDE TO CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL
Starting from the West Door

Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton, one of the earliest and best examples of the nineteenth century revival of Gothic Architecture, stands as a living memorial to the first Bishop of Fredericton, the Most Rev. John Medley. Appointed to the newly erected diocese in 1845, Bishop Medley brought with him from England the preliminary plan for this Cathedral Church, and immediately began work on the building. The plans had been prepared by Frank Wills who later came to Fredericton and still later went on to New York. Despite a good deal of opposition and considerable financial difficulty, the Cathedral was completed in 1853, and consecrated on August 31 of that year in a week of colourful ceremony at which leading Churchmen from Canada and the United States were present. The new edifice was the first entirely new Cathedral foundation on British soil since the Norman Conquest, and the first built in the Anglican Communion after the Reformation. Christ Church has also the distinction of being the only true Cathedral Church in Canada, as it does not function as a parish Church, but is the "Mother Church" of the entire Diocese of Fredericton.

The Cathedral Church which the good Bishop Medley left to succeeding generations of Anglicans is an outstanding example of "Middle Pointed" or "Decorated" Gothic. Modelled on the fine Parish Church of Snettisham, Norfolk, the Cathedral has an extreme length of 172 feet, and a width of 67 feet, with an interior height of 62 feet. The height of the tower and spire is 198 feet. The original spire was some 26 feet shorter, but in the restoration of the building after a disastrous fire in 1911, the foundations were strengthened, permitting the erection of the higher spire called for in the original plans.

Entering the Great West Door of the Cathedral, the whole design and arrangement of the structure presents itself to the visitor -- the nave and two aisles, separated by five lofty arches, the central tower standing on four massive arches and piers of cut stone which form the choir, the two short transepts on either side of the choir, and the Sanctuary beyond. Proceeding up the central aisle, the font is located to the right, just inside the south entrance. Presented by a lady of Fredericton, it is beautifully executed in Caen stone, by a former mason of Exeter Cathedral, who was also responsible for much other stone carving in the building. Proceeding to the arch of the nave, the massive stone pulpit stands to the left, while to the right, the handsome brass eagle lectern. On the extreme right, just outside the entrance to the Chapel, stands the exquisite cenotaph of Bishop Medley, a figure in full episcopal robes, lying upon an altar tomb. This memorial, erected by the clergy and people of the diocese, is considered fully equal to examples of the kind anywhere in the world.

At the entrance to the choir, the visitor will notice on the front right tower pier the Memorial to members of the Cathedral congregation who gave their lives in the First World War. It consists of a cross of stones, brought from the Cathedrals Arras and Ypres by the Right Reverend J.A. Richardson, third Bishop of Fredericton, with an appropriate bronze plaque. On the opposite pillar is a replica of an eighth century cross, discovered beneath the streets of Canterbury in 1918, set in stone taken from the wall of Canterbury Cathedral. This provides a link with the Mother Church of the Anglican Communion.

Passing through the choir to the Communion rail, just within the sanctuary, is the Bishop's Throne, finely carved in oak, presented by the clergy of the Diocese as a memorial to the second bishop, the Right Reverend Hollingworth Tully Kingdon. Sixteen simple and beautiful stalls, provided for the canons of the Cathedral Chapter, lead to the sedelia of stone, with an elaborate canopy, for the use of the sacred ministers during the Holy Eucharist. Over the Credence niche the visitor will note the beautifully carved head of Christ, the only surviving part of a stone reredos brought from England by Bishop Medley, badly damaged in transit. The massive altar, of walnut and marble, is surmounted by a magnificent altar cross, a replica of one designed for Norwich Cathedral by Bishop Medley's son. The unusually beautiful candlesticks have been in use since the consecration of the Cathedral. The beautifully executed reredos and panelling behind the altar, of solid English oak, were presented by the clergy, and laity of the diocese as a memorial to Archbishop Richardson. To the left of the altar is Bishop Medley's throne -- not elaborately carved, at the bishop's own request. The great East Window of the Cathedral, rising above the altar and reredos, will be of particular interest to American visitors, as it was given by members of the Episcopal Church, with which Bishop Medley had intimate connections. This window, as almost all the other glass in the building, was placed before the consecration of the Cathedral.

Attention should be given to the organ, a four manual Casavant, noted for its mellow tone, and to the Cathedral bells, fifteen in number, located in the central tower. The bells were the gift of Sir James Dunn, and replaced the original eight, destroyed in the fire of 1911.

Returning to the west end of the Cathedral, the great west window is of particular interest. This particularly beautiful work depicts the parallel of the old and new Testaments, and is worthy of careful study. Attention to the aisle (side) windows will also be rewarded. These are believed to be unique in Canada for the gold work, now a lost art, which they contain. The two terminal windows of the aisles are the only glass in the building which was not in place at the time of the consecration. They are a later gift of Bishop Medley in memory of two friends. Their design is quite different to any other in the building and they are considered by some to be the finest in the building. Some attention should be given to the massive hammer beam roof of eleven bays, an excellent example of later Medieval woodcraft.

A brief guide of this nature cannot point out every feature of the building. Any visitor with the time and inclination can find an infinite number of interesting points not mentioned here. For those interested, a more complete booklet on the Cathedral, its history and points of interest is available for a small charge.

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