- Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ottawa
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For other uses, see Notre Dame (disambiguation).
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica 
45°25′47″N 75°41′47″W / 45.42971°N 75.69646°WCoordinates: 45°25′47″N 75°41′47″W / 45.42971°N 75.69646°W Country Canada Denomination Roman Catholic Website Official site Architecture Completed 1846 The Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica is an ecclesiastic basilica in Ottawa, Canada located on 375 Sussex Drive in the Lower Town neighbourhood. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990.[1][2]
Contents
History and architecture
The site was originally home to the small wooden St. Jacques Church built in 1832. This structure was destroyed in 1841 to make way for a larger church, designed by local builder Antoine Robillard and Father Cannon who requested a Neo-classical design.[3]
However, in 1844, after the lower section was completed, the Oblate Fathers took over the parish and Father Telmon was sent from France to finish the construction. Father Telmon decided to redesign it to be a more standard Neo-Gothic structure, a style which was growing in popularity.[4] This left the lower features, such as the main entrance, Neo-Classical, while the rest is Neo-Gothic, for example, the large windows over the doorway features Gothic pointed arches and tracery.[3]
The main structure was finished in 1846, but it was not until 1866 that the spires were installed. The steeples are topped with standard French-Canadian tin and bells. Its exterior is fairly reserved, but the interior is as far more ornate, designed by Georges Buillon. The interior of the church is brightly painted and decorated with carved features, exquisite stained glass windows and hundreds of statues of various religious figures. Louis-Philippe Hébert completed thirty large wooden sculptures in the choir. At the end of the choir, the Holy Family is completed with saints John the Baptist and Patrick, the patron saints of English and French Catholics.[5] In 1847 it was elevated to a cathedral. James R. Bowes, architect, designed new galleries and improvements, 1875. [6]
In 1879, it was elevated to a basilica[3] Bishop Guigues was appointed the first bishop and is honoured with a lifesize statue to the right of the Cathedral.
The Basilica is the oldest church in Ottawa and the seat of the city's Catholic archbishop. Its twin spires and gilded Madonna are easily identifiable from nearby Parliament Hill and the surrounding area. The church was recently renovated and restored in the late 1990s. Services are held in both French and English.
Composer Amédée Tremblay notably served as the church's organist from 1894-1920.[7]
Governor General Georges Vanier and Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier both were given state funerals at the Cathedral.
Gallery
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Madonna atop Basilica
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Louis-Philippe Hébert's statue of Bishop Joseph Eugene Guiges outside Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ottawa
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Interior of Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica
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View from Major's Hill Park
See also
Notes
- ^ Notre-Dame Roman Catholic Basilica, Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada
- ^ Notre-Dame Roman Catholic Basilica, National Register of Historic Places
- ^ a b c Kalman, 31.
- ^ Fletcher, 61.
- ^ Kalman, 32.
- ^ "biography in Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada 1800-1950". http://www.dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/architects/view/1178. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
- ^ Gilles Potvin. "Amédée Tremblay". The Canadian Encyclopedia. http://thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0003464. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
References
- Fletcher, Katharine. Capital Walks: Walking Tours of Ottawa, Markham, Ontario: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2004.
- Kalman, Harold and John Roaf. Exploring Ottawa: An Architectural Guide to the Nation's Capital. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1983.
External links
Alberta Cathedral Basilica of St. JosephManitoba New Brunswick - St. Michael's Basilica
Newfoundland - Basilica of St. John the Baptist
- Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Nova Scotia - St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica
Ontario - St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica
- St. Paul's Basilica
- Cathedral Basilica of Notre-Dame
- St. Patrick's Basilica
Prince Edward Island Quebec - Cathedral Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec
- Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
- Cathedral Basilica of St Cecilia
- Cathedral Basilica of Saint Michael
- Notre-Dame-du-Cap Basilica
- Sainte-Anne de Varennes Basilica
- Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde
- Notre-Dame Basilica
- Saint Joseph's Oratory
- St. Patrick's Basilica
National Historic Sites of Canada by locationProvinces Territories Northwest Territories · Nunavut · YukonOther countries FranceCategories:- Churches in Ottawa
- Basilica churches in Canada
- Roman Catholic cathedrals in Canada
- Gothic Revival architecture in Ottawa
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