Christ Church Anglican Cathedral
Vancouver, B.C., Canada

North View of Christ Church

"Christ Church Cathedral, in Vancouver, British Columbia, is the cathedral church of the Diocese of New Westminster of the Anglican Church of Canada. The Cathedral is located at 690 Burrard Street on the north-east corner of West Georgia Street and Burrard Street, directly across from the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

"The first service was held, without a church building, on December 23, 1888 at 720 Granville Street in the town of Vancouver. Later, on February 14, 1889, a building committee was formed to collect the necessary funds for the erection of the church. It would be located on land bought from the Canadian Pacific Railway ...

                                             Christ Church 1889 "Root  House"

"By October 1889, Christ Church′s basement was built and on October 6, the opening service was held for 52 parishioners. The joy of a new church did not last forever. By 1891 the CPR objected to the unfinished building that had quickly been nicknamed the root house. It was viewed an “eyesore” and the parishioners feared they would lose their location due to lack of funds to complete the building. Robert Mackay Fripp (architect) submitted a proposal for completion of the church, 1892.

"A financing scheme was developed by a parishioner and the cornerstone was finally laid July 28, 1894, and the church dedicated, Sunday February 17, 1895. The church was built in the Gothic Style with ceiling made of cedar planking and ceiling beams and floor constructed out of old growth Douglas fir.

                                                                      Sanctuary 1895

                                                                  Sanctuary 2011

"By 1909 the first expansion was done and by 1911 the first organ had already worn out, it used a human blower hired at $5 per month, and was replaced by a new organ manufactured by Wurlitzer. In 1920, electricity replaced candles for lighting, and in 1930 the lanterns now in the church were installed.


"In 1929, the Archbishop of New Westminster constituted Christ Church as the Cathedral Church of the Diocese. The church planned to build a bell tower, but in 1943, the city by-laws were changed to restrict church bells.

"In 1949, after many building alterations, the Casavant organ was installed. Constructed partially of war surplus parts...and remnants of the Wurlitzer, the instrument served well but had a problematic history. Spring and Fall 2004 saw the installation of a Kenneth Jones tracker organ in the south gallery of the renovated Cathedral. Comprising a three manual console and 2500 pipes, 1700 salvaged from the Casavant, it is the first Christ Church Cathedral organ custom built to speak with optimum effect in the sanctuary.

Organ on South Wall of Sanctuary Balcony 2011

"In 1971 the church membership voted to demolish the building and replace it with a hi-rise tower complex designed by Arthur Erickson. This redevelopment was opposed by the public and in 1976 after much lobbying; the cathedral was named a Class A Heritage building in the municipality of Vancouver and The Province of British Columbia.

                               Stained Glass Window on West Wall of Sanctuary

                                Stained Glass Windows on East wall of Sanctuary


"In 1995 an eleven year program of Restoration and Renewal was begun. Christ Church Cathedral is the Regimental Church of the Seaforth Highlanders and is in the process of being designated Regimental Church of the BC Regiment, Duke of Connaught's Own. It is also the church at which the British royal family worships when in Vancouver. (See Link.)  The 32 stained glass windows were made in England and Canada.  Most of them are memorials. (See REF.)

Photos: Taken in November 2011 by SW.

Reference and "Root House" and "1885" photo taken from  pamphlet "Christ Church Cathedral, A Brief History"
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_Church_Cathedral_(Vancouver)

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Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.)