St. Andrew Cathedral (Victoria)
St. Andrews Cathedral is the Catholic cathedral for the diocese of Victoria, British Columbia. Built in the High Victorian gothic style, St. Andrews is historically Victorias third Cathedral. Victorias first Cathedral (1858–1884) is now the Chapel of St. Anns Convent on Humboldt Street. The second Cathedral (1884–1892) is now the St. Andrews Square building, adjacent to the present Cathedral.
Construction for the new cathedral began in 1890, and by 8 a.m, October 30, 1892, Bishop Lemmens had blessed the building for the 10 oclock Pontifical High Mass.
St. Andrews Cathedral is designated a historical building and a protected heritage site.
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Architecture
- Architects: Maurice Perrault and Albert Mesnard
- Cost: $81,052.00 CAD
Based on the plans for a previously built church in Vaudreuil, Quebec, Perrault and Mesnard borrowed much from the medieval architecture of European churches. The double asymmetrical towers are typical of Quebec churches and a characteristic of the High Victorian Gothic style. This was an attempt to follow the "unfinished" look that made fourteenth and fifteenth century churches popular.
The centre bay is seventy-two feet long, with a rose window. The main tower boasts a 175-foot spire that was originally designed to hold a clock and a set of bells.
The altar
An altar was commissioned for use on the twenty-fifth anniversary of Bishop Remi J. De Roo's episcopal ordination. Carved by Charles Elliott, the first Native Indian to graduate from St. Louis College, the altar consists of two Haida styled brentwood boxes. The boxes can be rotated to show four separate designs for the different liturgical seasons. The top of the altar or is carved from yellow cedar (Nootka Cypress) and weighs approximately four hundred pounds.
The lectern
The cathedral also displays a carved lectern by artist Roy Henry Vickers. It depicts a black and red image of Christ, to exemplify both the crucified Christ and the risen Christ.
The crypt
The Cathedral houses a crypt, where three of Victoria's former Bishops are interred.
- Bishop Modeste Demers: The First Bishop of Victoria
- Archbishop Charles J. Seghers: Murdered in Alaska, and the Second and Fourth Bishop of Victoria.
- Rt. Rev. John J. Johneckau: A former Vicar General of the Diocese of Victoria, he was named as Bishop but died before he could be consecrated as bishop.