The Birth of an Icon: The Construction of Saint Mary’s

“The Catholics of Halifax, led and encouraged by a prelate as enlightened as Dr. Burke, could not be false to the traditions of the Church in the matter of architecture. A cathedral was required, and Dr. Burke found time, amidst his many occupations, to commence the work. Soon after his consecration he began to collect money for this purpose, and in the spring of 1820, building operations commenced.” – Cornelius O’Brien, 1894

Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica has dominated the skyline of Halifax for the past two centuries. But it is not the first Catholic church to stand on that site; that honour belongs to a small wooden frame chapel built in 1784 and named after Saint Peter. The Catholic community in the colony, so restricted by the onerous penal laws which had punished members of their faith for centuries in England, wasted no time once the worst of the Laws were abolished, beginning construction of Saint Peter’s just over two weeks after they began the long road to religious freedom. This structure stood, with significant expansions, until 1820, when construction began on Saint Mary’s. It occupied roughly the space where the apse and two northern bays of the current Cathedral Basilica site, and would be disassembled and moved to Dartmouth when construction on the new structure began.

St. Peter’s Chapel, year unknown, Archives of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth

One of the major factors in the decision to undertake a project of this scope was the creation of a Vicariate Apostolic in Nova Scotia, and the consecration of Edmund Burke as its first Bishop (although he was Titular Bishop of Sion, as Halifax would only elevated to a diocese under his successor). This gave the Catholic community in the colony a certain element of respectability and discussions began regarding a Cathedral as a symbol of the community’s newfound importance. While this may seem a somewhat puzzling notion to modern sensibilities, asserting the respectability and equality of the Catholic community in the colony of Nova Scotia was an important step forward after decades of mistrust and misunderstanding about the very nature of Catholicism.

Although it has grown and changed substantially over its life, the original Saint Mary’s Cathedral was a scaled-down version of St. Martin’s-in-the-Field of London, England, one of the most well-known churches of its day. Initial construction was estimated at £10,000, a significant financial burden on a congregation which numbered less than 2,000 souls at the time. Bishop Burke, with some education in architecture, likely had a hand in designing the Cathedral. Sadly, he would not live to see it, falling ill a few months after construction began and passing away in November 1820. Thankfully, His Grace was able to bless the cornerstone of the Cathedral before his death.

Saint Mary’s Cathedral exterior, 1838, Archives of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth

The original Cathedral constructed of local ironstone with sandstone trim, rectangular in design, and 106 feet long by 66 feet wide. Each side of the structure featured two tiers of seven windows each, with three more on the tower. The vaulted ceiling was supported by rows of pillars, creating two bays on either side of the main chamber. The square tower at the front of the Cathedral, which boasted another three splendid Gothic windows, was added a few years after initial construction. The bells would follow later still, in 1843. There is some evidence in the archives that the congregation began holding services in the building before construction was even complete.

Saint Mary’s Cathedral interior, 1840, Archives of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth

The Cathedral remained dedicated to Saint Peter until 1829, when it was rededicated to Saint Mary by the second Vicar Apostolic and first Bishop of Halifax, William Fraser.