St. Dunstan's Cathedral

May 19th, 2023

The present stone structure was built in 1916, after a fire destroyed the original cathedral in 1913. In October 1980 it was the site of a state funeral when Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau gave the eulogy during the funeral for Veterans Affairs Minister Daniel J. MacDonald (M.P. Cardigan). The Basilica was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990. The Catholic Church of Charlottetown dates back to 1721 when two missionary priests came to minister to the spiritual needs of the early French settlers. A small church was built at Port la Joye, an early French settlement located across the harbour from Charlottetown. This settlement, including the little church, was destroyed during the English invasion in 1758 and the inhabitants were deported to France. Scottish Settlers In 1772, religious persecution in Scotland prompted a number of Catholics to seek refuge in the New World. Many settled in Scotchfort, a community about 20 km east of Charlottetown. Father James MacDonald, the young priest who came with them, died in 1785 and is buried in the French cemetery in Scotchfort. Settlers were without a resident priest until Father Angus Bernard MacEachern arrived from Scotland about five years later. Father MacEachern's arrival marked a pivotal time in the history of the Roman Catholic Church in PEI. At the time, the Maritime Provinces were included in the Diocese of Quebec. The Bishop of Quebec granted Father MacEachern permission to administer to the native Scots in eastern PEI and the Acadians west of Malpeque. Before long, his parish included all of PEI, the Magdalen Islands, Cape Breton Island and the Northumberland Shore of Nova Scotia. The area was vast and settlements were widespread. To transport his Mass kit and vestments, Father MacEachern crafted a small horse-drawn vessel that navigated small bodies of water and, when fitted with runners, served as a sleigh during the harsh winters. The original vessel, restored in 1949, and his snowshoes are displayed inside the Basilica. The First Bishop In 1829, Charlottetown was raised to an Episcopal See, the second English speaking diocese in Canada and the first in the Maritime Provinces. Right Reverend Angus Bernard MacEachern became the first Bishop of the Diocese of Charlottetown. St. Dunstans Chapel There is only one cathedral, the official church of the bishop, in a diocese. It houses the cathedra or Episcopal chair, the symbol of the bishops authority as chief shepherd of the diocese. The primitive wooden church built on this site in 1816 and dedicated to St. Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury became the cathedral for the Diocese of Charlottetown. It was replaced by a new larger wooden cathedral in 1843. Stone Cathedral The cornerstone for the third of four cathedrals, the first built of stone, was laid in 1896. The hard Wallace stone foundation and lintels and softer Miramichi stone walls complemented the 25-year old rectory next door. Built in the form of a Latin cross with 200-ft twin spires and the finest pipe organ in the province, the new cathedral was a tribute to the growing Diocese of Charlottetown. Alas, on March 7, 1913, just six years after the Cathedral's dedication, it was destroyed by fire. Scottish architect J. M. Hunter and contractors James Metcalfe and Company re-constructed the walls of the burned cathedral. Inspired by St. Patricks Cathedral in New York City, they procured the finest materials and craftsmanship to fashion an elegant English Gothic interior that far surpassed the original cathedral in magnificence. Bells similar in number and tone to those of St. Patricks Cathedral were installed in 1928 but later removed due to structural concerns with the bell tower. When this fourth cathedral was completed in 1919, it was the largest and most fire-resistant cathedral in the Maritimes. One decade later, for the 100th anniversary of the Diocese of Charlottetown, the pope honoured the enormous financial sacrifices Islanders made to resurrect this house of God from its ashes by granting St. Dunstan
May 17th, 2023

May 16th, 2023

Heritage and Historical value
May 12th, 2023

If you enjoy history in Lower-Canada, this church is a superb example of fine architecture!! Love the ambiance!
May 9th, 2023