Category Archives: Cathedral Building

Icon of Our Lady of St. Anne’s Point

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Andrew Bruce Nutter has generously donated a commissioned icon for the Lady Chapel of the Cathedral. The icon is a memorial to the Sixth Bishop of Fredericton, Harold Nutter. Below, learn about the symbolism of the icon.

This icon is a memorial to the Sixth Bishop of Fredericton. There has been a tradition in the diocese and cathedral for former bishops to be remembered with a significant gift of some sort, and this continued up to the time of Bishop Moorhead. And so this icon, a memorial, is intended to be placed, appropriately, in the Lady Chapel of the Cathedral, the mother church of the diocese, with an accompanying votive candle rack below.

It commemorates the original designation of Fredericton as St. Anne's Point, thus connecting the establishment of the Cathedral along the river, with what went before, the French regime in New France. It affirms Bishop Medley's sensitivities of renaming the original Christ Church built on the north side of the present cathedral (moved to the upper Fredericton Flat) which he redesignated as St. Anne's Parish Church.

The icon commemorates both the Mother of God, and by the inclusion of St. Anne's Point, the grandmother of the Saviour, as well as the Incarnate Word Himself. It would have been inappropriate to name this icon as Our Lady of Anywhere had there been no previous connection such as that which pre-existed in the designation St. Anne's Point.

I asked the iconographer to paint the image in such a way that the Madonna could, by her skin tone, suggestively incarnate and honour the First Nations people living along the St. John River. A stylized St. Anne's Point, actually a short distance from the cathedral, is where Our Lady is standing, and the hills of the North Side of the river may be seen just beyond. At her feet are fiddleheads, three clumps of blue violets, and a chickadee.

The icon should be firmly attached to the wall. The gold frame is painted acrylic, and is washable, but the halos are gold leaf and should not be touched. A temporary descriptive acrylic plaque is included, but I am hoping for a more permanent one with indented letters to be made in a few months' time. I will be looking for an appropriate date for a blessing.

ABCN (Andrew Bruce Nutter)
October 2022

Building on the Past to Sustain the Future

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From Sonya at Heritage Standing ...

Read the CAHP Green Paper

"Building on the Past to Sustain the Future: Recommendations and observations from the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals Workroom series (2021) on building reuse for climate action."

It is a great advocacy and communication tool that provides clear information on why old buildings are necessary for fighting climate change.  The paper also contains excellent resources should you wish to delve into this topic further.

it takes between 10 and 80 years

Here is just one of many important notes to take away from the green paper:

CHAP Green Paper"[…] it takes between 10 and 80 years for a new building that is 30% more efficient than an average-performing existing building to overcome, through efficient operations, the negative climate change impacts related to the construction process. (Preservation Leadership Forum, 2016)"

We need positive climate action now, not in 10-80 years.  The next question also becomes clear... is the lifespan of a new material or building long enough to overcome the negative climate impacts of production and construction (embodied carbon)?

We hope you find the paper thought-provoking and encouraging.  If you have any questions or would like to discuss this topic further, please feel free to get in touch.

Warm regards,

Sonya
Heritage Standing Inc

Learning Resources at CAHP

169th anniversary of Cathedral consecration

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Photo from NB Museum, c. 1900

August 31, 2022 marks the 169th anniversary of the consecration of Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton.

The Cathedral was consecrated on August 31, 1853. Bishop Medley wrote in his journal on that day,

"The Cathedral, the corner stone of which was laid October 15, 1845, was consecrated this day. All praise be to God, who has enabled me, amidst many difficulties, to finish it. May the Lord pardon all that is amiss, and make it His holy dwelling place for evermore. Amen."

A description of the events was included in a history of the Cathedral published in 1910, during the episcopacy of Bishop John A. Richardson (1907 - 1938).

Photo from 1910 history booklet

The Consecration was of course performed by the Bishop of the Diocese. There were present also the Bishop of Quebec, Right Reverend G. J. Mountain, the Bishop of Toronto, the Right Reverend John Strachan, and Right Reverend Horatio Southgate, a Bishop of the Church in the United States, besides the Reverend Dr. Haight, of New York, Dr. Edson, of Lowell, Mass., Archdeacon Coster, Rector of Fredericton, Reverend Richard Podmore, Curate of St. Anne's Chapel, Reverend F. Coster, Rector of Carleton, and other Clergy of the diocese to the number of sixty. A procession was formed at 10 a.m. in which were several members of the Bench and Bar in their robes, Officers of the 76th Regiment, the Mayor, and other distinguished inhabitants of the city and neighborhood, attended by boys bearing banners.

The sermon was preached by Bishop Southgate from Ps. cxxii., v. 8, 9. It was an able and eloquent address, expressive of the deep joy felt by the members of the American Church in this event as an earnest of the wider extension of catholic unity.

The music at the consecration service was very fine, and included a beautiful anthem by Dr. George Elvey, organist of St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, and was well rendered by a large and efficient choir. The organist was Mr. S. A. Hayter, who had received his training at Salisbury Cathedral. The organ was built by Mr. Naish, who had served his apprenticeship with Walker, the great London organ builder, and who was brought out by the Bishop to do this work.

Photo from 1910 history booklet

The services connected with the consecration of the Cathedral lasted for a week; during which eloquent and appropriate sermons were preached by the Bishop of Quebec, formerly Rector of the Parish of Fredericton; by Dr. Haight, and by Dr. Edson. The Bishop held his first visitation, and delivered his first charge to his clergy on the Thursday of this week. Addresses were presented to the visiting Bishops and Clergy, and also to the Bishop of the Diocese from his clergy, before the proceedings terminated. The crowded congregations, the reverent demeanor of the worshippers, and the large amount of the offertory collections, showed that the great body of the people took a very hearty interest, and an honest pride, in their new Cathedral.

An updated history booklet was published in 1975, during the episcopacy of Bishop Harold L. Nutter (1971-1989).

Learn more about Cathedral history and explore the building virtually.

Cathedral Tours

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Guided tours of Christ Church Cathedral are available throughout July and August, Monday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and after worship on Sunday until 4:00 p.m. Tours are free, donations are welcome (fill out a donation envelope to receive a tax receipt).

Drop by to welcome new tour guide Sophia Pacione, and Alex LeBlanc, who is returning in the position for a second summer.

Tours made possible due to receipt of a Community Funding Grant from the City of Fredericton.

Self-guided tour booklets are available in English, French and German.

Cathedral Building Conditions and Issues Report

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The Building Conditions and Issues report was prepared by the engineering firm of Heritage Standing Inc. (HSI).  The report contains a total of 36 recommendations, and classifies each recommendation as one of;

  • Emergency
  • High Priority
  • Medium Priority
  • Low Priority
  • Operational consideration

For each recommendation the report details the scope of the recommended work, the necessity for it, and the consequences of inaction.

A summary of the recommendations by category, with the current available funding, is included as an appendix.

To successfully complete this task will require developing partnerships with donors who share our interest in maintaining a historic heritage property.

Successfully raising the $8.5 to $9.0 million for restoration of the Cathedral is only a partial solution.  In addition, we need to develop revenue sources that will support the annual maintenance at its required levels.

An experienced consulting firm was engaged in the Fall of 2022 to assist in the significant challenge of determining fund-raising potential.

Read the full Report

We’re hiring! Summer Tour Guides

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Do you love history and enjoy meeting new people? Apply for a summer job as a Cathedral Tour Guide!

Christ Church Cathedral in Fredericton, New Brunswick is pleased to once again open its doors for tours this summer. Two part-time tour guides will be hired to provide a warm welcome and excellent hospitality to visitors and locals.

With hundreds of people choosing to visit the Cathedral each year, it is a wonderful opportunity for our guides to share the key role of our church in Fredericton’s past and present. Previous summer tour guides have enjoyed meeting people from around the world, learning the history of the Cathedral, and gaining experience in bilingual tourism.

A job as a Cathedral tour guide involves welcoming visitors in English and French, providing tours, and assisting with events. Training will be provided. The guides will be under the supervision of Hank Williams, Verger. The positions are available to adults or youth 16+ years old. Candidates for this position are not restricted by religious affiliation; however, knowledge of the Anglican church would be considered an asset.

Click here for details about the position.

Application Process
Please submit a resume and a cover letter which explains why you have applied for the position and why you feel you are a suitable candidate. Applications may be submitted by postal mail, email, or in person during office hours (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Monday-Friday).

Email: <office at christchurchcathedral.com>

Christ Church Cathedral Office
168 Church Street
Fredericton, NB  E3B 4C9

Deadline for Applications
Applications must be received by Friday, 20 May, 2022. Interviews will take place with selected candidates during the following two weeks.

Cathedral sexton needed – October 2020

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Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton NB is seeking a Sexton. Reporting to the Dean of Fredericton and working with the Committee on Properties, the successful candidate will provide custodial (janitorial), cleaning, maintenance and oversight of both the Cathedral Church and the Cathedral Memorial Hall.

The work involves maintaining assigned premises in a clean and orderly condition with the goal of institutional health and safety. Minor repairs as required. Duties include sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, scrubbing, waxing and polishing floors and furniture as well as cleaning washrooms, windows, lights, walls and maintaining the cleanliness of the kitchen. Work also involves snow and ice removal from entrances, mowing lawns, routine preventative maintenance, maintaining fire safety equipment and generally assuring access and security of both facilities.

The is a full-time position, 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday with flexibility when necessary due to special events or weather requiring the sexton's services.

Qualifications include completion of Grade 12 and a minimum of three years’ experience in custodial and maintenance work; or equivalent combination of training and experience. Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work in a team environment are important. Compliance with Safe Church policies requires the necessary version of a current police record check.

Application deadline is 19 October 2020. Only short-listed candidates will be interviewed. A full position description is available upon request. Please provide a resume and covering letter addressed to the Search Committee.

To inquire or to apply:

search at cccath.ca [replace “at” with “@”]

or

Christ Church Cathedral
168 Church Street
Fredericton NB E3B 4C9
(506) 450-8500
christchurchcathedral.com

Project 2045 Final Report

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Our task force was formed last spring to develop recommendations that would lead to important and farreaching decisions respecting the future of the Cathedral and Memorial Hall in relation to the congregation’s worship, ministry, fellowship and operational needs.

As our congregation looks ahead to 2045 – the 200th anniversary of the date the Cathedral’s cornerstone was laid – our report for Bishop and Chapter is primarily related to facility changes that would ensure (a.) we will be a sustainably healthy, vibrant, growing and mission-focused congregation and (b.) the Cathedral itself is structurally sound and able to serve as the ‘Mother Church’ of the diocese and as an iconic resource to our community.

From our first meeting 10 months ago the task force has therefore been focused on the future more than the present. We are very aware of the fact that our congregation is aging, and that means – if present trends continue – we are likely to experience a very significant decline in numbers and financial offerings in the next 10- 15 years. Further we have been told that it is increasingly difficult for the Chapter to recruit willing volunteers who have the knowledge, experience and time needed to tend to the many and frequent issues that regularly occur in our aging facilities.

Read the entire report here

 

 

Opportunity Knocks – National Trust Conference 2018

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The National Trust for Canada "helps Canadians save places that matter."

Christ Church CathedralThe annual National Trust conference is Canada’s largest heritage learning and networking event. Held in a different part of Canada every year, this national conference brings together a wide-range of people keeping Canada’s heritage alive: from grassroots advocates, professionals and planners, to elected officials, policy makers, and students.

The 2018 National Trust Conference is heading to Fredericton to explore the theme of "Opportunity Knocks: Heritage as a Social, Economic, and Placemaking Force." The conference will explore the transformative power of heritage to help turn places around, galvanize communities, and create fresh options. Bringing together the cutting-edge of heritage thought and practice, in Canada and abroad, the conference will emphasize inter-disciplinary insights on such diverse topics as heritage-led development, sustainability, museum/historic site regeneration, and Indigenous heritage.

Christ Church Cathedral will be front and centre

"As at least one of the primary heritage sites in the City of Fredericton, Christ Church Cathedral will be front and centre during the conference," said Dean Geoffrey Hall.

2018 National Trust Conference

"I'm very excited about this. This is a unique opportunity for us to focus on discussions we've been having for years about what we might be able to do now to preserve the heritage value of the Cathedral and surrounding properties with an eye to long-term sustainability. I encourage the congregation to become involved. There is a plan to hold at least one session and perhaps a workshop on site at the Cathedral."

“The conference is the best and largest gathering of heritage professionals in Canada. It is the one event in Canada that brings together a diverse group of people with common interests and a broad set of expertise in the protection of historic places. This event creates the community of heritage professionals in Canada.”  David Ecclestone – Partner, +VG Architects

Workshop on Thursday, 18 October 2018, 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral (on site case study)
Forum on Saturday a.m., 20 October 2018 at the Trade and Convention Centre (religious heritage buildings)
Limited seating for Cathedral members has been reserved. If you're interested, contact the Dean or Bishop and Chapter Chair Jim Morell.

National Trust for Canada
2018 National Trust Conference
National Trust FAQ
Faith and the Common Good