Gifts for Cathedrals within the Empire
and in the United States of America
This eighth century “Canterbury Cross,” as it is now called, was
discovered some seventy years ago beneath one of the city
streets. It is in the form of a brooch, measuring two inches across.
In the centre of each arm of the cross
is sunk a silver panel containing an ornament of triangular shape,
known as a triquetra, and formed of three interlaced lobes.
DEDICATED BY THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY at the EMPIRE SERVICE IN CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL ON 15th JUNE 1935
Latin inscription on bronze plate: CRVCIS HANC IMAGINEM ANTIQVAE VIII FORSAN SAECVLO IN CANTIA FABRICATAE PETRAM VERO E MVRIS ECCLIAE XPI CANTVAR DEPROMPTAM SIGNVM SALVTIS AMICITIAE FIRMAMENTVM D. D. EIVSDEM ECCLIAE AMICI. A.S. MCMXXXV
Translation:
This cross is a copy of one made perhaps in Kent in the eighth century. It is set in stone taken from the walls of Christ Church, Canterbury. As the emblem of Salvation and the earnest of friendship it was given to this Cathedral
by the Friends of Canterbury Cathedral A.D. 1935
Bishop and Chapter met on the evening of 17 June 2025 with 7 of 13 present. The Chapter discussed an article “Five Pitfalls of Strategic Thinking” (Susan Erdey - Episcopal Church Foundation) provided material and an opportunity for conversation pertaining to the task of strategic planning. Minutes of 20 May 2025 had been circulated and were received and approved.
FROM THE DEAN
• a summary of usual items on the Dean’s past month’s calendar
• 2 Cathedral Staff reviews completed, 2 remaining
• deacons’ annual assessment process
• video conference with Canadian Deans on 05 June
• 2 funerals, 3 committals
• expect to take vacation during August
• War memorials - from Memorial Hall have been collected by Oromocto NB Military Museum
• Advisory Committee on Appointments - B. Greenwood lead a reading of the Diocesan Guide
DECISION
• Harry Palmer bequest - remaining $12,298 be internally restricted for Christian formation/education and be moved to investment
• Banking - move operating accounts and VISAs to Omnista Credit Union, conditional on application process
REPORTS
Treasurer - May financials: Revenue $60,743 (all sources). Expense $67,095. Offering is behind its budget -$38,912 to date. Celtic Spirituality event income $5,205, $2,702 required and applied from Palmer bequest
Nominating - leadership vacancies: stewardship, safe church officer, addition member of Chapter to Nominating
Administration and Finance - summer tour guide interviews complete with hiring pending reference checks
Christian Formation - brief reports on Art and Faith, Poetry on the Lawn, Godly Play, Thy Kingdom Come, and Celtic Spirituality event. Consideration re resiliency of programming
Health / Pastoral Care - First Aid training on 03 October and if interested contact J. Hand or the Office. Blood pressure clinic held 25 May
Mission / Outreach - Monday outreach guests in May - 73, continuing to express appreciation to A. Deveau and D. Milander and others for their dedication to that programme. Belize Mission information session following 10:30 a.m. worship 22 June. 1 benevolence request processed
Property - meeting with PhD student researching heritage buildings using new 3D measurement technology with our agreement to be involved at no cost. Active items on agenda: Cathedral driveway, south choir room steps, sprinkler maintenance completed, residual invoices paid re Cathedral boiler replacement, south aisle light switch installed at west door. Pointing and roofing deficiencies discovered in April and determining the scope of repair possible continue to be a concern
Welcome and Hospitality - work continues on new member materials; invitations to worship refreshment teams; meeting of worship greeters 12 June with procedure review and discussion;
Fredericton Cathedral Foundation - progress is slow awaiting extent of participation by the City of Fredericton
On a recent Sunday at the cathedral, several multilingual members of the congregation beautifully illustrated that the first gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was, according to Acts 2:4, the gift of language.
Suddenly, many cultures and identities flowed in harmony. Everyone not only heard but also understood one another and God's marvellous power. It was an emotional moment when communication and social cohesion were conveyed in such a positive way. People shared smiles and knowing looks as scriptural excerpts were read aloud in Hebrew, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Swahili, Ukranian, Welsh and English.
Later, it occurred to me that we have a small Tower of Babel on the steps of Cathedral Memorial Hall for the Outreach Program on the last Monday morning of every month.
Years ago I would greet the people-in-need who arrived for supermarket gift cards and lunch bags with a cheery hello and bonjour. Canada's two official languages easily captured all the guests. Sometimes an Indigenous person or two would attend, and I learned to say qwey to welcome Mi'kmaq or Wolastoqey speakers.
Nowadays the demographics of our Monday visitors have changed quite a bit. Each time I arrive for our gathering, it is important to wave and smile to those waiting. I call out marhaba (hello in Lebanese), hola (Spanish), ni hao (Mandarin), dobryi den (Ukranian), asalaam alaikum (Arabic), namaste (Hindi). In past years I occasionally needed other languages for the group such as anyoung haseyo (Korean) and shalom (Hebrew).
People grin, delighted to be welcomed in their own language even if I am probably mangling some of the pronounciations. They usually set me straight. I do my best to remember their first names. If I miss anybody, they remind me and also they make sure that I add any newcomer's language to my welcome spiel.
It is a real pleasure to watch people from across the world come together and share in God's love as we open our hearts and our hands to people-in-need in this city. Their gratitude is quickly and easily understood, no matter the languages spoken. It is a small glimpse of Pentecost Sunday all year round!
Join us on Sunday, 22 June after the 10:30 a.m. service at the Cathedral for an information session about the upcoming Belize Mission. Whether you are looking to be involved in the Away Team, Home Team or are simply curious, join us to learn what this mission is, and how and why we are doing it. Information on timelines and commitment dates will be shared at the meeting. We can’t wait to see you there!
If you have any questions or would like to express your interest in supporting or joining the Belize mission, please email <belizemissions at cccath.ca>.
The Cathedral has a special relationship with the staff and students of St. Hilda’s Anglican School, an elementary in the rural village of Georgeville. Over two hundred children attend the school, ranging between kindergarten and grade 8, in addition to a recently established preschool.
Cathedral teams have travelled to Belize five times: in 2005, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2018. Over 60 Cathedral members ranging in age from 15 to 79 have participated in a mission trip to Belize, and hundreds of people in Fredericton have supported the work at St. Hilda's through organizational support, donations and prayers.
In 2010, Cathedral mission team members established a high school scholarship program which has allowed students from St. Hilda’s to apply for a scholarship to continue their education past grade 8 (high school is not publicly funded in Belize, and finances are a barrier for many families). Some of the graduates supported by the Cathedral have continued on to post-secondary education, and all have gained knowledge and experience that will help them in their future. We are grateful to everyone from our congregation and beyond that has helped to provide scholarships for these teenagers, and support for programs at the elementary school.
Have you taken a tour of the Cathedral? Even if you regularly worship here, you're likely to learn something new!
Construction of Christ Church Cathedral was completed in 1853, and it is a stunning example of Gothic Revival architecture located in the heart of downtown Fredericton, near the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge. It is a National Historic Site, as well as an active church with thriving ministries, and a unique location for concerts and theatre events.
Guided tours of Christ Church Cathedral are available every day in July and August, including Canada Day and New Brunswick Day. Visit Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., and Sunday 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Tours are free, donations are welcome and appreciated (fill out a donation envelope onsite to receive a charitable tax receipt or donate online to receive a tax receipt by email).
A bilingual tour guide will be onsite during your visit to offer information in English and French. Feel free to ask for a guided tour, or explore on your own and ask a few questions. Self-guided tour booklets are available in English, French, German, and Spanish. Souvenirs are available for purchase.
Tours are made possible due to receipt of a Community Funding Grant from the City of Fredericton.
Christ Church Cathedral has an active congregation that worships several times a week. All are welcome to attend. Regular service times are 10:00 a.m. Wednesdays, and 8:00 & 10:30 a.m. Sundays. Attend free concerts in the Cathedral Summer Music Series at 12:10 p.m. Fridays in July and August to hear a variety of local performers and musical styles.
Explore to learn more about the Cathedral's past, and current activities in the congregation and community. Learn more about activities in the Cathedral throughout each year.
Please join us for the inaugural and special Summer 2025 edition of our Cathedral-sponsored Wednesday Spirituality Series: Poetry on the Lawn!
Twice a month this summer – in June, July & August – we’ll be gathering on the Cathedral lawn on alternating Wednesdays from 3-4:30pm to discuss words of wisdom of wonderful poets.
* Here’s the tentative lineup:
JUNE belongs to two Celtic soul-friends:
• 11 June: David Whyte
• 25 June: John O’Donohue
JULY belongs to two writers-in-residence from opposite sides of this continent:
• 9 July: Luci Shaw
• 23 July: Marie Howe
And AUGUST belongs, very simply, to two greats:
• 6 August (Transfiguration of the Lord): Gerard Manley Hopkins
• 20 August: Mary Oliver
Please feel free to drop in for any or all of these sessions.
• No advance RSVP required – but appreciated!
• No advance reading required – but encouraged!
• Just show up – ready to enjoy some excellent poetry together!
We’ll plan to gather at the picnic tables on the Cathedral Lawn, and to meet inside the Cathedral itself in the event of inclement weather.
Any questions or expression of interest can be communicated to:
Kurt Schmidt, DCF – Director of Christian Formation (half-time)
+ Sharing the Spirit with you in 3D -- as Devoted Disciples Dancing
+ email: <k.schmidt at cccath.ca>
The annual Summer Music Series at Christ Church Cathedral is back! All are welcome to attend these concerts, designed to fit perfectly within the lunch hour.
Fridays from 12:10-12:50 p.m., 04 July - 29 August, 2025, 150 Church Street, Fredericton.
Join us inside historic Christ Church Cathedral as we present a series of concerts featuring soloists and instruments such as piano, guitar, cello, viola, and organ.
Free admission, donations encouraged. Performers will receive an honorarium and proceeds will support the Organ Renovation Fund. Online donations will receive a receipt for tax purposes emailed immediately.
July 4
Natalia Delacroix, viola
July 14 Luke MacLean, voice
July 18
Steven Peacock, guitar
Emily Kennedy, cello
July 25 Caileigh Sullivan, voice
Heather Fyffe, piano
Recently, I found myself pondering the subject of saying grace before (or after) meals. I was curious if today’s on-the-go lifestyle lent itself to this practice. My very unscientific and small sample group didn’t really produce a conclusion that I would like to stake my reputation on, but overall, it would seem that saying grace regularly may have fallen somewhat by the wayside. But then again, the act of gathering around the family dinner table to share a meal often falls victim to today’s busy schedules and some folks noted that it was when they sat around that table that saying grace was the most common.
A little research on saying grace tells me that it’s a practice in many cultures and religions to express thanks for our food and its source. It can be a part of our religious belief as in thanking God or a simple acknowledgement of appreciation for the food and the cook. Wikipedia tells us that the term saying grace comes from the Ecclesiastical Latin phrase gratiarum actio, “act of thanks”. Theologically, the act is derived from the Bible, in which Jesus and Saint Paul pray before meals. One interesting article mentioned that in the Middle Ages it was said as an incantation to protect people from questionable food — of which there was plenty! And the author notes that praying for God’s grace that you don’t die from food poisoning isn’t necessarily a bad motive!
In an article by Lauren F. Winner, she says, “You don’t find grace said when people are rushing around, scarfing food, eating over the sink or in the car, polishing off a meal in ten minutes flat. You find grace offered at tables where people sit still, where they’re trying to pay attention”. But she points out that grace is portable! We don’t need a dinner table to pause and to give thanks even when we are on the run - “saying grace can transform a mere meal into an act of celebration, focus and gratitude.”
So for those of us who are on the run trying to keep up with the fast-paced world that we live in, and sacrificing saying grace because we can’t slow down, here are some short prayers. Be it the hockey arena hot dog or the chips and chocolate bar between meetings, these short words of thanksgiving can always fit into even the busiest schedule.
- by Gail MacGillivray
May all be fed May all be healed May all be loved -- John Robbins
Thank you Lord for what we are about to receive. In Jesus' name. Amen
Lord, make us truly thankful for these and all other blessings. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen
Lord Jesus, bless this food to our use, and us to Your service. Amen
Lord, as we enjoy this food may it nourish our bodies and renew our spirits. Amen
When many people think of churches, they think of buildings filled with people on Sundays and holidays, but empty and closed for most of the week.
At the Cathedral (and indeed, in many churches), that isn’t the case.
Christ Church Cathedral was given recognition as a National Historic Site in 1981. Along with being a stunning example of Gothic revival architecture, the Cathedral also played a part in the designation of Fredericton as a City by Queen Victoria. Due to its historic and architectural significance, our Cathedral is a popular tourist destination in Fredericton. It is located in the heart of downtown Fredericton, near the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge.
Each year, thousands of tourists visit the Cathedral. In July and August alone, we typically welcome between two and three thousand visitors. Free guided tours are provided seven days a week during the July and August, thanks to a funding community funding grant from the City of Fredericton. Throughout the rest of the year, between September and June, visitors are invited to visit the Cathedral on weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., learning about the architecture and history using self-guided tour booklets which are available in four languages (English, French, Spanish and German). Private tours are sometimes arranged upon request for groups - it’s not uncommon for us to receive special requests from conference organizers or Fredericton Tourism staff.
Another benefit of the Cathedral being open to the public on weekdays is to give people a quiet place to pray. Some churches in our area are not able to remain open throughout the week. We welcome attendance at morning and evening prayer, held at 8:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Monday to Friday, and lasting approximately fifteen minutes each. Throughout the day between those times, anyone is welcome to visit for prayer or reflection.
Worship including Holy Eucharist is held in the Cathedral on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m., Sundays at 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 4:00 p.m. We rotate between traditional and contemporary services. Choral Evensong is held once a month, plus regular Taizé worship. Special services are held on weekdays throughout the year, such as during Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, and days such as the Ascension, New Year’s, and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (visit our calendar for schedules), along with weddings and funerals upon request. Baptisms, First Communions and Confirmations are typically held on festival Sundays. Many services are livestreamed.
Because of the magnificent architecture of the Cathedral, many photographers drop by to take photos inside and outside, and individuals and photography teachers can schedule sessions within the Cathedral. We encourage photographers to share or tag us in their Cathedral photos.
Speaking of photography… did you know that several movies and television programs have used the Cathedral to film scenes? Theatre performances have also been held inside and outside the Cathedral (Godspell and Camelot, to name just two!). In Summer 2025 we are pleased to welcome Bard in the Barracks performing Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor. During the summer months, the Calithumpians Theatre Troupe performs family-friendly performances on the Cathedral lawn, as well as hosting summer camps. Children are welcome inside the Cathedral.
Accessible gender-neutral washrooms (one with a changing table) are open to the public.
Many musical events and concerts are held at Christ Church Cathedral each year. In addition to regular rehearsals of our Cathedral Choir, Youth Choir and Worship band, the community choral group Bel Canto Singers hold weekly rehearsals in the Cathedral. Because of the fabulous acoustics, we are a favoured venue for classical and choral music. We have hosted concerts for local groups such as the Fredericton Symphony Orchestra, Atlantic Sinfonia, the Elm City String Quartet, Bel Canto Singers, Delacroix Classix, and many more. We have also welcomed touring musicians such as the Gerdan Theatre Ukrainian Choir, Choeur Louisbourg, and Dan Bremnes. The Cathedral was the site of Fredericton's 175th anniversary concert, A Celebration of Us, and is often selected as one of the locations for the NB Summer Music Festival. Each year, the Cathedral Director of Music organizes our long-running Summer Music Series, which presents free concerts on Fridays over the lunch hour, featuring a variety of musicians, soloists and groups from Fredericton and beyond.
Even a weekly exercise class is held in the Cathedral! Chair Yoga is held on Friday mornings throughout most of the year. It’s a gentle way to stretch and get in shape, suitable for a variety of ages and abilities. Holding the class in the Cathedral makes it convenient to enter for people with mobility challenges. Our Health Ministry team organizes this initiative, and also holds blood pressure clinics several times a year in the Cathedral.
A variety of groups, speakers and classes also use the Cathedral and lawn on an as-needed basis. These include guest speakers whose lectures are sometimes livestreamed, sacramental preparation courses, training for groups such as servers, and congregational and community groups such as our Sanctuary Guild, Mothers’ Union, Guild of St. Joseph, Anglican Church Women, Diocese of Fredericton, Scouts and Cubs, L’Arche Fredericton, and a guided autobiography group. Fellowship events such as teas and picnics are also held in and around the Cathedral.
You are welcome to visit the Cathedral (for the first time, or more often). You’ll find us at 150 Church Street, and our doors are open weekdays between 8:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (excepting holidays, and with an extended 7-day schedule in the summer). Sometimes you’ll have an opportunity for quiet reflection or touring, and other times you’ll encounter some of our dedicated staff, clergy, or volunteers. Say hello! We encourage you to become aware of and involved in activities happening in the Cathedral throughout the year.
As for how Cathedral Memorial Hall is used… the story of that well-used building will have to be a whole separate article!
The slideshow below shows photos of a wide range of activities in and around the Cathedral:
Gifts for Cathedrals within the Empire
