Welcome
Warm greetings from Christ Church Cathedral. However you arrived here, consider yourself welcome!
Located in the heart of historic Fredericton, New Brunswick, our church family hosts a vibrant mix of traditional and modern worship, insightful ministry, community outreach, cultural responsibility and maritime hospitality.
As the mother church of the Diocese and the location of the "cathedra" of the Bishop of Fredericton, the Cathedral is at the centre of diocesan, ecumenical, interfaith and civic life and events, as well as being a national historic site, and one of the City's primary tourist destinations. The building is considered one of the finest examples of ecclesial gothic revival architecture in Canada, and stands as a true monument to the establishment of the Anglican faith in Atlantic Canada.
From regular weekday and Sunday worship to choral evensong and glorious Festival Day celebrations, we offer a place of welcome and warmth to people of all ages and backgrounds as we gather for worship, prayer, praise inspiration, and friendship.
We invite you to explore our website, and to visit us for worship, or to join with us in the many groups and activities that make our church the vibrant community that it is.
Our Worship
Whether you are a Christian who has worshipped in the Anglican tradition, are of another Christian denomination, another faith entirely or, simply interested in understanding more about what our faith community is all about, you are warmly welcome to visit or join us in worship. There is no dress code, you are free to sit where you wish and, to participate as you feel comfortable. Our greeters will welcome you as you enter, and will answer any questions you may have. Following worship, the clergy are available to talk as well, should you have any thoughts, questions or comments. We are pleased to have you with us!
A typical Sunday at Christ Church Cathedral consists of three different opportunities for worship: 8:00 a.m. - a quieter service of prayer, scripture and the Holy Eucharist every Sunday. At 10:30 a.m. either a traditional Anglican Eucharist featuring choral music, congregational hymn singing or, a less formal style Eucharist with contemporary music and praise (alternating weeks). Choral Evensong is held at 4:00 p.m. on selected Sundays. Holy Eucharist is also held Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. You can find a weekly bulletin outlining the worship and weekly activities here, and please check out our calendar for upcoming regular or special events and Festival Day celebrations.
The daily offices (morning and evening prayer) are said Monday to Friday at 8:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. in the Cathedral. All are welcome and encouraged to attend and because the numbers are usually few, please don't wait for an invitation to sit in the chancel (choir) to join the leader in prayer.
Different churches have different ways of doing things; the music, the language, and the rituals can vary widely. But you will quickly find at the Cathedral that there is no right or wrong way, and that you are not the only one who doesn't seem to know when to sit, when to stand, what to sing or what page to turn to! Relax. Our traditions are centuries old, and not even the most seasoned Anglican has mastered them all. The foundation of our church was built on is INCLUDING PEOPLE.
For more information about the Anglican Church, the Sacraments and Services page looks more deeply at some worship traditions and customs.
Our Faith
The Cathedral belongs to the Anglican Church of Canada, and the world-wide Anglican Communion, celebrating the historic sacraments and sharing the Word of God contained in the Old (Hebrew) and the New (Greek) Testaments of the Christian scriptures. As a member of the world-wide Anglican Church, we ascribe to the Five Marks of Mission of the Anglican Communion.
As Anglicans, we believe in one God, expressed in three persons : God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit. It is the Father who creates, the Son who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds. The Holy Spirit guides us in our love and service to walk in the way of Christ, and to keep the Faith.
We believe that we enter into the Church through Holy Baptism, and we celebrate Christ's death and resurrection through the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist (or Holy Communion). We believe that Jesus Christ lived, died and rose from death to show us how to live our own lives, and how to be reconciled with God.
As a partner in the worldwide Anglican Communion and in the universal Church, we proclaim and celebrate the gospel of Jesus Christ in worship and action. We value our heritage of biblical faith, reason, liturgy, tradition, bishops and synods, and the rich variety of our life in community. We acknowledge that God is calling us to greater diversity of membership, wider participation in ministry and leadership, better stewardship in God's creation and a stronger resolve in challenging attitudes and structures that cause injustice. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to respond to this call in love and service and so more fully live the life of Christ.
At the Cathedral, you will find a community of people united in the love of God with an open heart; who seek through worship, prayer, community outreach, study and music to find social justice, fellowship, peace, and the love and stewardship of all of God's creation.
For more on our beliefs (Anglican Church of Canada)
Our Building
Many visitors are astonished to find such a grand statement of Gothic Revival architecture in the relatively small city of Fredericton. The building is the result of one man's vision: John Medley, the first Bishop of the Diocese. Medley, who arrived in Fredericton from Exeter, England, in 1845, was devoted to the Medieval Gothic style, and brought with him the English architect Frank Wills, who modelled the new cathedral after the 14th Century St. Mary's Church at Snettisham in Norfolk.
The cornerstone was laid on October 15, 1845, and final construction was completed in 1853, with the service of consecration held on August 31.
The tower of the Cathedral was the last major part to be constructed. The original plans called for a twin tower design, but soaring construction costs led to the choice of a single tower. The original design was published in the Illustrated London News in 1849.
On July 3, 1911, lightning struck the Cathedral and the resulting fire gutted the spire and destroyed the choir when the bells melted and fell to earth. It took over a year and $100,000 to rebuild the Cathedral. On August 12, 1912, Bishop Richardson led a re-dedication of for the restored building. The newly constructed spire rises to 198 feet. For a stunning aerial view, you can see a camera drone video here.
A history of the Cathedral was published during the episcopacy of Bishop John A. Richardson (1907 - 1938)
and an update was published during the episcopacy of Harold L. Nutter (1971 - 1989).
- A 360° Google street view inside tour is available HERE.
- Click HERE for an interactive tour of the Cathedral.
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