Church of Our Lady Immaculate, Guelph
| Basilica of Our Lady | |
|---|---|
| Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate, Guelph | |
Southwest view of the basilica
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| Coordinates: 43°32′35.3″N 80°15′4.2″W / 43.543139°N 80.251167°W | |
| Location | Guelph, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | ChurchofOurLady.com |
| History | |
| Dedication | 1883 |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Active |
| Functional status | Minor basilica |
| Heritage designation | National Historic Site of Canada |
| Designated | 1990 |
| Architect(s) | Joseph Connolly |
| Architectural type | Norman-Gothic |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Wellington |
| Diocese | Hamilton |
| Province | Toronto |
Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate is a Roman Catholic minor basilica and parish church located in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. A Gothic Revival style building designed by Joseph Connolly. It is considered Connolly's best work. To serve a Roman Catholic parish of predominantly German settlers the church was built between 1875 and 1883. The monumental church contains decorative carving and stained glass executed by skilled craftsmen.
The church was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990. Pope Francis designated the church a basilica on 8 December 2014.
When John Galt founded Guelph, Ontario on April 23, 1827, he allocated the highest point in the centre of the newly founded town to Roman Catholics as a compliment to his friend, Bishop Alexander Macdonell, who had given him advice in the formation of the Canada Company. A road was also later cleared leading up to the hill and named after the Bishop, called Macdonell Street.
According to the Guelph Public Library archives, Galt wrote the following statement in the deed transferring the land on which the Church of Our Lady would one day stand: "On this hill would one day rise a church to rival St. Peter's in Rome."
The Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady Immaculate is the third church to stand on this site, high above the streetscape, overlooking the city of Guelph. The first church, a framed wooden church named St. Patrick's, had been built on the hill by 1835 and was the first structure in Guelph that was painted on both its interior and exterior. It burned to the ground on October 10, 1844.
Construction on St. Bartholomew's Church began shortly after St. Patrick's was destroyed. The new building was completed in 1846. The following inscription appeared on the cornerstone of St. Bartholomew's Church: "To God, the best and greatest. The faithful of Guelph, of the diocese of Toronto have built this new Church, in honour of the blessed Apostle Bartholomew, the first church having been consumed in flames."
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