*** Welcome to piglix ***

Sacred Heart Cathedral (Kamloops)

Sacred Heart Cathedral
A cathedral with two Romanesque towers
Sacred Heart Cathedral in the summer of 2004
Coordinates: 50°40′20″N 120°20′05″W / 50.6721°N 120.3347°W / 50.6721; -120.3347
Location 255 Nicola Street, Kamloops
Country Canada
Denomination Roman Catholic
History
Consecrated December 1925
Architecture
Status Cathedral
Functional status Active
Architect(s) Parlett and Macaulay
Style Romanesque
Groundbreaking 1921
Administration
Diocese Roman Catholic Diocese of Kamloops
Clergy
Bishop(s) David J. Monroe

Sacred Heart Cathedral is a Romanesque-style church that serves as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kamloops. It is located in the downtown area of Kamloops at the intersection of Nicola Street and 3rd Avenue.

The construction of the cathedral began in 1921, a few blocks from the site of an earlier church by the same name that had burned down two years earlier. It opened in December 1925 and is now listed on the city's Heritage Walking Tour by the City of Kamloops Museum and Archives.

The original church was situated between 1st and 2nd Avenue on Battle Street and was constructed out of wood. Robert Henry Lee was hired to be the architect, while Alfred and William Hill were responsible for the construction. When it opened on December 17, 1887, Sacred Heart church became the first Roman Catholic church built in Kamloops. The first mass was said by Father LeJeune. A mission house was built adjacent to the church in 1889.

On Ash Wednesday of 1919 (March 5), the church along with its rectory were destroyed by fire. Shortly afterwards, the accompanying mission house was demolished.

Construction of a new church began at a new site on Nicola Street and 3rd Avenue in 1921. W.H. Macaulay was chosen to be the architect. Masses were initially conducted in the church basement until the church was completed in December 1925.

The cathedral was built in a Romanesque style and is noted for its stained glass windows, the ornate high altar and reredos, the balustrade at the staircase in the front entrance, the bell tower topped with a dome and the use of red brick for the exterior. The cathedral was later expanded when a west wing was constructed.


...
Wikipedia

...