Saint Boniface Cathedral

Saint Boniface Cathedral
File:St Boniface.jpg Saint Boniface Cathedral
Basic information
Location	190 Cathédrale Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R2H 0H7
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Province	Manitoba
District	Saint Boniface
Website	Official website
Architectural description
Architectural type	Church
Specifications

Saint Boniface Cathedral is a Roman Catholic basilica and the cathedral of Saint Boniface, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

It is an important building in Winnipeg, and is the principal church in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Boniface, serving the eastern part of Manitoba province as well as the local Franco-Manitoban community. The basilica sits in the centre of the city at 190 avenue de la Cathédrale, Saint Boniface.

History

Early St. Boniface Church and Fort Gibraltar in 1821

File:St. Boniface, Red River Settlement.png

St. Boniface Cathedral and the Grey Nuns' Convent in 1858

19th-century origins

The first church on the site was founded by Fr. Norbert Provencher, a priest and future bishop, who ordered its construction in 1818 in the form of a small log chapel. In 1832 Bishop Provencher built the first cathedral but on December 14, 1860, a fire destroyed the first building. In 1862, Bishop Alexandre Antonin Taché rebuilt the cathedral in stone.

20th century rebuilding

By 1900, St. Boniface was the fifth largest city in the West and needed a larger cathedral. Local contractors Senecal and Smith were engaged to build a new cathedral to plans by Montreal architect Jean-Omer Marchand. On August 15, 1906, Monsignor Louis-Philippe Adélard Langevin dedicated the cathedral, which became one of the most imposing churches in Western Canada.

On July 22, 1968, the 1906 cathedral was damaged in a fire, destroying many features including the rose window. Only the facade, sacristy, and the walls of the old church remained.

In 1972, a new smaller cathedral, designed by Étienne Gaboury and Denis Lussier, was built behind the 1906 façade.

The Institute for stained glass in Canada has documented the stained glass at St Boniface Cathedral.

Cathedral cemetery

The Cathedral from the Forks Riverwalk

Notable people buried in the cathedral cemetery include:

• Louis Riel (1844–1885)
• Louis Riel, Sr. (1817–1864)
• Ambroise-Dydime Lépine (1840–1923)
• Jean-Baptiste Lagimodière (1778–1855)
• Marie-Anne Gaboury (1780–1875)
• Norbert Provencher (1787–1853)
• Vital-Justin Grandin (1829–1902)
• Rosario Couture (1905–1986)

Surroundings

The Cathedral faces the Red River. Nearby is Esplanade Riel, Provencher Bridge, Provencher Park, Tache Promenade, Verendrye Park, the Université de Saint-Boniface and the Saint-Boniface Museum. In Verendrye Park is a statue of Pierre La Vérendrye by Joseph-Émile Brunet. Across the river is The Forks in Downtown Winnipeg.

External links

• St. Boniface Cathedral parish Much information about the old Cathedral, the replacement church, including a photo gallery.
• Manitoba Provincial Heritage
• Interior Photograph