All Souls' Chapel (Prince Edward Island)

All Souls' Chapel
Interior showing the altar and the sandstone arch Interior showing the altar and the sandstone arch
Location	Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Country	Canada
Denomination	Anglican Church of Canada
Website	stpeter.org/chapel
History
Founded	1888
Dedication	All Souls
Architecture
Status	Chapel
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	William Critchlow Harris
Style	High Victorian Gothic
Specifications
Materials	Sandstone
National Historic Site of Canada
Official name	All Souls Chapel National Historic Site of Canada
Designated	1990
Prince Edward Island Heritage Place
Type	City of Charlottetown Heritage Resource
Designated	1979

All Souls' Chapel is an historic chapel attached to St. Peter's Cathedral in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Built of Prince Edward Island sandstone in the High Victorian Gothic style of architecture, it overlooks Rochford Square.

History

All Souls' Chapel was built in 1888 as a memorial to Father George Hodgson, the first "priest-incumbent" of St. Peter's Cathedral, to a design by the noted ecclesiastical architect William Critchlow Harris. The chapel's walls feature paintings by his brother, Robert Harris. There are three roundels by Robert Harris set in the front of the altar, depicting, respectively, Christ breaking bread at Emmaus on the day of his resurrection; the crucifixion of Christ; and Christ administering the chalice to communicants. The arched reredos is typical of William Harris's style, containing statues of Christ and his apostles. Christ stands in the centre, with St. John and St. James standing to his right and St. Peter to his left, while other apostles, including St. Paul, carry the instruments used to put them to death.

A tabernacle containing the Reserved Sacrament stands behind the altar cross, while to the right of the altar is the credence table on which the bread and wine are placed before the offertory. Around the sanctuary walls are portraits of St. Luke the Evangelist as a memorial to Robert Harris and St. James the Just as a memorial to Canon James Simpson, who played an important role in planning the chapel. The round painting above the reredos is of Christ ascending to Heaven, and has been a treasured icon to generations of cathedral parishioners. The chapel was built by Lowe Brothers of Charlottetown and the woodwork was carved by Messrs Whitlock and Doull.

In 1990, All Souls' Chapel was designated a National Historic Site of Canada. An exterior plaque in recognition of this designation was dedicated at a special ceremony in July 1994. The chapel had already been designated a heritage resource by the City of Charlottetown in 1979.

See also

• St. Peter's Cathedral (Charlottetown)

External links

• All Souls' Chapel
• Online Guide to All Souls' Chapel
• St. Peter's Cathedral, Charlottetown
• The Importance of All Souls' Chapel - PEI government website