Easter 2017
Christ Church Cathedral is the Anglican cathedral in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The church is located at 414 Sparks Street in the northwest section of the city’s downtown, at the western end of Sparks Street, overlooking a promontory that looks down to the Ottawa River.
Philemon Wright, a native of Woburn, Massachusetts, came to Canada in 1800. Making his way up the Ottawa River, and looking for a satisfactory place to settle, he finally came to the Chaudière Falls, and was pleased with the character of the land on the north side of the river, so he decided to settle there. In later years, the flourishing settlement of Wrightstown would evolve into the village of Hull, and eventually become the City of Gatineau. Following the War of 1812, the Township of March was established for the benefit of retired military officers and men. It was situated further upriver on the south side. In 1824, Nicholas Sparks crossed the river from then Hull and carved a home for himself out of the heavy timber on the high cliffs of the south shore. In doing so, he became the first citizen of what would later become Bytown, and much later, the City of Ottawa. Colonel John By and the Royal Engineers arrived two years later to build the Rideau Canal, connecting the Ottawa River with Lake Ontario.
In 1896, the Diocese of Ottawa was established as a separate entity from the northern part of the Diocese of Ontario. The Right Reverend Charles Hamilton was elected as the first bishop of the new diocese. On Easter Day 1897, it was formally announced that Christ Church would become the cathedral of the new diocese.
A memorial plaque is dedicated to Zachary Richard Edmund Lewis, of the North-West Mounted Police and of “D” Co. 2nd Battery Royal Canadian Regiment, who died 18 February, AD 1900 and his father Lewis, Esquire, M.D.
A memorial plaque is dedicated to members of the congregation who died or served during World War I. Erected by the 77th Overseas Battalion, C.E.F., and unveiled on June 11, 1916, a memorial plaque is dedicated to members of the Battalion who attended service at Christ Church Cathedral.
Memorial plaques are dedicated to Lieutenant Ayton Richey Leggo, Eric Munro Anderson and to Lieutenant Edmund Brown, a chorister in the Cathedral who laid down his life for his friends on the fields of France during the Great War.
Erected by the Governor General’s Foot Guards, a memorial 1916 Regimental Colour of the 77th Battalion (Ottawa), CEF, is dedicated to the 77th Battalion (Ottawa), CEF.
In November 1931, a special meeting of the Vestry unanimously agreed to begin construction of a new chancel, extending to the street line of Queen Street, to mark its 50th anniversary in 1932. A.J. Hazelgrove designed an enlarged chancel, and the building contract was given to John Ferguson. The work of tearing down the old chancel began immediately after Easter 1932, and on December 22, 1932, a thanksgiving Eucharist was celebrated in the new, vastly expanded chancel. The completion of the new chancel marked 100 years since the establishment of the first church in Bytown.
A memorial Queens Colour, 1874 Regimental Colour, and description text erected by members of the Regiment, was unveiled on 21 May 1933, and is dedicated to the Governor General’s Foot Guards.
Erected by the Christ Cathedral, a memorial Sanctuary lamp and the lights in the chancel are dedicated to members of the Cathedral who died in World War II.
Erected by the Governor General’s Foot Guards and unveiled on 4 October 1959, a memorial King’s Colour and plaque at Christ Church Cathedral is dedicated to the Governor General’s Foot Guards. Erected by members of the Regiment, a memorial Queens Colour, Regimental Colour, and text was unveiled on 31 August 1969, and is dedicated to the 1st Battalion, The Canadian Guards. Governor General Vincent Massey presented this Colour on 5 October 1957.
The Rowley Family carved the Reredos.
A stained glass memorial window, “I am alive forevermore,” is dedicated to Major Robert Donaldson, Late HM 41st The Welsh Regiment and family members. Major Donaldson had died in December 1864.
A stained-glass Memorial West Window, designed and installed by Christopher Wallis in 1982, depicts the cathedral’s history, early French and English explorers in Bytown, and an ANIK-B satellite. The cathedral is regularly included amongst other architecturally interesting and historically significant buildings in Doors Open Ottawa, held annually in June
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_Church_Cathedral_(Ottawa)
