Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ottawa

For other uses, see Notre Dame (disambiguation).

Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica
45.42971°N 75.69646°W / 45.42971; -75.69646
Country	Canada
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	Official site
Architecture
Completed	1846
Clergy
Archbishop	Most Reverend Terrence Prendergast, S.J.
Rector	Fr Paul McKeown
Laity
Director of music	Michel Guilmont
Organist(s)	Jennifer Loveless
National Historic Site of Canada
Official name: Notre-Dame Roman Catholic Basilica National Historic Site of Canada
Designated:	1990
Ontario Heritage Act
Type:	Municipal Heritage Designation (Part IV)
Designated:	1978

The Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica is an ecclesiastic basilica in Ottawa, Canada located on 375 Sussex Drive in the Lower Town neighbourhood. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990.

History and architecture

The site was originally home to the small wooden St. Jacques Church built in 1832. This structure was destroyed in 1841 to make way for a larger church, designed by local builder Antoine Robillard and Father Cannon who requested a Neo-classical design.

However, in 1844, after the lower section was completed, the Oblate Fathers took over the parish and Father Telmon was sent from France to finish the construction. Father Telmon decided to redesign it to be a more standard Neo-Gothic structure, a style which was growing in popularity. This left the lower features, such as the main entrance, Neo-Classical, while the rest is Neo-Gothic, for example, the large windows over the doorway features Gothic pointed arches and tracery.

The main structure was finished in 1846, but it was not until 1866 that the spires were installed. The steeples are topped with standard French-Canadian tin and bells. Its exterior is fairly reserved, but the interior is as far more ornate, designed by Georges Buillon. The interior of the church is brightly painted and decorated with carved features, exquisite stained glass windows and hundreds of statues of various religious figures. Louis-Philippe Hébert completed thirty large wooden sculptures in the choir. At the end of the choir, the Holy Family is completed with saints John the Baptist and Patrick, the patron saints of English and French Catholics. In 1847 it was elevated to a cathedral. James R. Bowes, architect, designed new galleries and improvements, 1875.

In 1879, it was elevated to a basilica Bishop Guigues was appointed the first bishop and is honoured with a lifesize statue to the right of the Cathedral.

The Basilica is the oldest and largest church in Ottawa and the seat of the city's Catholic archbishop. Its twin spires and gilded Madonna are easily identifiable from nearby Parliament Hill and the surrounding area. The church was recently renovated and restored in the late 1990s. Services are held in both French and English.

Governor General Georges Vanier and Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier both were given state funerals at the Cathedral.

Organs

The first organ is inaugurated on March 7, 1850 by Damis Paul, organist at Montreal's cathedral. The instrument had been partially installed in 1848 for Bishop Guigues' consecration. Joseph Casavant built an 18-stop instrument (1,063 pipes) and placed it in a case that was later sculpted by Flavien Rochon in 1871. The instrument was restored by organbuilder Louis Mitchell a few years later. Casavant’s sons completely reconstructed the organ in 1892. At that time, it is a 52-stop instrument over 3 manuals and pedal. The instrument used an electro-pneumatic action which represented a new summit for the Casavant firm. The main section of the organ is located in the rear gallery while a second organ, a 17-stop choir organ over 3 manuals and pedal, is located in a gallery over the sanctuary. Both organs are played from the console located in the rear gallery.

This instrument is one of the three outstanding instruments in the history of the Casavant firm, the others being the one in Notre Dame Basilica in Montréal (1890) and the one in St. Hyacinthe Cathedral (1885).

Originally the console was attached to the left organ case. From the very beginning, the organ case is divided into two sections in order to free the magnificent stained-glass window. New stops were added in 1917. A second console, more modern, was installed in 1940 when a major rebuilt was undertaken and, in 1975, a revision of the electric action was carried out.

In 1999, Guilbault-Thérien carried out a major renovation, replacing the second console, and adding 7 more stops in order to achieve a better balance amongst the divisions while respecting the symphonic aesthetics of the instrument. The chancel organ still retains its original composition and voicing.

Composer Amédée Tremblay notably served as the church's organist from 1894-1920.

The present titular organist is Jennifer Loveless.

Gallery

• 

  Madonna atop Basilica

• 

  Louis-Philippe Hébert's statue of Bishop Joseph Eugene Guiges outside Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ottawa

• 

  Interior of Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica

• 

  View from Major's Hill Park

See also

• List of designated heritage properties in Ottawa

References

• Fletcher, Katharine. Capital Walks: Walking Tours of Ottawa, Markham, Ontario: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2004.
• Kalman, Harold and John Roaf. Exploring Ottawa: An Architectural Guide to the Nation's Capital. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1983.

External links

• Official website
• Organ Specifications and Photos entre
• GCatholic.com entry
• Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica photos.