A Life, Lived

Christ Church Cathedral Fredericton

Many visitors would be astonished to find such a grand statement of Gothic Revival architecture in the relatively small city of Fredericton. The building is the result of one man's vision: John Medley, the first Bishop of the Diocese. Medley, who arrived in Fredericton from Exeter, England, in 1845, was devoted to the Medieval Gothic style, and brought with him the English architect Frank Wills, who modeled the new cathedral after the 14th Century St. Mary's Church at Snettisham in Norfolk.

The cornerstone was laid on October 15, 1845, and final construction was completed in 1853, with the service of consecration held on August 11.

The tower of the Cathedral was the last major part to be constructed. The original plans called for a twin tower design, but soaring construction costs led to the choice of a single tower. At one point construction ground to a halt as a result of a lack of funds. Three women from England took it upon themselves to start a fundraising to assist with the construction. They each donated the significant sum (for the time) of $ 500. This lead to significant funds being raised to complete the church. the three women are commemorated on a pillar near the Sanctuary.

The original design was published in the Illustrated London News in 1849.

On July 3, 1911, lightning struck the Cathedral and the resulting fire gutted the spire and destroyed the choir when the bells melted and fell to earth. It took over a year and $100,000 to rebuild the Cathedral. On August 12, 1912, Bishop Richardson led a re-dedication of for the restored building. The newly constructed spire rises to 198 feet.

Entering the West Door of the Cathedral, visitors are at once transformed by the reverant elegance of a magnificant house of worship in Revived Gothic style. Excited voices instinctively drop to hushed whispers. A spacious nave of carved stone and stained glass extends towards the decorated High Altar. Here, the early morning sun strikes the great East Window, setting it ablaze in glowing color. From its gleaming panes, the crucified Lord and six apostles oversee the sanctuary.

Travel Tuesdays - Fredericton

I spent some time wandering around Fredericton yesterday before my meetings started.

 

Hello Fredericton

This will test the knowledge of those not from Canada. :-)

Fredericton is the Capital of New Brunswick, one of Canada's smaller provinces on the East coast. With a population of just under 70,000 (and that is with amalgamating many nearby communities into the municipal area), many would see this as a bit of a backwater. I am here for the National General Secretaries meeting - every year the GSs and Deputy GSs from all of Canada's teacher unions gather to talk about the issues facing their members and staff.

Never having been to New Brunswick I decided to come down a day early so I had some time to wander.

As you might anticipate, the flight options from Toronto were not great. In fact, there are two direct flights a day - one is very early and the other very late. I took the early flight and arrived before noon. The airport is tiny so getting luggage, picking up the rental car, and heading out was quick!

Fredericton is situated on the St. John river and there are trails all along the river. I stopped a few times to take pics. The flooding on the river was extreme this year and the water is still quite high (if one can tell by the trees that still have their trunks submerged). On the way into the downtown area there were piles of furniture and boxes in front of houses where the basements must have flooded.

I parked the car downtown near the Beaverbrook gallery. You'd not expect to find a major art gallery in a small urban centre in new Brunswick but there it is thanks to the generous donations of Lord Beaverbrook which funded the building and provided more than 300 original pieces of art from his permanent collection.

When I arrived I was advised that it was Lord Beaverbrook Day so my entrance was free.

Happy Jerry.

The gallery has an extensive collection of paintings by Cornelius Krieghoff, and expatriate Canadian post-Impressionist James Wilson Morrice. New Brunswick landscape paintings and works on paper by artists such as Anthony Flower, George T. Taylor, and George Neilson Smith are also an important part of the gallery's holdings of 19th century Canadian art.

Other Canadian artists represented in the collection include members of the Group of Seven, Emily Carr and David Milne, as well as other 20th-century Canadian artists such as Paul-Emile Borduas, Jean Paul Riopelle, Jack Bush, Harold Feist, Harold Klunder and John Boyle.

The gallery is internationally known for its outstanding collection of British paintings from the Elizabethan era to the modern period, including paintings by Thomas Gainsborough, Sir Joshua Reynolds, J.M. Turner and John Constable. Modern British art is represented by the work of Augustus John, Sir Stanley Spencer, Walter Richard Sickert and Graham Sutherland, including Sutherland's preparatory sketches for his famous portrait of Winston Churchill.

Outside there was an interesting sculpture garden along the river.

I was pretty hungry by now so when I smelled the smells of good food wafting from a nearby building I headed in. It turns out that I had discovered Issac's Way - one of the restaurants I had hoped to visit while I was in town. Set in a heritage building (an 1840's era courthouse and jail complex), the restaurant also had an interesting collection of art on the walls.

Many of the menu items were farm to table which was a plus for me!

I had a local craft beer, scallop fritters, and a beet salad.

Next it was off to the hotel to check in.

My room overlooks the river which meant there were some impressive shots of sunset later in the day from my window.