Today marks 174 years since the Diocese of Toronto was established and Rev. Michael Power named its first bishop.
St. Michael's Cathedral, the mother church of the archdiocese, is currently closed for extensive renovations (although there is an
Advent and Christmas mass schedule). It is hoped that the refurbished cathedral will reopen in time to celebrate our dodransbicentennial in 2016.
Last week, the cathedral opened its doors for a two-day Open House, offering the general public a sneak peak at the restoration in progress. The event was very well attended, with more than 4,300 visitors in total. The artists, craftspeople and contractors involved with the project displayed examples of their work at various stations around the cathedral, which was easy to navigate in the absence of any pews.
The Ceiling
One of the most striking elements of the restoration is the ceiling of the Cathedral. Now almost completed, it has occupied the father and daughter team of artists for over a year. The blue panels with gold stars follows the spirit of the original ceiling, which was painted over in subsequent years.
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Archives Staff photo
The currently restored ceiling of St. Michael's Cathedral. The blue background with gold stars is a traditionally Gothic feature, which is consistent with the church's architecture. The pattern was designed to have strong diagonal lines, created by outlining some of the stars in red. This draws the eye upwards, giving a similar effect as Gothic vaulting. |
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Photographs Special Collection, PH0001/165CP
Photograph of lithograph depicting Bishop John J. Lynch giving the veil to a novice of the Loretto Convent
by G. A. Binkert; printed by W. C. Chewett and Co., [between 1860 and 1868]
This rendering depicts the original painted ceiling of the Cathedral: gold stars on a blue field. |
Cathedral Interior
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Archives Staff photo
Most of the interior pillars have been replaced with new concrete supports. These posts will eventually be boxed in decorative covers. |
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Archives Staff photo
A sample of the new pews, which can be sponsored by the public. |
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Photo courtesy of the Office of Public Relations and Communications
New stained glass has been commissioned, including this rose window. |
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Archives Staff photo
A sample of the new tile floor and the wall panelling that will cover the now exposed brick, as seen in the background. |
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Archives Staff photo
Restored wooden statues of the saints, which will be returned to the new Gothic screen that stands behind the sanctuary. |
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Photo courtesy of the Office of Public Relations and Communications
Examples of the different stages of statue restoration. |
Marian Bronze Doors
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Archives Staff photo
Artist's sketchbooks of the new Marian bronze doors. The panels will depict the Marian Mysteries of the Rosary. |
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Archives Staff photo
The panels of the bronze doors are cast using a modern "lost-wax method". The artist carves these maquettes and then they are cast in rubber to make a mould. Wax is poured into the rubber mould to create a wax replica. The wax is coated in many layers of ceramic. When the ceramic is fired, the wax core melts, leaving a cavity into which molten bronze is poured. Once the bronze has solidified, the ceramic mould is chipped off. |
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Photo courtesy of the Office of Public Relations and Communications
The bronze panels will be protected with gold leaf. This is one of the final panels. The doors will take two more years to complete as shown in the sketch. |
The Roof
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Archives Staff photo
A representative from Semple Gooder Roofing shows off a sample of the new slate roof. The original slate shingles lasted 120 years before being replaced by a solid-coloured roof. The new third roof will copy the decorative pattern of the original shingles, as determined from archival photos.
Once installed, slate shingles weigh 10 lbs per square foot. |
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Archives Staff photo
In the foreground are two pieces of carved stone which are part of the vertical elements in cathedral's roofscape.
On the right is an original stone that was in good shape and needed only minor restoration. On the left is a newly hand-carved copy to replace a similar element that could not be salvaged. |
The Crypt Chapel
Bishop Michael Power spearheaded the building of the cathedral in 1845, but he died of typhoid while ministering to Irish immigrants in 1847. Though Bishop Power did not get to see St. Michael's completed, he is buried in the crypt under the church's main altar. As part of the current renovations, the basement has been excavated an additional 17 feet to accommodate a chapel. Appropriately, Bishop Power's tomb will be a central feature in the new crypt chapel.
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Photo courtesy of the Office of Public Relations and Communications
The entrance foyer to the new crypt chapel. |
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Photo courtesy of the Office of Public Relations and Communications
The tombs are protected while the crypt chapel is being constructed |
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Photo courtesy of the Office of Public Relations and Communications
The master stone carver stands beside his third-scale model of the pietà. The final statue will stand in front of the tomb of the three Loretto Sisters who are buried in the crypt. The IBVM was the first female order invited to Toronto. |
Proposed Cathedral Centre
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Photo courtesy of the Office of Public Relations and Communications
This is a concept model for a Cathedral Centre, just north of the church (photo centre). The upper floors would contain administrative offices, while the street level floors would function as multipurpose space and include a large church hall. |
For more media coverage of the Cathedral Open House:
