PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

33

The Churches of Charlottetown.

Roman Catholic.

W

One of the first buildings to arrest the attention of the tourist on his arrival at Charlottetown is the Roman Cathedral, situated in close proximity to the public garden.

In the spring of 1896 work was commenced on the construction of a magnificent new cathedral which is estimated to cost about one hun— dred thousand dollars when com- pleted. The old building was re- moved from its former site in order to make room for the new struct- ure, and now serves for a Pro-cath- edral. The edifice now in the course of construction is the third Catholic church to occupy this site. The first church was built here about the beginning of the present century, while the diocese of Charlottetown was still under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the bishop of Que- bec.

The building of the second church—of which an illustration is given on this page—which is now about to give way to the new edifice, was commenced in the year 1843, the corner stone being laid in that year by the Right Rev. Bishop B. D. Macdonald, the second bishop of Charlottetown. This church possessed many striking features of the style of architecture in which it was constructed.

The cathedral now in course of construction promises to be a mag- nificent specimen of Gothic archi-

THE OLD CATHEDRAL

tecture. It is being built of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick free stone. It measures 200 feet in length, and in breadth it is 90 feet in the nave, and 120 feet in the transept. The two towers when completed will rise to the height of 200 feet, while over the centre of the transept will be placed a campanile 60 feet high. The capitals on the exterior of the building are ornamented by some very ar- tistic specimens of Gothic sculpture, each one having its own symbolical signification. Over the three portals of the main entrance are represented in sculptured forms the Four Evangelists, and also the symbolical representations of "Religion” and "Justice". When completed it bids fair to be one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Canada. The Right Reverend Charles McDonald is the present Lord Bishop of Char-

lottetown.