Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral
-minor basilica
of Notre-Dame de Québec (Our Lady of Quebec City), located at 20, rue de Buade, Quebec City
, Quebec
, is the primate
church of Canada
and seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec
, the oldest see in the New World north of Mexico.
It is also the parish church of the oldest parish in North America, and the first church in North America
to be elevated to the rank of minor basilica
by Pope Pius IX
in 1874. It is a National Historic Site of Canada, and located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site
of Historic District of Old Québec
.
A previous iteration of the church was destroyed during the Siege of Quebec in 1759. It was rebuilt from plans by Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry
draughted in 1743. The belltower, however, was designed by Jean Baillairgé, who also oversaw construction.
The interior was designed by Jean Baillairgé and his son François from 1786–1822. In 1843, François' son, Thomas, suggested a reconstruction of the façade to resemble the church of Sainte-Geneviève in Paris
, resulting in the finest Neo-classic façade in Québec
. The cathedral was richly decorated with impressive works of art: baldaquin, canopy, episcopal throne dais, stained glass
windows, paintings, and chancel lamp (a gift of Louis XIV
).
In 1922 the church was again gutted by fire, only to be restored by architects Maxime Roisin and Raoul Chenevert.
Raoul Chenevert (architect) added a presbytery beside the Cathedral, 1931-32
Four governors of New France
and the bishops of Quebec are buried in the crypt, including François de Laval
, Quebec's first bishop
.
Notre-Dame Roman Catholic Cathedral was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1989 because:
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
-minor basilica
Minor basilica
Minor basilica is a title given to some Roman Catholic churches. By canon law no Catholic church can be honoured with the title of basilica unless by apostolic grant or from immemorial custom....
of Notre-Dame de Québec (Our Lady of Quebec City), located at 20, rue de Buade, Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, is the primate
Primate (religion)
Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
church of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec
The Archdiocese of Québec is the oldest Catholic see in the New World north of Mexico. The archdiocese was founded as the Apostolic Vicariate of New France in 1658 and was elevated to a Diocese in 1674 and an Archdiocese in 1819...
, the oldest see in the New World north of Mexico.
It is also the parish church of the oldest parish in North America, and the first church in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
to be elevated to the rank of minor basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
by Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
in 1874. It is a National Historic Site of Canada, and located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
of Historic District of Old Québec
Old Quebec
Old Quebec is a historic neighbourhood of Quebec City, the capital of the province of Quebec in Canada. Comprising the Upper Town and Lower Town , the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
.
History
Located on this site since 1647, the Cathedral has twice been destroyed by fire throughout the centuries.A previous iteration of the church was destroyed during the Siege of Quebec in 1759. It was rebuilt from plans by Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry
Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry
Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry was a seigneur, military engineer and political figure in Lower Canada...
draughted in 1743. The belltower, however, was designed by Jean Baillairgé, who also oversaw construction.
The interior was designed by Jean Baillairgé and his son François from 1786–1822. In 1843, François' son, Thomas, suggested a reconstruction of the façade to resemble the church of Sainte-Geneviève in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, resulting in the finest Neo-classic façade in Québec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The cathedral was richly decorated with impressive works of art: baldaquin, canopy, episcopal throne dais, stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows, paintings, and chancel lamp (a gift of Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
).
In 1922 the church was again gutted by fire, only to be restored by architects Maxime Roisin and Raoul Chenevert.
Raoul Chenevert (architect) added a presbytery beside the Cathedral, 1931-32
Four governors of New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
and the bishops of Quebec are buried in the crypt, including François de Laval
François de Laval
This article is in part a sermon and generally comes close to hagiography.Blessed François-Xavier de Montmorency-Laval was the first Roman Catholic bishop of Quebec and was one of the most influential men of his day. He was appointed when he was 36 years old by Pope Alexander VII. He was a member...
, Quebec's first bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
.
Notre-Dame Roman Catholic Cathedral was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1989 because: