HISTORY

Circular pattern with segments, resembling a wheel or a game board with intricate designs and empty spaces.

On Christmas Eve in 1855,

the first Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. About 3,000 people stood on the packed earth floor and held their candles aloft. The very existence of this stone edifice was a sacred sign to the people who stood there. Today, hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are linked to the early days of this church.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was built by artisans, workers, volunteers and ordinary people of the City of Saint John, including nearly 30,000 refugees fleeing the famine in Ireland. It has been a beacon of hope and comfort since 1855 and continues to be a thriving and sacred place of worship sharing God’s love in the heart of the city.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a designated local historic place for its historical and religious association with early Irish Catholic immigrants to Saint John and for its architecture.

The Cathedral has architectural value as a major work of Saint John architect Matthew Stead (1808-1880). The Cathedral is an excellent example of a place of worship in the Gothic Revival style that serves as a city landmark. Built on a cruciform plan, it features English Gothic style massing, elements and ornamental detail. The interior of the church includes arcading between the nave and side aisles with a niched statuary, a clerestory above, a Cassavant organ consisting of some 3,000 pipes, 14 magnificent stained-glass windows, richly carved woodwork furniture in the sanctuary and an ornate Virgin's Chapel in the north of the main altar.

Commemorative and liturgical furniture and ornamentation dating from the full range of the history of the diocese also adorn the interior. With its 230-foot spire it remains one of the highest points on Saint John's skyline. To this day, it continues to be a beacon for many in our city and province.

An old black and white illustration of a large Gothic-style church with a tall steeple, surrounded by Victorian-style buildings and a street with people walking and horse-drawn carriages.

TIMELINE

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Construction starts on St. Malachy's Church, the first Roman Catholic Church in Saint John.

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Nearly 30,000 Irish refugees are delivered to the shores of Saint John, more than doubling the population of the city.

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Initial plans instituted by Bishop William Dollard for the construction of a new cathedral.

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Bishop Connolly arrives in Saint John, building a place of worship, schools, and an orphanage run by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. He also founds the Sisters of Charity under Honoria Conway and helps the Irish community gain acceptance. He announces plans for a cathedral on land purchased from Hazen and Hammond.

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Plans for the Cathedral are prepared by Charles F. Anderson in New York during the winter of 1852-1853. Contract for excavation work is awarded to William Smith.

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Cornerstone laid in May, and by November the walls are up, and the roof laid.

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Mass is celebrated for the first time in the new Cathedral by Bishop Connolly, with 3,000 in attendance. There are no pews, no lights, no heat.

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Bishop Connolly appointed Archbishop of Halifax.

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The Rt. Rev. Dr. John Sweeny is appointed Bishop of Saint John. He completes the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, secures religious orders, and establishes educational and charitable institutions, including orphanages, a school, a home for the elderly, and a college. He also expands the diocese with new parishes and missions, tripling the number of priests from 1860 to 1895.

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The chapel, chancel, and entrances are completed, and the adjacent Bishop's Palace is built.

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The spire is erected on the Cathedral reaching 230 feet, or 300 feet above sea level, the highest point in the city. The Cathedral's interior is 200 feet long, with transepts at 116 feet and the nave at 80 feet.

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The consecration of the Cathedral takes place, and the main structure is completed.

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The Cathedral's 100th anniversary is celebrated. On March 23, Bishop Alfred B. Leverman reconsecrated the original altar, first consecrated on July 16, 1885. Relics of St. Martin, St. Andrew, St. Barnabas, and St. Ambrose were placed in the new altar stone.

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Major renovations take place: stonework was sandblasted and weatherproofed, interior repainted, heating system rezoned, archway of chapel enclosed, original stained-glass windows re-leaded, and sanctuary renovated.

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The 100th anniversary of the consecration of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception celebrated.

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Upper tower internal concrete structure and partial steel frame are installed.

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Cathedral celebrates 170th year of consecration (July 16) and the first Mass (December 24) in the context of the Jubilee Year, Pilgrims of Hope.

Black and white photo of a densely packed town with numerous houses and a prominent church with a tall steeple in the background.

Cathedral among the rooftops cira 1860

Historical black-and-white photograph of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Waterloo Street in Saint John, showing a large church building with tall towers and a steeple, with three people standing in front of a low wall.
Historical black-and-white photo showing a large historic building with a crowd of people gathered outside, some in line, and vintage cars parked nearby.

Bishop’s Palace

A black and white historical photograph of a large gathering of people outside a church, with Victorian-style buildings in the background. Many individuals are holding umbrellas, and there is floral decoration in the shape of a large heart or bow.

Consecration Ceremony at Cathedral 1885

A line of women dressed in white dresses with dark accents, holding crosses and fans, standing on a city sidewalk next to a fence and street, with cars parked nearby, black and white photograph from the early 20th century.

May 21, 1938

A large metallic cross sculpture attached to a wall with scaffolding around it, with shadows cast on the wall, and a person wearing a cap pointing towards it.

Placing the Cross Atop the Spire 1962

  • Black and white photograph of a large congregation holding lit candles inside a church or cathedral, with high ceilings and stained glass windows in the background.
  • Group of women and girls in scouting uniforms, some holding American flags, standing in front of a church steps, celebrating a Girl Scout event.
  • Black and white photograph of a church altar with clergy and altar servers, featuring a crucifix and ornate wooden backdrop.
  • A black and white photo of a church interior filled with people attending a service, with an ornate altar at the front and high vaulted ceilings.