Synod Commons explores Cathedral’s future
Archbishop David Edwards was the speaker at the Jan. 20 Synod Commons episode. The topic was the same one on the minds and hearts of many Anglicans in the diocese — the future of Christ Church Cathedral, given its heavy restoration requirements, and the April 18 special session of synod to discuss it.
About 40 people — clergy and laity — tuned in to the online presentation, a recording of which can be found on the Diocesan Synod You Tube channel (nb.anglican.ca/events/the-synod-commons).
The Archbishop began with some history of the Cathedral, and the Diocese’s first bishop, John Medley, who arrived in Fredericton in June 1845 to lead the new diocese.
By October that year, the cornerstone for Christ Church Cathedral had been laid. It opened in August 1853, making it 173 years old this year.
It is obvious from Medley’s booklet “Elementary Remarks on Church Architecture, 1841” that he took design very seriously.
“He viewed church architecture as a science,” said David.
At one point he was in the Parish of Kingston, consecrating a church in Long Reach, and had this to say:
‘You need to decide if you’re building a barn or a church. And this is a barn.’
SIGNIFICANCE
David outlined the purpose of a cathedral. It is where the bishop’s chair is located; it is the mother church of the diocese; and it is an example of liturgical excellence for the diocese.
“The Cathedral is a National Historic Site,” said David. “It is the first truly neo-gothic building in North America… It’s the first of its kind, and it’s where all neo-gothic buildings in North America get their neo-gothic-ness from. That’s an important component to this.”
INFORMATION SO FAR
Heritage Standing Inc. did a survey of the Cathedral in 2018-19 to study the state of the building and the cost of restoration. The figure was $10 million. Recently, an update has revealed a new price: $23.5 million, which is in 2030 dollars, and includes extra costs like HST, engineering oversight and a $6 million endowment fund so it can be maintained.
“When I saw the $23.5 million, I was shocked. It is a big number,” said David.
Source Alliance, a New Brunswick fundraising firm, did a study on how to move forward financially, and proposed three options:
1. The status quo: keep the building functioning until it’s no longer safe.
2. Try to raise restoration money from Anglicans.
3. Developing a long-term vision for the Cathedral. In particular, this would include forming a foundation that would take ownership of the building in order to access government money not normally available to religious organizations. The congregation would still worship there.
In meetings in 2023 and 2024, the Cathedral congregation discussed these options and reluctantly determined the third option to be the best way forward.
“A charitable foundation has been formed to take ownership of the building, but it’s not been enacted yet because we’re now in a position where we have a better idea of what’s possible.
“We know what the congregation said, but we now need this wider consultation,” said David, referring to the special session of Diocesan Synod in April to discuss the matter.
One other issue has been settled, that being ownership of the Green between the river and Brunswick Street, and roughly from the cenotaph to the walking bridge.
“The Cathedral and the greenspace to the river are confirmed as being under the ownership of the Bishop of Fredericton,” said David.
IMMEDIATE NEXT STEPS
“We have to take into account the views of the congregation,” said David, adding the Cathedral has a much wider role that that of a parish church.
Consultations will take place, in the form of Greater Chapter meetings, throughout March.
“Normally Greater Chapter meetings are restricted to synod delegates — clergy, laity, alternates — and a few other people,” said David. “But these are open to all Anglicans.”
The April 18 special synod is being held to debate the issue and give the archbishop advice.
“A motion for debate will be crafted, based on the Greater Chapter meetings, and open for debate at Diocesan Synod,” he said.
The reason for the estimate’s 2030 date is, if option three were selected, “that foundation is sitting there in order that something can happen pretty straight away,” said David. “But being able to put shovels in the ground is at least three years from that decision.”
Q & A
Archbishop David took questions from the online audience. The Rev. Chris Ketch noted his belief that a lot of Anglicans in the diocese don’t have a sense of what the Cathedral is, and trying to reach them with relevant information might be difficult.
Canon Chris VanBuskirk asked about the nature of the proposed restoration.
David gave a list of the main issues: the 1911 roof, clerestory windows, the stained-glass tracing, electrical, and the millions of dollars needed for scaffolding.
The Rev. Christopher Tapera asked about the pros and cons of a foundation. The pro is access to funding; the con is a cathedral that is no longer the property of the Diocese of Fredericton or the Bishop of Fredericton.
Christopher noted that enacting a foundation might be setting a precedent for parishes to follow the same route.
“They’d still need the permission of the bishop and Synod to do that,” said David.
David Reevey of Rothesay asked about fundraising $23.5 million.
“The initial step would be to employ professional fundraisers,” said David. “They know the best ways to do this.”
Canon Albert Snelgrove asked about the bishop’s chair and if it could be relocated.
“Yes, I guess. What that would do is make that building the cathedral,” said David. “The reason the cathedral is the cathedral is because it has the cathedra — the bishop’s chair. To a degree, the bishop could do that, place it in any consecrated building.”
Susan Jack had the final question: what if the foundation cannot raise enough money?
“There is an exit strategy,” said David. “We could take the cathedral property back. If we decided we didn’t want it, it would be offered to the City of Fredericton. If the City didn’t want it, the foundation would put a “for sale” sign on it.”
The foundation’s membership, at this early stage, includes the Bishop of Fredericton, Secretary of Synod, Treasurer of Synod, the chancellor and a city councillor. Different members would be added, including representation from the Cathedral.
More information on the special session of Diocesan Synod, on April 18, including background documents, can be found at anglican.nb.ca/synod2026
A reminder: All Anglicans are invited and encouraged to attend their local Greater Chapter meeting.
Chatham - March 24 @ 6:00 pm, St. George's, Bathurst
Fredericton - March 11 @ 6:30 pm, Cathedral Memorial Hall
Kingston and the Kennebecasis - March 26 @ 7:00 pm, St. Paul's, Hampton
Moncton - March 19 @ 7:00 pm, St. John the Baptist, Riverview
Saint John - March 12 @ 6:00 pm, Church of the Good Shepherd, Manawagonish Rd.
St. Andrews - March 18, time and location tba
Woodstock - March 10 @ 5:00 pm, St Luke, Woodstock
Photo credit: Photos by Thomas Gonder.