Christ the King Cathedral

Even though the first Catholic colony in Canada appeared only in 1608 thanks to the famous French colonist Samuel de Champlain, who arrived with his mission in Quebec, the modern Catholic Church has the largest number of adherents. More than seven thousand priests hold mass daily in Catholic churches throughout Canada. Besides, the main shrine, Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, is considered a true masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. However, the spread of Catholicism in Canada was not that easy. Anti-Catholic riots repeatedly broke out: temples were destroyed and devastated, church relics and sacred artworks were desecrated. Two religious buildings erected in the city of Gaspe (Gaspé) in the middle of the 19th century suffered the same fate. These were simple small chapels for modest religious services that burned down during the violent fire in the early 20th century.

Bishop Jean-Marie Fortier invited the famous architect Gerard Notebaert to build a modern Catholic shrine in Gaspe. Later in 1969, Christ the King Cathedral was consecrated by another bishop, legendary Gilles Ouellet. Since then it has been the main city shrine and the most visited tourist attraction as well.

Today, Christ the King is the only wooden cathedral all over North America. In 2001, the unique temple was declared a historic monument by the Ministry of Culture and Communications in Quebec. The modest interior complements its mere appearance. The decorations of the cathedral only include the wood-trimmed ceiling and walls, long solid benches and a crucifix, since nothing should distract believers from prayer and communication with God. Only the stage upholstered in red cloth solemnly stands out attracting parishioners’ attention to clerics during the mass.