One of the features of Canadian cultural development is that until 1784 there was a strict official ban on the spread of the beliefs of Catholicism in certain areas of the country. In some cases, a violation of this rule may result in a criminal penalty rather than just a fine. This law was repealed only at the beginning of the 19th century. Since then, beautiful Catholic churches have been built in Canada. One of them is still preserved. This is St. Mary's Basilica.

This basilica was built with the help of Irish Catholic funds. They bought land on the corner of Spring Garden Road and Barrington Street, hired an architect, and began the construction. The work was done quickly enough. And in 1829, less than 6 years after the work began, the first service was held in the church.

In 1843, the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared next to the cathedral. It wasn't an accident. The number of parishioners grew, so the church was rebuilt to accommodate everyone. And the last architect, Joseph Conolly, who rebuilt the cathedral in the neo-Gothic style, believed that the complex would look unfinished without a chapel.

In 1917, the beautiful building was damaged by an explosion: the French military was carrying explosives, which exploded right next to the temple. But thanks to donations, the restoration of the building took very little time.

Today, St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica belongs to the National Historic Sites of Canada. It is loved by residents and tourists, as it is both decoration of Halifax and a symbol of the victory of common sense: everyone can choose any faith, not the one that is appointed by the state authority. After all, St. Mary's Basilica was one of the first Catholic churches built in Canada after the ban was lifted.