August 2018 - Montreal QC
The original St. George's Church opened on June 30, 1843, and was on Notre-Dame Street (then Saint Joseph Street) and Saint David's Lane, just outside the city of Montreal's walls. It was the second Anglican congregation in Montreal and was built to accommodate the overflow of parishioners from Christ Church Cathedral.
The congregation of St. George's continued to grow as the city expanded to the west. A plot of land at the corner of Peel Street and De la Gauchetière Street was chosen as the site of the current church. This piece of land had been a Jewish cemetery from 1775 to 1854. St. George's was designed by Montreal architect William Tutin Thomas, constructed in 1869, and opened its doors on October 9, 1870. The only furnishing retained from the old church was the pulpit. The old church would serve as a factory for organ-maker Samuel Russell Warren.
The church serves as an example of English Gothic Revival architecture, and was very heavily inspired by 13th-century religious architecture in medieval England. A few of these features include the use of pointed arches and pinnacles
The exterior was constructed in carved sandstone with stained glass windows.
The three-light congregational war memorial window by Charles William Kelsey depicts angels holding shields representing the Navy, Army, and Air Force. Below the Army panel is written "He will swallow up death in victory and the Lord God will wipe away all tears from all faces, Isaiah 25:8." Below the Air Force Panel is written "Out of weakness made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens, Hebrews II:34". Below the Navy Panel is written "They that go down to the sea in ships, these see the works of the Lord and His wonders of the deep, Psalm 107:23".
...Jackie, it's big and beautiful with lots of details and a wealth of history.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very beautiful church
ReplyDeleteAn exquisitely beautiful church. The stained glass particularly.
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