Update: St Jude's Cathedral, Iqaluit
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 08:00AM A Project in Progress
By Debra Gill, Diocese of the Arctic
Resting in the Eastern Arctic and hidden from most Canadian eyes was an architectural jewel: the Anglican Cathedral of St. Jude’s in Iqaluit, Nunavut, designed in 1967 by Ron Thom, the famous Canadian architect best known for his designs of the University of Toronto Massey College and Trent University Library.
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Interior. Image by FSC Architects & EngineersThe cathedral was built in 1972 by volunteers under the leadership of Markosie Peter and could seat 250 people. Often, at a special service or event there would be standing room only! The interior of the cathedral was a show piece of the Inuit culture. Beautiful hand sewn tapestries from the missions of Igloolik, Puvirnituq, Inukjuak, Kugluktuk, Baker Lake and Arviat, flanked the Chancel, qamutiks with their runners served as communion rails and wooden beams ascended from the floor to the lantern capping the dome. Sadly, the cathedral met its demise on November 5, 2005, when it was set afire by an arsonist. Due to structural damage, the building had to be demolished. Since that fateful night, the Diocese of the Arctic and the community of Iqaluit have been diligently striving to rebuild its full glory.
The Anglican Church has always been an integral part of the community in Iqaluit. Since 1972, St. Jude’s has been a centre for worship, community fellowship and gatherings. Outreach to the community plays an important role in the ministry of St. Jude’s. With limited resources available within the city, people often turn to the church for assistance to get them through their crisis.
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Proposed Floor plan. Click image for larger view. Image by FSC Architects & EngineersFSC Architects and Engineers have created a bold and visionary plan for the new cathedral. The design for the replacement of St. Jude’s retains the best elements of the original while bringing the building up to modern standards. The concept of the curved interior capped by a beautiful skylight was kept. The wooden beams that had been covered with an inch of charcoal after the fire have been taken and refinished for use as curved benches around the perimeter of the new cathedral. Many of the original features will be reinstated into the new design which includes a Narwhal cross that will be mounted on a zinc backdrop. The backdrop will improve the acoustics, as well as highlight the cross. A new feature of undulating waves, clouds or snowdrifts was added to the interior design to improve acoustics. The new dome is 30 meters in diameter and stands almost 25 metres, or 80 feet tall from the ground to the tip of the cross. The new cathedral will have seating for 375 people in chairs and 56 people in the new curved benches. Should the congregation expand, the design accommodates for a future balcony. It will also house a Sunday School room, choir room, nursery, sacristy and offices. The previous cathedral never had washrooms or running water and the children always had to meet in the parish hall (a separate building) for Sunday School. This radiant new structure, which mimics the natural environment, will host more outreach programs and community gatherings and will be a spiritual home for all Anglicans across the Diocese of the Arctic.
Thermosyphons. Photo by FSC Architects & EngineersAlthough tied to Thom’s original concept of a vaulted igloo, the new St. Jude’s Cathedral is using a very old, local building technique in a novel way to achieve the shape. It is using building blocks that are slightly curved so when fitted together, the building will resemble an igloo. The blocks are designed by Canadian Wooden Domes from Vancouver. The wooden blocks are all on the construction site awaiting assembly. Thermosyphons pierce the ground as sentinels waiting to guard the new Cathedral. These thermosyphons will keep the permafrost frozen to stabilize the building structure. Nunavut Construction Company of Iqaluit is providing construction management services to see this project through.
The cathedral is being constructed as the funds are raised. The arson and eventual demolition of St. Jude’s Cathedral has left deep impressions on Anglicans and others across Canada and they have whole-heartedly responded to our national fund -raising campaign. The costs of doing business in the Arctic are extremely high. When 2 litres of 2% milk cost $8.99, a 2 kg bag flour costs $14.50 and a case of 24 Coca-Cola costs $24.00 by the time it gets to Iqaluit – just imagine what the shipping costs are for lumber and other building materials! The people want desperately to use the building as it grows,
but construction liability issues prevent that. Instead, they are forced to meet in the parish hall which is too small for their needs.
Canadian wooden domes. Photo by FSC Architects & EngineersWe are finally in a position to assemble the blocks and construct the dome and main entrance area. This will be covered with a layer of plywood and tarps to protect it against winter weather. Should an additional $250,000 be raised prior to June 15, 2009, we will order materials to complete the roofing of the facility.
For three years now, the landscape where the cathedral once stood is strangely quiet. There are no bells ringing on Sunday mornings to summon people to church and the cross that once stood high on top of the cathedral no longer shines out as a welcoming beacon during the long, dark hours of winter. We
need your help to “Re-kindle a Northern Light”.
If your heart resonates with the people of the Arctic and you wish to support the rebuilding of St. Jude’s Cathedral, you can make a donation to The Diocese of the Arctic, PO Box 190, Yellowknife, NT X1A 2N2. The Diocese of the Arctic is a registered charity (BN 13040-2019-RR0002). Tax receipts will be issued for donations.
Reader Comments (1)
As what I have read, this Cathedral is really made with hard work of all the volunteers. I think this is made out of love. Really nice.