| Architect: Edward McCoskrie
Contractor:
The church supervised
the construction and acted as general contractor,
awarding work to local builders, craftsmen and day
labour.
Original
cost: $17,000 -
$18,000
Construction materials:
Sandstone from Joe
Butlin’s Elbow River quarry.
Historical highlights:
- Following a meeting in January 1887 with Father
Lacombe and Calgary parishioners, the decision
was made to erect a new stone church to meet the
needs of the growing congregation.
- Money for the construction was raised by
subscription. The Oblate Fathers contributed the
land and $1,000. Sir Donald Smith, who later
became Lord Strathcona gave $300.00 Other large
donations were made by George Prince, Lord Mount
Stephen and Mr. Angus of the Canadian Pacific
Railway.
- By March 1887 all the sandstone for the project
had been hauled from Butlin’s quarry across
the frozen Elbow River to the 18th
Avenue S.W. site.
- In December 1887 Father Leduc wrote, "this
church will measure 120 feet by 50 feet wide and
with a transept of 70 feet surmounted by a superb
cupola. The façade will be surmounted by two
towers and a magnificent statue of the Blessed
Virgin, 18 or 20 feet high, above the front
entrance. The foundations of the triple nave were
laid last fall."
- After the first course of masonry was laid in
1887, all work halted until 1889.
- On the 25th of May 1889, the $12,000
contract for the completion of the church was
awarded. The masonry contract was given to Mr.
Hunt and carpentry to Mr. Comb. Father Bowes of
the Oblate Missionaries was appointed project
manager.
- The cornerstone bearing the inscription
"1889 O.M.I" was laid on June 9, 1889
(the Feast of Pentecost) by Bishop Grandin who
blessed the stone and the foundations of the
church, dedicated to Mary Immaculate. The Mounted
Police Band provided music for the event.
- Electric lights were installed on Friday December
6, 1889, and two days later the church, not quite
complete, was officially dedicated. "The
celebration was really magnificent. Father Leduc
sang the High Mass, assisted by Father Leclerc,
visiting here from Montreal."
- Brother Bowes O.M.I. and Brother Brochurt O.M.I
spent the next two years finishing the interior,
building confessionals, the communion rail,
porches for the front and the sacristy doors. The
statue of the Immaculate Conception was put in
place at the front of the church on March 31,
1890. The ceiling was finished October 1892. By
June 28, 1894, the main altar was completed. The
cupolas over the towers were added in 1901, and
on September 20, 1903, "five bells were
installed and blessed which had been cast in
Annecy, France, by the Paccard Foundry."
- St. Mary’s became a Cathedral church by
decree of Pope Pius X after the Calgary Diocese
was formed on November 30, 1912.
- The church remained unchanged until 1913 when
Bishop McNally rearranged the sanctuary and a
sacristy.
- Demolition of the 1889 structure began in July
1955, in preparation for the construction of the
present day St. Mary’s Cathedral designed by
prominent city architect Maxwell Bates.
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