CATHEDRAL OF QUEBEC.

New Zealand Tablet, 8 May 1919, Page 28

CATHEDRAL OF QUEBEC.

One of the most famous Catholic edifices in North America is the Cathedral of Quebec, where Mass was first celebrated 268 years ago on Christmas Eve, 1650. Since then the church has been practically rebuilt, although the foundations and part of the walls are still in existence. Since that Christmas Eve of 1650 the doors of the Cathedral have never been closed, with the exception of a brief period in 1759 when the building was partly wrecked by bombs and flames. The work of rearing the celebrated religious edifice was begun in 1645, the wealthy people of Quebec having contributed 1250 beaver skins for that purpose, which were sold. The corner stone was laid by Governor Montgomery and Father Lellepont, the Superior of the Jesuits, and a brother of the famous missionary who was killed by the Indians. A part of the building was completed in time for the Christmas Eve Mass of 1650, hut it was not until nearly seven years later that the edifice was formally opened. The Cathedral is one of the finest, architecturally, in North America, and can accommodate 4000 people.