In 1899 interior decoration was contemplated and carried out from April 15th to July 1st, 1903 by Ozias Leduc (1864-1955), a Quebec artist, and his assistants. The free-hand wall and ceiling paintings were done in oil paint over a plaster finish. Over the central nave of the church, four of the most popular images of the Catholic faith are depicted: the Nativity, Christ as Good Shepherd, the Crucifixion, and the Ascension. Apostles and saints are depicted between the arches supporting the columns of the central nave. The stations of the cross, which were painted on canvas, are affixed to the furthermost right and left walls of the church.
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St. Ninian's Cathedral
St. Ninian's Cathedral
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On June 29th, 1867 the corner stone of the church was laid and the foundation blessed by Very Rev. Dr. John Cameron. Sylvester O'Donoghue, a native Irishmen, built the Cathedral. Originally, the architect Owen Hamill was retained to design and oversee the construction of the Church but he died prematurely in 1868. As such, St. Ninian's was completed by architect A. Levesque of Montreal.
The Church was constructed of local limestone and sandstone from the quarries at North Grant and Brierly Brook.
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County:
Province:
Property Type:
Herititage Designation:
Provincial Heritage Designation was awarded on June 24th, 2002. Saint Ninian’s Cathedral is valued for its historical association with the development of the Roman Catholic Church in Nova Scotia.
Public:
Latitude: 45.6206 Longitude: -61.9935
Documents
Title | Author | Publisher | Doc Date | Doc Comments | Doc Type | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St. Ninian's Cathedral | Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Antigonish (Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish) | Unknown | ??-??-2008 | Comprehensive history of the Cathedral. | Web Link | |
The Nova Scotia Historic Places Initiative | Province of Nova Scotia | ??-??-2007 | Magazine | |||
Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish | ??-??-2008 | Information pamphlet provided by the church. | ![]() | Document | ||
Additional Photographic Documentation | Leeann Roy | Leeann Roy | ??-??-2008 | Start menu - Pictures - Painted Rooms, St. Ninian's Cathedral, NS. This folder contains original and resized photographs of St. Ninian's Cathedral. All the photos have also been copied to a CD entitled Painted Rooms 2008 - Photo Documentation CD 4. The CD should remain in the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia office. | ||
Interior Decorative Painting in Nova Scotia | Cora Greenway | Art Gallery of Nova Scotia | ??-??-1986 | The Cathedral is listed as #37 in the catalogue. | Book | |
Architects of Nova Scotia | Maud Rosinski | Nova Scotia Department of Municipal Affairs - Heritage Section | ??-??-1994 | Book |
Building Images
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Exterior view.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 371
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Central Nave.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 372
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Central Nave - Hand painted medallions depicting scenes of Jesus Christ's life. Oil on plaster.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 373
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Detail - The Crucifixion.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 375
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Detail - The Crucifixion.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 375
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Detail - The Ascension.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 376
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Medallion above the choir - detail. The Nativity.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 377
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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The Altar.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 378
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Altar - ceiling painting. Christ in Majesty.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 379
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Central Nave - right wall. Portraits of St. Matthias and St. Thaddeus.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 380
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Central Nave - right wall. Portraits of St. Simon and St. James the Less.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 381
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Central Nave - right wall. Portraits of St. Thomas and St. Matthew.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 382
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Central Nave - right wall. Portrait of St. John the Baptist.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 383
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Central Nave - left wall. Portrait of St. Cecilia.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 384
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Central Nave - left wall. Portraits of St. Bartolomew and St. Philip.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 385
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Central Nave - left wall. Portraits of St. John and St. James the Great.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 386
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Central Nave - left wall. Portraits of St. Andrew and St. Peter.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 387
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Stations of the Cross - left wall. Christ condemned to death.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 388
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Stations of the Cross - left wall. Jesus recieves his cross.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 389
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Stations of the Cross - left wall. Jesus falls the first time.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 390
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Stations of the Cross - left wall. Jesus meets his mother.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 391
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Stations of the Cross - left wall. Simon helps Jesus to carry his cross.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 392
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Stations of the Cross - left wall. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 393
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Stations of the Cross - left wall. Jesus falls the second time.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 394
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Stations of the Cross - right wall. Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 395
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Stations of the Cross - right wall. Jesus falls the third time.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 396
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Stations of the Cross - right wall. Jesus is stripped of his garments.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 397
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Stations of the Cross - right wall. Jesus is nailed to the cross.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 398
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Stations of the Cross - right wall. Jesus dies on the cross.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 399
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Stations of the Cross - right wall. Jesus is taken down from the cross.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 400
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Stations of the Cross - right wall. Jesus is burried in the sepulchre.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 401
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Far wall - right of entrance. The Blessed Virgin. Painting was recieved as a gift from the Very Rev. Canon Walsh of New Hampshire in 1876.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 402
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy
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Far wall - right of entrance. St. Joseph. Painting was recieved as a gift from the Very Rev. Canon Walsh of New Hampshire in 1876.
Photograph by Leeann Roy (24/08/2008).
Building ID: 20
Image ID: 403
Format: IMAGE
Author: Leeann Roy