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Nova Scotia Halifax Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica 
The church’s original facade was a simple three pointed arch doorways, with pointed arch windows above, with a projected central bay. The flat-topped tower was terminated with a parapet and pinnacles on the 4 corners. A major expansion of the church reflecting the growing confidence and importance of the Diocese was undertaken between 1860 and 1874 when it reached its present size. The work was carried out according to the design of Patrick Keely who introduced the Gothic Revival façade and spire. Besides the Gothic features, the spire also includes Norman and Germanic design elements. Within the steeple are a set of eleven bells which were installed in 1879, ranging in weight from 200 pounds to 1200 pounds The interior changes included a new apse, and the removal of the side galleries which it had originally and the opening of the aisles to the roof. The vaults were ribbed, and the style of the columns was changed. Consecrated on 19 October 1899. St. Mary's, was named a Basilica in 1950, by Pope Pius XII. and was one of the first Roman Catholic cathedrals in Canada. Today the Basilica is the seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop in Halifax. It was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1997 because of its central role in the religious history of Nova Scotia; and its association with individuals and events that played a central role in the emancipation of Roman Catholics in the province and in Canada. The church was heavily damaged in the Halifax Explosion of 6 December 1917, when an ammunition ship exploded following a collision with another ship in Boston harbour. This resulted in all buildings within a half-mile radius of the harbour being destroyed and significantly affecting many others. All of the stained-glass windows of St Mary’s were shattered in the blast, and tiny pieces of glass were embedded in the walls. In addition to being peppered by the glass shards, the paintings on the walls suffered water damage when water entered the church through the broken windows. The building today presents an impressive triple portal and tall central spire placed above and behind the central gable, which make it one of the city’s outstanding landmarks. The façade and spire are built of granite with stone obtained locally. Although the three portals have a jamb shaft of pink Aberdeen granite. The spire has a height of 189 feet (58 m) the tallest granite spire in North America.  The design of the façade's wall also includes six polished granite columns with ionic capitals, engaged columns, pilasters, buttresses, plinths, and a number of carvings. Typical of Gothic Revival style, the centre gable is separated from and larger than the other gables. Each gable contains one large pointed window with multiple decorative panes around a circular design. Most of the windows and doors, both on the façade and other walls, are deeply recessed and feature pointed or arched heads. In 2015-2016 new red oak doors were installed in the façade. The central door being the Holy Door for the Year of Mercy in 2015-2016. On entry, a number of aspects attract attention.  One of the notable things is the elaborate ceiling with its ribbed vaults and the decorative stone carving on the bosses. This gives the impression of the hull of a ship and was created by Nova Scotian shipwrights who were the most skilled and experienced carpenters.  Walking up the Nave and glancing around shows the entrance portals.  Other features that attract attention are the stained-glass windows which depict a combination of Old and New Testament scenes.  The current windows, which replaced those shattered in the Halifax Explosion of 1917 as mentioned above, were created by Franz Mayer & Co., these are Munich-style windows in which the leaded seams are camouflaged in the design so as not to detract from the scene.   At the far end of the nave is the apse and the altar. Behind the altar are five murals which recently underwent restoration.  These murals are finely layered oil paintings of Mary of the Ascension in the centre, flanked by two angels on either side. Although over 100 years old, it wasn’t until the 1950s that the paintings re-emerged from behind a coat of white paint which covered the wall.  The Casavant Freres pipe organ was installed in1960 and was dedicated to parishioners who served in World War II. 
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All Photographs were taken by and are copyright of Ron Gatepain
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