Historic cathedral in Fredericton faces repair bill over $23 million

The Christ Church Cathedral in Fredericton as pictured from outside. (Courtesy of Gisele McKnight)

On Saturday morning, over 200 Anglican representatives from across New Brunswick gathered at Christ Church Cathedral in Fredericton.

They were there to discuss one issue, the future of the nearly 175-year-old cathedral against an estimated $23.5 million bill for repairs.

The cost includes an endowment fund of $5 to 6 million for future upkeep and has considered inflation to the year 2030.

Some of the most pressing repair issues are the roof, clerestory windows, strained glass, masonry, and scaffolding rental.

“It is a beloved structure, and the cityscape would be very different without it,” Archbishop David Edwards writes in a February newsletter.

Located at 150 Church St., the Christ Church Cathedral is a national historic site. It was consecrated on Aug. 31, 1853, pre-dating Confederation.

Parks Canada writes it’s “one of the best and earliest examples of Gothic Revival in Canada.”

Fredericton even received the legal status of ‘city’ in 1848 in anticipation it would be home to the cathedral.

In the years that have passed, the structure has fallen into disrepair.

“A constant cycle of freezing and thawing temperatures, plus two fires – in 1911 and 2006 – have taken their toll,” reads a news release from The Anglican Diocesan Synod of Fredericton on Tuesday.

Archbishop Edwards says they need to develop a short-term plan to address the very costly but immediate roofing and structural needs at the national historic site.

The group has expressed they want to keep the church, rather than relinquishing ownership to a secular foundation, a step that could involve deconsecration.

Heritage Standing Inc. (HSI) prepared a projected cost report for the cathedral’s repairs in 2022 and provided an update this year to account for inflation.

They had to consider that the project might not start for five years and will likely take multiple years to complete.

“The effects of progressive deterioration and rapidly increasing costs for conservation repairs are increasing costs much faster than general inflation,” the HSI report reads.

“It is feasible they increase even faster.”

The archbishop echoes this, pointing to the impact of U.S. tariffs on building costs in his newsletter.

The structural engineering firm says it’s best to do repairs now, and if not now as soon as they can effectively be arranged.

“Which is to say, plan now to start work in two to four years,” the report says.

“There is a big gap between where we are today and what was expressed about the future. That is fine because, as with all things, we have to walk by faith,” says Archbishop Edwards.

“That does not mean waiting for God to drop dollars from the sky. It means pushing ahead practically whilst listening to God’s voice.”

No official fundraising has begun yet, but diocesan communications officer Gisele McKnight says she believes that is about to change soon.

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