Gravelbourg Ecclesiastical Buildings

The Gravelbourg Ecclesiastical Buildings are a National Historic Site of Canada consisting of a cathedral (Our Lady of Assumption Co-Cathedral), bishop's residence, and convent.[1]

Gravelbourg Ecclesiastical Buildings
Map
General information
Architectural styleClassical Revival
Town or cityGravelbourg, Saskatchewan
CountryCanada
Coordinates49°52′20.6″N 106°33′26.3″W / 49.872389°N 106.557306°W / 49.872389; -106.557306
Construction started1917
Completed1919 (additions in 1927)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Joseph-Ernest Fortin
Official nameGravelbourg Ecclesiastical Buildings
Designated1995

History

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The buildings were constructed by Joseph-Ernest Fortin, an architect from Montreal. The convent and bishop's residence were constructed in 1917 and 1918, respectively, with the cathedral itself constructed between 1918 and 1919. Later additions were made to the convent in 1927.[2] Gravelbourg was founded by Louis-Pierre Gravel on behalf of the Catholic Church in order to encourage French settlement in Saskatchewan.[3] Its position as the centre of Franco-Saskatchewanian settlement led to the establishment of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gravelbourg in 1930. Despite the suppression of the diocese in 1998, the cathedral's significance is reflected in its status as co-cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Regina.[4]

The buildings were designated a National History Site of Canada in 1995 due to its significance in the history of French Canadian colonization.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Gravelbourg Ecclesiastical Buildings. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  2. ^ "Gravelbourg Ecclesiastical Buildings National Historic Site of Canada". Parks Canada Directory of Federal Heritage Designations. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  3. ^ Hamilton, Beckey (2006). Francophone settlement in the Gravelbourg Block Settlement and Francophone and Metis Settlement in the Willow Bunch Block Settlement in southwestern Saskatchewan, 1870--1926 (PDF) (Thesis). University of Regina. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Diocese of Gravelbourg". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved 15 July 2021.