The Church Of Our Lady

John Galt founded Guelph on April 23rd 1897. He picked the highest spot in the center of town and gave it to his friend whose name was Bishop Alexander MacDonnell because he gave John Galt some good advice. A road was later cleared leading up to the hill and it was named MacDonnell Street. According to the Guelph public library archives John Galt wrote the following statement in the deed transferring the land on which the church would one day stand: “On this hill would one day rise a church to rival St Peters in Rome.”

The Roman Catholic church of our lady is the third church to stand on this site over looking the town. The first church, a framed wooden church named St Patrick’s had been built on the hill by 1835 and was the first structure in Guelph to be painted on the inside as well as the outside. It burned to the ground on October 10th 1844. Construction on St Bartholomew’s church began shortly after St Patrick’s was destroyed. The new building was completed in 1846.

Construction of the new church began in 1877 under Irish-Canadian architect Joseph Connolly who had designed many churches in Ireland, England and Ontario, notably the St Peters Basilica in London Ontario. Built of local limestone in Gothic revival style, the church of Our Lady is considered to be Connelly’s master piece. Mathew Bell a well-known Guelph artisan, was responsible for some of the carvings on the exterior as well as on the inside pillars of the church. In fact, he died in 1883 as a result of his injuries in a fall while working on the building.

In 1888, almost twelve years after construction commenced, the church was dedicated to The Church of Our Lady. The twin towers, which rise to a height of two hundred feet, were not completed until November 13th 1926. In 1958 a new entrance was from McDonnell street was constructed, but aside from this the out side of the church has changed very little since 1926. The complete building of the church took more then 50 years, probably qualifying it as the longest construction project in the city’s history.

When I first saw the church I was in awe of it. When I read about The church of our Lady and the rich history that it has it was just incredible. I’m so glad I chose to do this piece for the blog I hope you enjoy reading it.