The Nave and Altar

The pulpit, originally much higher, was located at the end of the central aisle, where it partially blocked the view of the altar. This location proclaimed the primacy of the divine word, in keeping with Protestant worship as practiced in English churches after the Reformation. At the time, it was more important to hear the sermon and Bible reading than to see the Holy Communion ceremony.

In the beginning there were no altar at the cathedral. The pulpit, originally much taller than this, stood at the front of the centre aisle partly blocking
the view of the altar.  The Oxford and Cambridge ecclesiologist movement in the 1830’s had repercussion here, from a more protestant service, it evolved thought time into a service closer to the Roman Catholic one. They emphasized the Catholic heritage of Anglicanism, advocating for a return to more traditional rituals, vestments, and sacraments.

The cathedral houses a remarkable collection of altar frontals, all restored in 2001 by parishioners under the supervision of the Quebec Conservation Centre. The most famous, a gift from King George III in 1761, is now too delicate for use. Traditionally, Westminster Abbey's coronation draperies were repurposed into altar frontals for key Anglican sites, as seen in the blue and gold fabric from George VI’s coronation, a portion of which is displayed here. Another notable piece is a white, blue, and gold frontal crafted by the Sisters of Saint John the Divine in Toronto, gifted in 1904 for the cathedral’s centennial.

If you look up you can see all the precision of the details of the ceiling. You may notice God's name in Hebrew, prominently displayed above the sanctuary, may come as a surprise, but it's also found in many Christian churches, including Saint-Martin-in-the-Fields. The inscription harks back to the origins of Christianity and the Ancient Testament.

This monument is in memory of The Very Reverend Jacob Mountain, S.T.P., first Bishop of Quebec City and founder of the Anglican Church in Canada. A devoted prelate who served faithfully for 33 years, he passed away in 1825 at the age of 75. His unwavering dedication to divine duty and steadfast faith remain an enduring legacy.

Made in 1825

Right here you can see the Bishop’s cathedra. It’s associated with the memory of a great tree that once grew on the grounds of the Cathedral. This tree was so ancient that it was believed, according to the oral tradition, that Samuel de Champlain, the founder of Quebec, had smoked the peace pipe with the native peoples under its branches. This is what I was referring to in my introduction when I was taking a spiritual place since the begging of the colony, and probably before with the indigenous people. The tree was partially blown away by a storm in 1845 and again the next year. It was finally taken down, and some of the wood was used to make the bishop’s cathedra. 

The cathedral uniquely houses a Catholic Archbishop's seat, a reminder of evolving Anglican-Catholic relations during British colonial Quebec and its 200-year-old relationship. Rededicated in 2016 to honor the friendship between Cardinal Lacroix and Bishop Drainville, the seat symbolizes ecumenical dialogue. Reserved for formal events, it reflects historical customs of honoring diverse religious leaders. Today, it stands as a powerful emblem of reconciliation and unity, showcasing the ongoing collaborative spirit between the Anglican and Catholic churches in Quebec.

If you look on the floor in the right in the middle of the nave you will see a brass plaque saying Charles Lennox, Duke of Richmond. The reason why he has a plaque in the chancel is because he’s buried just below, next to Jacob Mountain, that’s why his bust is also there. Charles Lennox, you can also see his monument up there behind the royal pew, was a Governor General of Canada. During a hunting trip, he was bitten by a rabid fox and subsequently died of rabies. Since he was the first Governor General to die in the colony, he was buried right under the altar.