Holy Rosary Cathedral, built of stone in the French Gothic Revival style, opened in 1900. The cathedral will undergo needed seismic and other building upgrades. To finance the $24M project, the Archdiocese is considering selling 5 of the 12 lots that the Cathedral Complex is built on, thereby sacrificing both the Rectory built in 1935 and the Rosary Hall built in 1907 in exchange for several floors of the new development for permanent church use.
The Holy Rosary Cathedral Complex is located at 646 Richards Street at the corner of Dunsmuir Street in Vancouver’s Central Business District. The site is bound by Richards Street to the West, the Lane to the East, Dunsmuir Street to the North and is occupied by the Cathedral, Rectory, and Youth Activity Centre.
Threat
Holy Rosary Cathedral has been deemed a significant risk to human life and to receive significant damage in the event of a serious earthquake. In order to mitigate these risks, the Archdiocese will undertake a structural seismic upgrade project per the Vancouver Building Bylaw. To finance the $24M cost, the Archdiocese has proposed selling 5 of the 12 lots the Holy Rosary Cathedral Complex is built on to a developer.
Regrettably the Rectory (1934) and Rosary Hall (1907, 1937) are built on these lots and both significant heritage buildings would be demolished in order to develop the property.
Significance
Holy Rosary Cathedral, built in 1900 of Gabriola sandstone in the French Gothic Revival style, replaced the 1899 wooden church located west of the current cathedral on the site of the 1907 Roman Catholic Boys School.
The entire Holy Rosary Cathedral Complex has been designated as an A site on the Vancouver Heritage Register.
Former Catholic Boys’ School/Rosary Hall, designed by John S. Pearce in 1907
What is now known as Rosary Hall was built in two parts. The first part was built in 1907 and was designed by John S Pearce in the Italianate style of red brick as the Roman Catholic Boys School.
In 1937 an addition was added at the rear that served as a hall and gymnasium, designed by H. H. Simmonds. In 2018 the Vancouver Heritage Commission evaluated the oldest part and recommended it as a C listing on the Vancouver Heritage Register.
The Cathedral Rectory, historically known as the Archbishop’s Place, was built in 1934 and replaced the 1894 wooden rectory when Vancouver was chosen for the seat of the archbishop. Built of Gabriola sandstone, it was designed by Palmer & Bow Architects in a simplified English Collegiate style.
The Rectory, designed by Palmer & Bow in 1934
In 2018, it was evaluated by the Vancouver Heritage Commission and recommended as an A-building on the Vancouver Heritage Register.
These buildings are valued for their role in the evolution of downtown Vancouver, the establishment of the Catholic Church and the Archdiocese of Vancouver and as part of the landmark presence of the Holy Rosary Cathedral Complex.
However the Archdiocese website indicates these buildings “have no heritage importance”.
Position
Heritage Vancouver acknowledges the significant cost of seismic structural upgrading and major renovations to the historic cathedral is beyond the ability of the archdiocese alone, but at what cost?
Solutions that don’t require the demolition of the Cathedral Rectory or the 1907 Roman Catholic Boys School are needed in order to maintain the historic integrity of the Holy Rosary Cathedral Complex.
Once these important heritage buildings have been demolished, they are gone forever.
Actions
Heritage Vancouver urges parishioners and Vancouverites to contact the Archdiocese to let it know that these two heritage buildings are important to the historic integrity of the Holy Rosary Cathedral Complex, and to urge the Archdiocese to review their plans for funding in order to find a solution that doesn’t include demolition.
Updates
Resources
The Future of our cathedral
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary; Aug 29, 2019
Vancouver Heritage Commission critical of Holy Rosary Cathedral reno proposal
Naoibh O’Connor, Vancouver Courier; March 15, 2019
Holy Rosary Cathedral in downtown Vancouver pursuing office tower addition
Kenneth Chan, Daily Hive; Sept 6, 2019
Private development may fund Holy Rosary Cathedral upgrade
Agnieszka Ruck, The B.C. Catholic; Sept 16, 2019
B.C. churches find that striking deals with developers to save aging places of worship can be fraught with problems
Frances Bula, Special to the Globe and Mail; Sept 6, 2019
History of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
Architect – Bernard Cuddon Palmer (1878-1936)
Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada, 1800-1950
Designed the Cathedral Rectory in 1934 under Palmer & Bow.
Architect – John S. Pearce (1872-c1925)
Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada, 1800-1950
Designed in 1907, the Boys School on Richards Street adjacent to Holy Rosary Cathedral.
