St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica, located in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, is the mother Church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth. On the site of a little wooden chapel built in 1784, the cornerstone of St. Mary’s Cathedral was laid in 1820. It opened to the public in 1829, was consecrated October 19, 1899, and declared a minor Basilica in 1950.
This Gothic Revival Catholic Cathedral is home to a museum, which hosts relics of many saints, including a chasuble worn by Saint Pope John Paul II when he visited Halifax in 1984.
Come and see the beautiful German made stained glass windows – restored after the Halifax Explosion – the Casavant Frères pipe organ, and the exquisite murals – newly restored in 2020 – which form a backdrop to the altar.
St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica is a must-see for visitors to Halifax. Tours of the Cathedral are available in July and August.
