Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Saint John

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception has a rich history and architectural grandeur that has made it a prominent landmark in the city. The responsibility of completing the construction of the cathedral fell upon Bishop J. Sweeney, the third Bishop of New Brunswick, who held this position from 1861 to 1865. The cathedral's spire, reaching an impressive height of 230 feet to the top of the cross, was erected in 1871. This elevation places it at around 300 feet above sea level, making it one of the highest points in the city.

The interior dimensions of the cathedral are equally remarkable, with a length of 200 feet, a width of 116 feet at the transepts, and 80 feet in the nave. The cathedral is adorned with a set of chimes installed in 1885, consisting of ten bells, with the largest weighing approximately 3,000 pounds. This chime was originally crafted as part of a larger set for the World's Industrial and Centennial Cotton Exposition at New Orleans in 1884, where it received a gold medal. Manufactured by the McShane Bell Foundry in Baltimore, Maryland, the chime is in the scale of D major, featuring a flat seventh bell that allows for musical versatility in two different keys.

The cathedral's organ, built by Casavant Frères of Saint Hyacinthe, Quebec, in 1952, is one of the largest in Saint John. It comprises a three-manual console controlling four divisions: Great, Swell, Choir, and Pedal. With around 3,000 pipes, ranging from 16 feet to less than one inch in size, the organ adds a majestic musical presence to the cathedral.

Within the cathedral's interior, a life-size image of the crucified Saviour graces the space over the altar. Additionally, a Gothic shrine hosts a statue of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the Patroness of the cathedral, creating a spiritually significant focal point offsetting a pulpit of similar design on the opposite pillar.