3 Best Churches in Halifax

“Saint Mary's Cathedral Basilica holds a great historical and liturgical connection to the Church of Halifax. The church was built using wood at the initial stage, and a stone structure was placed in it by 1820. Over time, the church underwent expansion and alteration, reaching its present size beginning in 1869. The Gothic canopy above the tabernacle and the polychrome spire were part of the high altar from 1865-1965. St. Mary's Basilica also features Norman and Germanic design elements. In December 1917, the church suffered heavy damage, including shattered stained glass windows, during the Halifax Explosion. St. Mary's Basilica is an architectural masterpiece designated the Nationa Historic Site of Canada in 1997. St. Mary's Cathedral holds a tremendous historical and liturgical connection to the Church of Halifax.”

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“St. Paul's Anglican Church was founded by the proclamation of King George II in 1749, and the building was erected in the summer of 1750. The architectural plans were based on St. Peter's Church, Vere Street. Despite additions such as St. Paul's vestibule and steeple in 1812, side wings in 1868, and the chancel in 1872, the resemblance between the two churches remains remarkable. Most materials, including the bricks used to line the walls, were sourced locally. After over two and a half centuries, the original wooden structure stands as solid as the day it was built. For more than 12,000 Sundays, worshippers have gathered here to celebrate Christ's death and resurrection, to read God's word and hear it preached from the pulpit, and to offer humble thanks for His goodness.”

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“Saint Benedict Parish began serving the community in 1760 in a small chapel, initially ministering to a small group of Acadians and Mi'kmaq people. By that time, Catholics were not allowed to worship within Halifax's city limits, so many would attend mass at the chapel. Saint Benedict Parish aims to form disciples who joyfully live out the mission of Jesus Christ. The first mass was celebrated around 1771. By 1989, the Archdiocese designated the land for a new church. By 2006, Fr. Bernie O'Neill was responsible for building a community and erecting a building to serve. Saint Benedict church's stained glass windows and St. Joseph's statue were brought from Mount Saint Vincent Motherhouse. Saint Benedict Parish mural panels were made with the ashes of burnt palms from the three parishes.”

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