Welcome

“I never weary of great churches. It is my favorite kind of mountain scenery. Mankind was never so happily inspired as when it made a cathedral.” Robert Louis Stevenson

To step into All Saints Cathedral is indeed to experience scenery that its rather plain grey stone exterior belies.  Soaring arches highlighted in deep reds and gold rise toward the vaulted ceiling nearly seven stories in height!  The sights and sounds of the busy city of Halifax, which has grown up around All Saints over the past 100 years, are hushed in the vast expanse bathed in the soft colors of the striking stained-glass windows, and warmed by the intricate oak carvings.

As the cathedral church for the Anglican Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, All Saints is the gathering place for liturgical events which draw and unite people from across two provinces for Synods, Ordinations and other celebrations. 

Located in the midst of Halifax’s university, hospital, and cultural centers, and just steps from the busy Spring Garden Road shopping district, our cathedral also serves as a venue for a number of educational institutions, government, arts and community groups, such as Symphony Nova Scotia, CBC productions, Scotia Festival of Music, various choirs and theatre events, the University of King’s College and The Atlantic School of Theology.

We are also a very active and engaged parish community of some 300 families who support, and are advocates for, a number of critical city outreach programs. Our Sunday worship reflects the breadth of Anglican tradition, from a spoken BCP to a full choral Eucharist accompanied by the voices of our talented choirs and the largest pipe organ in the Maritimes.  Weekday services and our open doors provide a respite for those seeking spiritual refreshment, refuge, and inspiration.

Building

An architectural jewel, the cathedral is one of the finest examples of perpendicular gothic style in Canada. To appreciate the cathedral’s beauty, one only has to see its great east window commemorating the sacrifice of the men and women of the Diocese who gave their lives in World War I or the Bicentenary window marking the 200th anniversary of the arrival of our first bishop, Charles Inglis.

Notable features include the intricate wood carvings of Robert “mousie” Thompson in the sanctuary, the chancel and the signature pulpit. Altogether these carvings took 30 years to complete and are the only example of Thompson’s work in Canada. Equally notable is the cathedral’s 5,000 pipe organ, the second largest in the Maritimes.

View the woodwork page to see more photos of the intricate carvings.

While the building is indeed an architectural masterpiece, cost-saving decisions about building materials made during its construction have had long-term implications for its maintenance. The extensive maintenance program undertaken by the cathedral congregation has strengthened the basic structure. In fact, according to a recent engineering report, the building has been deemed sound and considered worthy of continuous restoration and refurbishing.

Click on the link to view the detailed interior layout of the cathedral in the pdf file.

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