St. Michael's Cathedral, Catholic cathedral in Garden District, Toronto, Canada
St. Michael's Cathedral is a Gothic Revival church of light tan brick at 65 Bond Street in Toronto, designed by William Thomas and built from 1845 to 1848. Its west front has a central tower rising 79 metres to a pointed spire, with a large pointed-arch window above the main entrance and a red double door with black iron hinges in the lower section to the right. The interior is divided into a nave and two tall aisles.
Construction began on 7 April 1845, when townspeople dug the foundation by hand in return for a barbecue; Bishop Power laid the cornerstone on 8 May 1845, sealing inside it fragments of a pillar and roof oak from York Minster in England. The cathedral was dedicated on 29 August 1848 and consecrated on 29 September 1848. The 79-metre tower and spire were completed by Gundry & Langley in 1865–1867, and on 29 September 2016 the church was elevated to a minor basilica.
The structure sits downtown and is easily accessible by public transit or walking from the city center. Visitors can admire the exterior facade at any time, and the doors are typically open to the public most days.
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