St. Paul's Cathedral reopens with a bold transformation and a message for London

Travis Dolynny · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 19, 2025 4:00 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 19

After astir 2 centuries arsenic a spiritual anchor successful downtown London, Ont., St. Paul's Cathedral is stepping into a caller role.

The historical religion at 472 Richmond St. is reopening its doors pursuing a large interior renovation that reimagines the abstraction arsenic some ineffable and civic.

At an unveiling connected Thursday morning, religion leaders, metropolis officials and Londoners gathered to spot the pews person been removed, flexible seating has been added, and a large handcrafted labyrinth present spans the centre of the cathedral floor.

"It's spectacular. Beyond what I expected," said Kevin George, the Dean of Huron and rector of St. Paul's, successful an interrogation connected CBC London Morning. "This isn't conscionable a religion anymore. It's a abstraction for everyone."

The eight-metre-wide wood-inlaid labyrinth is made of much than 6,500 pieces of wood, including walnut from artisan Jason Vivash's ain farm. In the centre, a woody mosaic depicts earthy imagery similar wheat, grapes and a river, each created utilizing unstained wood of varying tones.

Labyrinths person been utilized arsenic meditation tools for thousands of years, said George. He often walks the caller 1 himself, reciting a mantra from Julian of Norwich, "All shall beryllium well, and each shall beryllium well, and each mode of happening shall beryllium well."

The $1.9 cardinal reconfiguration allows the cathedral to service caller functions. When it is not being utilized for worship, the 8,000-square-foot abstraction tin present big concerts, creation exhibits, conferences and assemblage gatherings.

"Our Sunday congregation is astir 120 people, but we had seating for 700. People were excessively dispersed retired to spot oregon perceive each other," George said. "Now we tin worship together, and we tin besides invited the wider community."

The cathedral has besides introduced a caller artist-in-residence program, opening with section creator Catherine Morrisey. Acclaimed instrumentalist Laurence Williams has been named euphony manager and played a song at Thursday's unveiling.

Church leaders accidental the abstraction volition beryllium unfastened to the nationalist Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone is invited to locomotion the labyrinth oregon beryllium softly successful the sanctuary.

"If you're moving successful the downtown halfway and request a break, travel implicit connected your lunch. The doors volition beryllium open," George said.

LISTEN: London's oldest religion reveals bold transformation

While churches crossed Canada look declining attendance, George believes the renovation is already having an impact.

"We're seeing much radical scope out," helium said. "People are looking for ways to reconnect with their spirit. We privation to beryllium a spot wherever that tin happen."

The cathedral volition big a large Anglican nationalist gathering aboriginal this month, but George said the wide connection remains local.

"We've ever said we're the religion astatine the bosom of the city," helium said. "Now we privation to amusement that we person the metropolis astatine our heart."