Restoration and Revelations at Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver BC

Modernizing a religious monument that is more than 100 years old is a complex issue that invariably raises uncomfortable questions. Renovations and restorations of church buildings are an opportunity to reveal what has been hidden beneath years of accumulated layers. In 2003, Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver performed a $9.7 million renovation and restoration, one of the most ambitious projects of its kind in Canada for a religious monument. This paper will discuss what was materially and metaphorically revealed as the layers of age were stripped away as well as the changes made during renovation.