Holy Trinity Cathedral

On your left, you’ll see a totem-like aluminum sculpture. It blends different elements of Old Quebec and is one of several commemorative monuments spread across the city’s four heritage districts—each one telling a piece of Quebec’s story. To your right is the entrance to Holy Trinity Cathedral. This classified historic monument was the first Anglican cathedral built outside the British Isles. When the British took control of Quebec, one of their priorities was to establish the Church of England in this very Catholic region. The Upper Town was considered the ideal spot, and this grand cathedral was built in the early 1800s. For years, its bell tower was the highest point in the city. The cathedral was built beside the site of the old Récollet monastery, which burned down just a short time earlier. After the British conquest, Anglican services were held there until this cathedral was completed. Unlike the richly adorned nearby Catholic churches, this cathedral has a more restrained façade, featuring just a large pediment supported by four columns. The 19th-century renovations brought in stunning stained glass windows from England, depicting scenes from the Bible and prominent figures in the Anglican community. To this day, a carillon of eight bells, also from England, rings out from the tower of Holy Trinity Cathedral.