Location Wikwemikong Denomination Roman Catholic Founder(s) Society of Jesus Opened 25 July 1852 Phone +1 705-859-3259 Groundbreaking 31 July 1849 | Country Canada Founded 1838 Events Interior burnt in 1954 Province Ontario Dedication Feast of the Cross | |
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Address 2525 Wikwemikong Way, Wikwemikong, ON P0P 2J0, Canada Diocese Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario Similar St Andrew's Church - T, St Patrick's Church - Halifax, Anishinabe Spiritual Centre, Camp Ekon, Manresa Jesuit Spiritual | ||
Holy Cross Church is a Roman Catholic Parish church in the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve, north-eastern Manitoulin island. It was originally built in 1852. It has been served by the Society of Jesus since 1845. It is situated to the north of Wikwemikong on Wikwemikong Way, next to the Giizhigaanang Community Centre. A large residence was built next to the church. After a fire in 1854, the residence burnt down, but the external walls remain, and are used in the summer by the De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre Group to host theatrical productions.
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Foundation
The first known European person to go to Manitoulin Island was a Jesuit priest, Fr. Joseph Poncet. He arrived in 1648. No one followed to sustain a European presence on the island. After the War of 1812, the Odawa, Ojibwe and Potawatomi tribes moved to the island. Further First Nation people also moved to the island after the Treaty of Washington in 1836. In 1838, a Roman Catholic priest, Fr. Jean-Baptiste Proulx, was asked to come to the island to serve the local Catholic population. In 1845, he left and the Jesuits continued in his place. They built a school, a residence, a sawmill and an agricultural training centre for the local people.
Construction
In 1848, plans were made to build a permanent church structure. One of the Jesuits there, Fr. Nicholas Point, was an architect and designed the church. The foundation stone of the church was laid on 31 July 1849. It was built using limestone bricks. The builders were local people. Construction finished nearly three years later and the church was opened on 25 July 1852. In 1899, the church steeple was built.
Rebuilding
In 1954, both the church and the residence next to it were damaged by a fire. The church interior was burnt, and was rebuilt. The residence was more severely damaged. The building had to be abandoned. The interior was demolished, leaving only the exterior walls.
Mission ruins
Since 1994, the ruins of the residence next to the church have been used by the De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre Group. Every summer, between July and August, the theatre group use the empty space enclosed by the external walls as a venue to show theatrical productions. The first one was The Manitoulin Incident written by Alanis King. During the Good Friday Mass, the theatre group stage a production of the Passion of Christ for the parish community in the Holy Cross Mission Church.
Parish
The church has one Sunday morning Mass at 11:00am.