The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is located at the eastern end of the Brian Lara Promenade. It is one of the oldest churches in Trinidad and Tobago’s history. The church’s first location was in Tamarind Square. It was created in 1781 during the Spanish colonial era, constructed simply of wood and clay with a shingled roof and could only hold a maximum of 500 parishioners.
After a great fire which occurred in Port of Spain in 1808 the then Governor Sir Ralph Woodford directed British architect Philip Reinagle to rebuild the church as a cathedral in his great plan of reconstructing and expanding the city. The foundation stone for the Cathedral was laid on March 25th 1816. Construction of the Cathedral was finally completed in 1851. In that same year it was consecrated by the first Archbishop of Port of Spain, Reverend Patrick Smith.
The Cathedral was built in the shape of the Latin Cross. The northern and southern transepts were designed as chapels of Our Blessed Lady and St. Joseph respectively. The walls were made of limestone quarried from the Laventille Hills which were nearby. Originally the bell towers were also made of limestone but earthquake tremors of 1825 caused this to be damaged thereby making the limestone be replaced by wood.
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was given the status of a Minor Basilica in 1857 as decreed by Pope Pius IX. Thus the church was given special privileges and making it the principal church of the diocese.
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Read moreA cenotaph is a monument erected in memory of one who is deceased and whose remains lie elsewhere. The cenotaph is located on the northern wall in the northern transept known as the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. It is in memory of the late Archbishop Patrick Flood who was the fifth archbishop of the Archdiocese. Characteristics of this cenotaph include an upper body depiction of the late Flood in traditional wear surrounded by saints. At the bottom of this are engravings of his names, career highlights and his burial place written in Latin.
The crypt at the Immaculate Conception situated below the floor of the sacristy hosts the remains of more than fifteen Catholic clergy as well as some recent Bishops and Archbishops of the early 21st century. The first church leader entombed in the crypt is the first Bishop, Reverend James Buckley whose funeral was held at the Cathedral in year .Seen below are a few of the tomb plaques of church leaders in the crypt.
The ambo or pulpit perched high along one of the pillars in the nave is made of mahogany and adorned with gold leaf and low relief sculptural designs. Many priests had preached their sermons to packed congregations at this location from the early decades of the 20th century.
In the 1830s, church leaders ordered the installation of twelve bells in the two towers located in front of the Cathedral. Later, a Florentine marble altar was laid in the sanctuary in 1859 as well as a three dial-clock to its western front in 1879. There was a Communion rail in front of the sanctuary in 1889.
The liturgical changes of 1967 resulted in the change of the positions of the High altar and the communion rails in the Catholic Cathedral. They were moved to the side in the area presently called the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
A cenotaph is a monument erected in memory of one who is deceased and whose remains lie elsewhere. The cenotaph is located on the northern wall in the northern transept known as the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. It is in memory of the late Archbishop Patrick Flood who was the fifth archbishop of the Archdiocese. Characteristics of this cenotaph include an upper body depiction of the late Flood in traditional wear surrounded by saints. At the bottom of this are engravings of his names, career highlights and his burial place written in Latin.
A major interior renovation of the Cathedral took place from 1981 to 1983 under the leadership of Fr. Garfield Rochard with assistance of various sources including critical support of Professor Courtenay. He purchased and donated organs, the fifteen stained glass windows, the baptismal font and the Stations of the Cross seen in the Cathedral. All were made in Ireland and installed in the Cathedral in 1982.
The pair of stained glass designs of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Port of Spain above shows on left the design of the Coat of Arms of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain and the right window depicts the logo of the Apostolic Pro-Nuncio of Trinidad and Tobago. The Coat of Arms shows a shield with three blue hills which represent the three hills of the Holy Trinity. The Star above represents Virgin Mary, to whom the Cathedral is dedicated. According to Fr. Garfield Rochard, the Green hat at the top of the shield symbolises the Archbishop’s Hat and at its sides of which are the tassels of the twelve apostles. The Latin word Maria Spes means Mary Our Hope. (Sourced from 100 years of Catholic News (1892-1992). Port of Spain: Catholic Centre Printing Services Ltd, 1992; Father Garfield Rochard, Interview by author, 30 August 2010, Maraval, tape recording, Assumption Parish Office, Maraval and Fr. Anthony’s De Verteuil Temples in Trinidad).
The Holy Spirit is represented by a white dove of the Eucharist seen in the right design
with powerful images of tongues of fire.
Later grand ecclesiastical ceremonies include the ordination of the first local Diocesan clergy on the 1st November, 1953 whic attracted a large congregation. They were Fr. Fred Patience, Fr. Herman Peachier and Fr. John Mendes who later became a Bishop. He died in 2005 and was entombed at the Cathedral.