Excerpt from
www.stgeorgescathedral.ca:
The present St. George’s building dates from 1825. It was a simple stone church with a steeple in front. It was designed by Thomas Rogers, the first practising architect in Kingston. Galleries were built on three sides of the nave (the main portion of the church, where the parishioners sit) on the inside of the church. The building was enlarged beginning in 1839. The steeple was replaced because it was too weak to support the swinging of the heavy bell. The present King Street portico and bell tower, including a stone narthex (lobby) to support it, were completed in 1846. The narthex contains three circular rooms. The centre one gave access to the nave while those on the sides contained stairs to the galleries. The portico design features large Roman Doric columns and Georgian doors. St. George’s may be the earliest Canadian church to have a stone portico. The bell tower is octagonal at the bottom, round in the middle with Corinthian colonettes and octagonal again above that. The upper octagonal portion has four clock faces. The top of the tower is a ribbed dome. William Coverdale designed this addition. St. George’s became the Cathedral of the new diocese of Ontario in 1862. A bishop’s chair (cathedra in Latin) was consequently placed near the altar. Work to enlarge the Cathedral was done in 1891-94. In general, the design reflects the influence of St. Paul’s in London and of Holy Trinity in Québec City. Joseph Power, the son of John Power, designed the addition that included the transepts with galleries and a Sanctuary that included space for the choir. From the air, the transepts give the Cathedral the shape of a cross. The addition also included the organ loft, Lady Chapel and Stuart Room.
