New spire, bells mark end of Christ Church Cathedral's 20-year renovation

After completing 20 years of renovations, Christ Church Cathedral is unveiling its new look.

More than $20 million has been donated over the years to build a new roof, seismically upgrade the building and expand the kitchen.

But one of the most significant upgrades was the addition of four bronze bells encased in a stained glass spire. 

Peter Elliott, the dean of Christ Church Cathedral, said he hopes the bells, which were cast in Annecy, France, will become a part of Vancouver life.

"It's very emotional. There's something about bells in the air that evokes all kinds of feelings of significance, of sadness or sometimes of joy and celebration," he said.

Elliott said he also hopes the bells will be used to mark significant days for people of all faiths. 

"We're also talking to our interfaith neighbours, for example they could ring out at the beginning of Ramadan, Diwali, Roshashana or other religious celebrations to show we're a peaceful city and we respect each other," he said. 

The light on the hill 

The bells are housed in the cathedral's new stained glass and steel spire, which is best viewed from Hornby and West Georgia Streets.

"Its going to be interesting, there hasn't been a bell spire at the corner of Burrard and Georgia in downtown Vancouver until just Thursday night, so we'll see how people respond," Elliott said.

Elliott added that the cathedral has long been a significant Vancouver landmark. 

"Before all the skyscrapers went up downtown, Christ Church was the tallest structure and mariners coming into Coal Harbour used to navigate ... by lining up with Christ Church as their navigation point. They called it the light on the hill." 

Built in 1894, the building at Burrard and Georgia Streets is the oldest surviving church building in Vancouver. 

With files from Deborah Goble