St. Mary’s Cathedral 🇨🇦

You will find St. Mary's Cathedral, officially named The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Calgary, Alberta. Serving as the seat of the Diocese of Calgary, this historic Roman Catholic sanctuary sits in an area originally known as the Mission District near the Elbow River. While the original 1889 sandstone church was demolished in 1955, the current building was completed in 1957.

Designed by architects Maxwell Bates and Alfred Hodges, the cathedral features a brick structure with sandstone accents built in the Gothic Revival style. Remarkably, it boasts a unique St. Anthony's Cross floor plan shaped like a T, setting it apart from standard Latin cross churches. As you approach the main entrance, look up to admire an impressive 16-foot stone statue of the Virgin Mary with Child sculpted by Luke Lindoe.

Inside, you can appreciate the gorgeous stained glass commissioned from Franz Mayer & Co. of Munich, along with a hand-carved oak pulpit depicting Christ and four major prophets. You will also see bronze sanctuary items crafted in Dublin. Furthermore, you can discover four historic 750-pound bells cast in France, preserved from the original building.

What to see at St. Mary's Cathedral

• Gothic Revival architecture crafted from brick with sandstone accents
• Unique St. Anthony's Cross (T-shaped) floor plan layout
• A 16-foot entrance statue of the Virgin Mary with Child by Luke Lindoe
• Stained glass artwork crafted by Franz Mayer & Co. of Munich
• Hand-carved oak pulpit portraying Christ and four major prophets

Visiting tips

Take time to admire the four 750-pound French-cast bells, which are the sole remaining elements preserved from the original building.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Daytime

How to get there & what’s nearby

St. Mary's Cathedral is easy to reach on Calgary’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Calgary Zoo and Glenbow Museum. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Calgary travel guide.