Kingston — Capital, Harbour & Fortifications
St. George's Cathedral
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Transcript
St. George's Cathedral represents the Anglican establishment of colonial Kingston.
The congregation dates to the Loyalist era, and the present building evolved through nineteenth-century construction and expansion.
Anglican institutions were closely tied to government and elite networks in Upper Canada. That influence provoked political opposition from reformers and members of other denominations.
Kingston was never exclusively British and Anglican, however. Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Jewish and other communities built their own institutions as the city grew.
The cathedral's prominent site near the harbour and civic centre reflects the social power the church once held.
Cities often preserve religious buildings long after the political authority of the denomination changes.
The stone remains monumental. The relationship between church and state became much less so.