The original St. Dunstan’s church was a beautiful church with blue canopied ceiling golden stars, representing the Canopy of Heaven. In 1843, Bishop Turgeon of Quebec gave an oil painting of the Crucifixion, which hung over the altar in the old church.
Since there were no lights in the church at this time, services were only conducted during the day, except for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, when members of the congregation brought their own candles, which were kept lit during the mass.
In 1850, a fire broke out and almost 18 acres of the city were destroyed. Over 300 buildings were destroyed by the fire. In the area between Carleton and St. John Streets, and from Queen to Brunswick Streets, only the St, Dunstan’s Church and the bishop’s residence survived. It is said by older city residents that the parishioners of St. Dunstan’s church covered the roof with themselves, in order that their church would be saved.
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