The St. Columbkille cathedral located in Orillia, is a stunning piece of architecture both inside and outside. Visitors have the option to park their car and walk around the cathedral or even go inside during mass times. This cathedral will provide a learning experience for both children and adults regarding one of the most popular and oldest religions in the world - Catholicism. Just being around this building provides a sense of peace and quietness, we hope visitors enjoy this hidden gem. The church is named after St. Columbkille, a saint who was sent to Scotland on missonary work in 562 AD. We hope you enjoy this marvellous gothic architecture and have a chance to visit the inside as well.
A bit of background regarding the history of the cathedral. It was built in 1855 and still holds the title of the oldest Catholic parish in Orillia. It played a major role in welcoming and taking care of Scottish and Irish immigrants who had left their countries due to famine and religious persecution. It has had numerous repairs done to the original frame as weather and time have had an impact on the original architecture. Through the course of its lifetime, it has served many catholics as a place of prayer and will continue to provide a welcoming place of refuge. There are some rumours that those who are buried in the cemetery behind the church haunt it during the night. Numerous people have mentioned that when they visit the church at night, they get an uneasy feeling as the beautiful stained glass turns into a dark portal with no seeming end.
St. Columbkille Parish is maintained by the Orillia family of churches.
Phone: 17053251033
Email: gangels@bellnet.ca
Website: https://stcolumbkillesor.archtoronto.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/St%20Columbkille%20Church/1624158871239122/
Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00.
This area is wheelchair and stroller friendly as most of the area is paved and there is even wheelchair parking available for visitors. Unfortunately, dogs are not permitted near the church as there is a cemetery behind it.
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