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Rideau Street Convent Chapel

198-224 Rideau Street (now located in the National Gallery of Canada)

Written by Bytown Museum on 03/Dec/2009

A photograph of the interior of the Rideau Street Chapel in Lowertown

By 1869, the Sisters of Charity had outgrown the Lowertown girls' school where the Sisters taught “religious instruction, intellectual development, artistic culture and practical housekeeping.” They moved to a location at Waller and Rideau and renamed the school the Convent of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

Nearly 20 years later, work on the chapel began. Architect and priest Georges Bouillon promised “one of the most beautiful chapels in the land.” The chapel was consecrated in 1888 and the school continued to thrive for decades. In 1946, enrollment sat at 900.

But in 1972, the school was demolished. Thankfully, the chapel was saved following a public outcry. The National Gallery of Canada purchased the chapel – all of the 1,123 pieces that were salvaged from the demolition. The restoration of the chapel began in 1984, and in 1988, 100 years after its original dedication, the Rideau Chapel was reopened at the Gallery. Many who visit the chapel exhibition today would agree that Bouillon kept his promise.

Did you know that Bouillon also designed the interior decoration of the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica?


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In response to Linda Duncan's post, I know just how you feel!! I miss the old Rideau Street very much!! Those were the good old days: Woolworth's and the Metropolitan store across the street, the Del-Mar restaurant, the Rideau Theatre, Caplans, Ogilvy's, etc. I always felt the downfall of Rideau Street was when the Rideau Centre opened its doors in 1983 and today in 2010, Rideau Street looks like a ghetto from Harlem.

Maurice Gravelle, Friday, August 06, 2010

Thank you for this information. I would love to see more photos. My mother attended this convent as a student. It is nice to see her school. She is still alive and remembers it well. I have a photo of her in class there. She could probably tell you who lived in all the houses in Lower Town. She lived on King Edward when beautiful trees lined the centre of the street. Another thing I miss.
I remember seeing the convent from the outside only. The Rideau theatre was down the street. How I miss the old Rideau Street with the revolving doors of Freimans and my grandmother worked at Caplans.





Thank you.

Linda

Linda Duncan, Wednesday, May 12, 2010

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Bytown Museum

Neighbourhood

From its very beginnings in 1826, Bytown (early Ottawa) was divided geographically, with Uppertown to the west of the Rideau Canal and Lowertown to the east. Lowertown, then ... read more