St. Catherine's Chapel (Massey College)
Chapel Royal in Toronto, Canada
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The Chapel Royal at Massey College (Ojibwe: Gi-Chi-Twaa Gimaa Nini Mississauga Anishinaabek AName Amik, lit. ''The King's Anishinaabek Sacred Place''), also known as St. Catherine's Chapel, is the chapel of Massey College, a graduate residential college at the University of Toronto on its St. George campus.
| St. Catherine's Chapel | |
|---|---|
Arms of the Chapel Royal at Massey College | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Interfaith[1] |
Designation | Chapel Royal |
| Location | |
| Location | Massey College |
| Municipality | Toronto, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
 Interactive map of St. Catherine's Chapel | |
| Coordinates | 43°39′52″N 79°23′51″W |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | Tanya Moiseiwitsch |
| Founder | Vincent Massey |
| Established | 1963 |
Founded in 1963, it was made the third Chapel Royal in Canada by Queen Elizabeth II in 2017. It is the first ecumenical and interfaith worship space to be given the designation.
History
When Vincent Massey, 18th Governor of General of Canada, founded Massey College in 1963, he insisted that the college have a chapel.[2] The master plan and buildings of the college were designed by Ronald Thom, but the design of the chapel was entrusted to Tanya Moiseiwitsch, stage designer for the Stratford Festival. Moiseiwitsch's designs were inspired by a 19th-century Russian chapel. In 2005-2006, the firm of Shim-Sutcliffe carried out a renovation of the chapel, adding a white oak ceiling. The chapel features white oak furniture designed by David Linley, son of Princess Margaret.[2]
The chapel features art from various Canadian and Indigenous artists such as Sarah Hall, as well as various 16th and 17th century Russian Orthodox icons.[2]
Chapel Royal
On National Indigenous Peoples Day (21 June) 2017, Queen Elizabeth II made St. Catherine's Chapel the third Chapel Royal in Canada in recognition of Canada's sesquicentennial and the relationship between Massey College and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. In Canada, chapels royal are associated with First Nations. The other two, the Mohawk Chapel in Brantford and Christ Church Royal Chapel located on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, are associated with the Mohawk people, making this the first associated with the Anishinaabe.[3][1][4][5]
The chapel was given the Anishinaabemowin name Gi-Chi-Twaa Gimaa Kwe Mississauga Anishinaabek Aname Gamik (The Queen's Anishinaabek Sacred Place), since 8 September 2023, it has been known as Gi-Chi-Twaa Gimaa Nini Mississauga Anishinaabek AName Amik (The King's Anishinaabek Sacred Place).[3][6]