The Cathedral of St. Peter-In-Chains is the seat of the Bishop, the Mother Church of our diocese and the heart of the Catholic community in the Diocese of Peterborough. It is also a physical symbol, a beautiful and historical landmark, that stands as a witness to the importance of our Catholic faith. The Cathedral of St. Peter-In-Chains unites us all under the heavenly patronage of St. Peter, the first Apostle and the Rock upon which our Savior built His Church.
The dream of building St. Peter-In-Chains began in August of 1825/1826, nearly 200 years ago, when Peter Robinson brought a group of poor Catholic immigrants from Ireland to the promised land of Canada. Forcing their way through seemingly impenetrable virgin forests, the people claimed their 100 acres of free land in “Peterborough” to realize the dream of a new life.
Even with many still living in tents, the newcomers begged the Bishop of Upper Canada for a priest, realizing their Catholic faith was necessary if they were to survive in the wilderness. Ten years after their arrival, the men, women, and children began, stone by stone, to build St. Peter-In-Chains Church, with the first Stone Church completed in 1838.
In 1882, the first Bishop of the new Diocese of Peterborough, Jean-Francois Jamot, raised St. Peter-In-Chains to be his Cathedral, the Mother Church of the Catholic faithful. In 1931, the people rebuilt the structure, effectively doubling the size of the Cathedral. In 2025/2026, we will celebrate the bicentennial of our faith heritage within the original stone walls of St. Peter-In-Chains.
