PART TWO The chapel is still owned by the Anglican Church of Canada. The interior, like the exterior, has remained essentially unaltered in 94 years. As a result it remains one of the best examples of early church architecture that this city has. The few changes that have been made are in complete harmony with the rest of the chapel. The Algoma Missionary News in 1939, recorded that a new "altar with beautiful hangings, the altar rails, the handsome panelling around the walls of the sanctuary, and the new hardwood floor, have been given by friends of the late Miss Batterell." These have been the only major changes except for the installation of electricity and a furnace. The hardwood floor has also been tiled. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION In 1883 the "Algoma Missionary News and Shingwauk journal" described the Bishop Fauquier Memorial Chapel as "something very unique." The description is even more applicable today, as the school it was once meant to be part of, has been destroyed. The construction of a new road just outside its door has removed the chapel from its remote setting facing the building, to become part of the contemporary street-scape. Also, the unique combination of architectural elements has left us with a chapel that is quite unique in Ontario, maybe even in Canada. The chapel sits on the edge of the Algoma College grounds, very close to the street. Queen Street runs in an east-west direction while the chapel is turned at a north/east - south/west angle that creates an odd tension between the two. The front facade as a result is turned towards the street, and the effect of this tension is to heighten the visual presence of the building. Surrounded by trees on the otherwise treeless lawn of the college, the Memorial Chapel is one of the most picturesque buildings in the city. The chapel is built of red sandstone that is said to have been obtained from the neighbouring fields. The stone composition consists of randomly placed uncut fieldstone and mortar. The chapel is designed in an odd combination of Gothic and Tudor styles, where the walls are divided into squares and triangles by wooden beams built directly into the wall. The stonework on all sides are built in this way. The chapel has a projecting vestibule on the main west facade with a step gable roof. The east wall has three bays while the west main entrance has only one. The side walls have three lancet windows, one in each bay, decorated with double lancet tracery and stained glass. The main chapel is also topped by a high gable roof with three gable-type dormers on each side. On the peak of the roof is a small amount of iron cresting and a small open belfry with a small four-sided spire. At the east end of the south wall is a projecting side entrance to the vestry. It is topped by a gable roof, the gable ends facing the same direction as the main roof. On the north wall at the west end is a small stone shed-like structure with an entrance to the basement. The roof is very low and does not come up above the main floor level of the church. The main entrance to the church consists of a pointed arch doorway. The architrave around the door is plain wood, as is the arch. There is no stone decoration. The walkway up to the door is quite interesting. From the sidewalk several steps descend a small ridge, to a short sidewalk below. This sidewalk and the steps curve slightly towards the main steps of the chapel. From this low sidewalk you must then climb six steps to the main entrance. Above the pointed arch of the doorway the black wooden beams form a triangle in which is written "Bishop Fauquier (1883) Memorial Chapel". Also attached to the wall are two small lanterns. On the south side of this projection is a small lancet window filled with diamond shaped panes of glass. This is the only window. The gable roof has projecting box cornice eaves and the wooden beams in the wall form a plain frieze. At the gable end of the main wall is a large round window filled with wooden tracery and stained glass. The tracery consists of three "trefoil windows". The wall is topped by the same type of projecting eaves. The north wall of the chapel has three bays with a lancet window in each bay. These windows tend towards the south end as the altar end of the church has no windows and the space where another window might have been, has been filled with stone. The black wooden beams highlight each window surrounding it with various triangle shapes. The windows have double lancet tracery. The outer windows are composed of small diamond shaped panes of glass with small rectangular panes around the edges. Each pane of glass is decorated with a small cross. The inner windows are stained glass. Between the second and third bay is a projecting stone chimney. It has a single stack and once it rises above the roof it is built of brick. On the roof, above each bay is a small dormer with a gable roof. The gable face is painted white and has a round window in each one. The window has a multi-foil stained glass decoration. This means that the window looks something like a five petal flower. The eaves of each dormer project and are the boxed corniced type. At the peak of each roof is a small turned wooden finial that drops over the face of the gable end. The east, or altar wall of the church has three window bays. The central bay has a large gothic stained glass window above the altar. It has thin double lancet tracery but it is not as pronounced as in the side windows. The architrave around the window is plain wood and there is no stone decoration. On each side of the altar window are two large stone buttresses that extend about three quarters of the way up the wall. To each side of the buttresses, well below the level of the main altar window, is a small stained glass lancet window with plain wooden architrave. The south wall of the chapel is decorated in the same manner as the north wall with three lancet windows and gable dormers in each bay. On the east side of this wall is the projecting vestry and the small side entrance. The doorway is on the west side of this section, facing in the same direction as the main entrance, and is approached by two or three stone steps. The doorway is a tall thin gothic arch. The door is made of light coloured wood and has three panels. It is surrounded by a plain wooden architrave. On the south side is a small lancet window in the same design as the others. It is the only window on this section. The vestry is topped by a gable roof with box cornice eaves. It does not extend all the way back on the east wall. The high gable roof has asphalt tiles and has boxed cornice eaves. Originally there was iron cresting extending all along the peak of the roof but most of this has been removed; only two small iron crosses at each end of the chapel remain. The small open belfry consists of four turned wooden posts supporting a four sided spire. Each post rests on its own square base projecting from the roof. There is a small bell in the belfry. The interior of the chapel is superb and it would not be underestimating its value to say that almost every square inch should be protected by the city. Upon entering the vestibule, there is a beautiful stained glass lancet window on the right side. Immediately in front is a large gothic arched doorway with a large oak door. The door has heavy iron hinges, a large iron latch, and an iron ring for a handle. The vestibule itself is oak panelled. Once inside the chapel it would appear that the description of the interior written in 1883, upon the chapel's opening, had been written yesterday. The chapel interior consists of three sections; the pews for the congregation are on one level. A single step up leads to the choir stalls, then another two steps lead into the sanctuary. The first thing that strikes your eye, is the same that struck those when the chapel first opened, "the front three arches dividing the nave from the chancel". The large centre gothic arch is supported on large wooden compound piers, or clumps of pillars, painted white. There are two smaller piers attached to each wall. There is a smaller gothic arch over each side aisle. Arched braces support the roof elements that cross, forming the arch, about three feet below the peak of the roof. This space above and all down the sides is filled with fretwork; "the Dove with wings outspread, Alpha and Omega, Jehovah Jireh in Hebrew, all carved in white basswood". The oak pews have folding prayer boards and a holder along the top edge of the next seat to place the prayer books. The pews are beautifully carved and shaped with round lines and gothic decorations. The stained glass windows are beautiful and each one has different coloured trim. The diamond shaped panes are filled with small crosses. As the 1883 description states, "there is a carved text above each window.' The glass in the dormer windows is brightly coloured depicting floral forms. The other roof elements consist of four arches spanning the width of the chapel. There are two over the nave, one on the east wall over the altar, and one built against the west wall although it is broken by a rounded stained glass window. Each roof element is supported by a "compound pier" pilaster of which there are a total of five along each wall. The common rafter is exposed. Resting on the pier is an arched brace that carries a straight rafter. This straight rafter crosses with the one from the other side, again, about three feet below the peak of the gable roof. A king post joins the two beams to the apex of the roof and a carved pendant hangs down from the cross. The ceiling itself is decorated by planks of oak slanted in different directions in an alternating pattern. In the main sanctuary is the altar, added in 1939, and the waist high panelling. Above the altar is a large stained glass window with triple lancet tracery. Like the others it has stained glass with floral patterns. To each side is a smaller stained glass lancet window. To the right of the steps, against the wall, is the pulpit, decorated with gothic motifs. The small set of stairs leading up to it are pierced with small crosses and floral patterns. There is also a large organ made by the Estey Organ Company, and a wrought-iron lectern. The prayer desk to the right is again beautifully carved with gothic decorations. It has old red velvet cushions and embroidered on the prayer stool is a large fleur-de-lis. The door leading in from the side entrance is oak panelled. Another important feature of the church is a large bible that sits on the pulpit. It is bound in decorated calfskin and has "The Bishop Fauquier Memorial Chapel" inscribed on the front cover. It is dated 1883 and was presented by the "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel" in England, to the chapel upon its opening in 1883. SIGNIFICANCE The Bishop Fauquier Memorial Chapel is one of the most unique examples of church architecture in Sault Ste. Marie, and the most beautifully preserved. Precious Blood Cathedral, although older, has lost its original interior by structural changes and interior renovations. The Fauquier Chapel looks the same as it did on the day it was opened, as we can read by early descriptions. The interior should also be rigidly protected. Everything seems to fit into its proper place, and to be part of an overall pattern. Even the small prayer books, although modern, appear to have been made exactly for these pews. The decorative motifs on the pulpit are found . along the frieze that extends around the chapel. Therefore, as far as it is possible, all furniture, panelling, and internal structural elements should be protected from all but the most necessary change.