In 1841 efforts were made by the Roman Catholic citizens of Sault Ste. Marie to build a stone church, but the project failed and they continued to hold services in a wooden church directly in front of the present Church of the Precious Blood. Sergeant Andrew Hynes and his family lived in the upper part of the church. It is believed a simple wooden missionary church existed close to the site of the present building in 1846. The erection of the beautiful cathedral in 1875 must have been an overwhelming accomplishment and an emotional experience for worshippers of what was known as the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church until 1936. The name was changed to Precious Blood, to avoid confusion with another parish located in Sturgeon Falls bearing the same name. Now the oldest Roman Catholic church in Sault Ste. Marie, the celebration of mass has been recorded in this city as far back as 1641. The erection of this beautiful cathedral in 1875 of timber and local stone as well as sandstone taken from the American lock excavation, was accomplished under the direction of Bishop Jean Francois Jamot. Some of the materials used in construction were hauled over the ice of the St. Mary's River in carts by a labour force of many dedicated volunteers. The dedication of the cathedral took place on Sunday, July 2, 1875 and was presided over by the archbishop of Toronto, assisted by the bishop of Sault Ste Marie, Right reverend Doctor Jumont, with many clergy from the surrounding country. Precious Blood Cathedral is protected both locally and by the province, and as such, was recognized by the Ontario Heritage Foundation with the physical erection of a plaque in 1975 during the church's centenary, ensuring the future preservation of one of Sault Ste. Marie's most beautiful church buildings. It serves an active congregation today. The dominant feature of the cathedral is a tower and a four sided spire Clad in metal shingles. In 1982, with the help of the Algoma Steel Corporation, the tower was restored with a product similar in appearance to the original but with the addition of more durable shingles. A resin impression from an original shingle was eventually made after several determined attempts locally. Previous inquiries made throughout North America as to the feasibility of the project had netted no results. Ultimately the production of shingles to refurbish the entire steeple, plus a sufficient supply for future repairs, was made possible by the efforts and expertise of our own local steel company. The transepts were added in 1901 and designed by H. Russell Halton, a local architect. Though the 1925 Neo-gothic altar has been changed somewhat, the stained-glass windows dating from 1901, the roof rafters and beams remain in their original beauty. Although this building is considered plain by most Ontario standards and does not resemble the more-ornate designs of many other Catholic edifices, builders at the time chose the plain Gothic style for the convenience of materials available. A bell weighing 2,370 pounds made of brass or copper arrived August 1904 at a cost of $ 1,000 and the true G note it tolls today resounds its worth. An inscription on the bell itself lists Bishop O'Connor, Rev. T. Lussier, Rev. B.J. Hayelton and 45 contributing members of the congregations to the bell fund, along with an impression of a Sacred Heart. Nineteen-foot-tall stained-glass windows installed in 1901, a magnificent pipe organ covering the entire south wall in 1912, as well as other necessary additions to the structure only complement the original design and have been chosen to blend with the existing edifice. The interior of Precious Blood Cathedral is as beautiful as one could hope. Recently renovated under the direction of Father Burns, the new decor displays a reverent beauty the natural wood intended. Inside and out, the Cathedral has been treated with the dignity and respect it deserves as the oldest existing church in Sault Ste. Marie. Highly visible on the city's main street, Queen Street, Precious Blood Cathedral brings a sense of serenity and the gentle thoughts of yesteryear to the busy heart of the downtown.