The Crypt
“Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people.” (Luke 29-30)
The Cathedral has a basement which runs its entire length and width. In the centre portion is the Crypt, which contains the tombs of five of the first six Bishops of Kingston, the first Rector, some priests, some nuns belonging to the Religious Hospitallers of StJoseph and the Sisters of Providence, and some prominent parishioners.
photo: Rob Taylor, www.taylorstudios.ca
The sixth Bishop and first Archbishop, James Cleary, is not buried in the Crypt, though his housekeeper is. The records state that he is buried in St James’ Chapel, in a tomb that he had made for himself, but it is empty and no-one knows where in fact he is buried. A possible answer is that he was taken by body, snatchers! Around this time, Queen’s University medical students were responsible for providing their own cadavers, and a society of body,snatchers grew up to accommodate this need. Bodies were even shipped to the U.S.A.! It would have been fairly simple to lift the floorboards in the Chapel and remove the body. But however plausible this explanation, there is no evidence.
photo: Rob Taylor, www.taylorstudios.ca
Elsewhere in the Crypt are stored the blocks of stone and roof tile remaining from the reconstruction. The steel “I” beams which were installed to strengthen the floor under the high altar when that was moved from the wall to the centre of the Sanctuary are also visible.
At one time there was a tunnel leading from the Crypt to Hotel Dieu Hospital, to enable priests to visit patients without going outside. It was blocked up at both ends when it was decided that it was no longer safe.