Igloo church

A much-anticipated dedication service at the new St. Jude’s Cathedral in Iqaluit will take place on June 3.

The primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, and the metropolitan (senior bishop) of the ecclesiastical province of Rupert’s Land, Archbishop David Ashdown, are expected to attend.

“It’s been a long process, [but] I believe that in our faithfulness to the project, we’re going to have something greater,” said Bishop of the Arctic Andrew Atagotaaluk.

In fact, it has taken seven-and-a-half years and $8 million to build the “igloo church” after the original building was destroyed by arson in 2005.

The new St. Jude’s retains its distinctive dome-and-spire shape, but this time it is metal-clad. The building also features layers of fire-resistant insulation, a sprinkler system, a thick concrete floor and a security alarm system.