Christ Church Cathedral was built 1845-53 to the neo-Gothic plans of British architects Frank Wills and William Butterfield, in collaboration with John Medley, first Anglican bishop of Fredericton. It was the first Canadian building to follow closely the ideal of the Ecclesiological Society, a reformist movement of the Anglican Church, which sought a return to the architecture of the Middle Ages.
Bishop Medley was appointed bishop in 1845 and in the autumn he was prepared to build a cathedral. The foundation stone being laid 15 October 1845 in the presence of the Lieutenant-Governor and members of the Legislative Council. The work proceeded slowly with the people not showing much enthusiasm for the project.
Bishop Medley went to England in 1848 to raise more funds then in 1851 he went to the U.S. to raise more money. At one point construction came to a standstill due to the lack of funds. Construction resumed after more money was raised then the Bishop became personally responsible for the remaining debt and the cathedral was consecrated on 31 August 1853.
Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1980.