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Designed to replace the former Saint-Jacques Cathedral which had burned in 1852, the bishop Msgr. Ignace Bourget wanted to create a scale model of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. Work began in 1875 and the new church was consecrated in 1894 as Saint-Jacques Cathedral. At the time it was the largest church in Quebec. It was made a minor basilica in 1919 by Pope Benedict XV. It was rededicated in 1955 to Mary, Queen of the World, by Pope Pius XII.; Designed to replace the former Saint-Jacques Cathedral which had burned in 1852, the bishop Msgr. Ignace Bourget wanted to create a scale model of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. Work began in 1875 and the new church was consecrated in 1894 as Saint-Jacques Cathedral. At the time it was the largest church in Quebec. It was made a minor basilica in 1919 by Pope Benedict XV. It was rededicated in 1955 to Mary, Queen of the World, by Pope Pius XII. Source: Archiseek, Online Architecture Resources; http://canada.archiseek.com/ (accessed 6/21/2009)