An Igloo-shaped Church

Canada workers rebuild igloo-shaped church Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, sits 200 miles (320km) south of the Arctic Circle Canadian workers are rebuilding an igloo-shaped Anglican cathedral in the northern territory of Nunavut, after it was damaged by arson in 2005.

The church, made of wood rather than ice, will sit 200 miles (320km) south of the Arctic Circle in Nunavut's capital, Iqaluit.

The original St Jude's Anglican Cathedral was demolished after a fire police say was deliberate.

Staff from St Jude's blessed the steel frame of the new circular church.

The building was rendered structurally unsound after a fire ripped through the interior five years ago.

But now church officials hope work on the new cathedral will be completed by late December 2011.

"They'll see the dome-shaped, igloo-type shape taking place, and for them [the congregation] it will mean, 'Finally, we're beginning, after a long delay,'" Reverend Brian Burrows told CBC News.

Mr Burrows said the start of rebuilding had followed years of fundraising and the overcoming of numerous obstacles.

"There was, first of all, a false start with the original construction company [that] went bankrupt about four years ago, I think," Mr Burrows said.

The church has since renegotiated with a new firm and decided to send the materials for the church in by air.

Mr Burrows said the initial stage of construction would only fix the building's exterior and an additional $1.2m (£765,000) would be needed before work could start on the inside of the cathedral.