St. John's Ecclesiastical District

Last updated
St. John's Ecclesiastical District
StBonsStJohnsNewfoundland.JPG
Location St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Coordinates 47°34′04″N52°42′41″W / 47.56778°N 52.71139°W / 47.56778; -52.71139 Coordinates: 47°34′04″N52°42′41″W / 47.56778°N 52.71139°W / 47.56778; -52.71139
Canada Newfoundland location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of St. John's Ecclesiastical District in Newfoundland

St. John's Ecclesiastical District is a formally-recognized heritage precinct, located in the central part of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. It is composed of separate nodes containing buildings and spaces associated with the Roman Catholic, Anglican, United Church of Canada, and Presbyterian denominations [1] and is representative of the involvement of Christian institutions in the history and political life of St. John's and the province.

Contents

District description

The district extends from the old burial ground at the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist adjoining Duckworth Street in the south, to Belvedere Cemetery adjacent to Empire Avenue in the north. [2] The district consists of a wide range of buildings in a variety of styles, built in different eras.

The style, scale and placement of these buildings were purposely chosen to reflect both the affluence and influence of religion in Newfoundland and the determination of religious leaders. St. John’s, being the traditional and official centre of commerce, had religious buildings which were grand, solid and filled with symbolism. They were built from materials made to last in the often times brutal coastal climate. Walls of brick and granite rose above the harbour, marking the way for fishermen returning from the fishing grounds. In a town whose population was once divided along religious lines, individual buildings and clusters thereof are associated with personalities who sat in the seats of religious power and the people who found themselves under their guidance, be they orphans, school children, parents or politicians. [3]

Many of these buildings are individually designated either municipally, provincially, or federally. Where possible, the highest level of recognition is included in this list of structures: [3]

The district also includes several modernist structures, including:

The district includes a number of burial places, including:

Municipal designation

The movement to press for official recognition and protection of the district began in 2004. Then committee chair, landscape architect Fred Hann, was quoted as saying,

It's important to conserve the ecclesiastical district because it has the largest number of ecclesiastical buildings of comparable size in North America," he said. "It's an area of outstanding cultural beauty. The history of the structures and the role the churches played in the economy of the province is important. It has helped shape the city. [2]

Preliminary meetings were organized by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador and the City of St. John's, along with representatives of the buildings in the area [2] and the Newfoundland Historic Trust. [5] In 2005, it was announced that the City would designate the district, in order to both support a nomination for national heritage status, and to "ensure the buildings are protected in the future and help bring visitors to the city." [6] Following the announcement, the district was designated as a municipal heritage district by the City of St. John's and was officially recognized by St. John's Municipal Plan Amendment Number 29, 2005, approved 8 August 2005. [7] The designation included approximately 30 buildings. [6] The municipal district was listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places on 2 December 2005. [8]

National Historic Site designation

In 2005, a nomination was made by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador and the City of St. John's to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board to have the district made a National Historic Site. [3]

The district was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2008. Official recognition refers to three nodes in the downtown area of St. John’s. [9] A plaque commemorating the designation was unveiled in 2010 by Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment, and Senator Fabian Manning. [10] Mayor Dennis O'Keefe stated,

This has been a long time waiting to be recognized, and the day has finally arrived. It's a celebration for the city, it's a celebration for the churches, because the churches have been so important and influential in developing the character of the city and the province and the people who live here. [11]

The site was shortlisted as a finalist for the second annual Canadian Institute of Planners' (CIP) Great Places in Canada contest in 2012. [12] The National Historic Site was listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places on 2 June 2020. [13]

Development concerns

The special historic and architectural nature of the St. John's Ecclesiastical District has been invoked in several discussions and controversies around development issues within, and adjacent to, the district. In 2004, the proposed (and current) site of The Rooms Provincial Museum Archives and Art Gallery was challenged for being too near the district and that its massing was too large, with one critic writing that "buildings like the Roman Catholic Basilica of St. John the Baptist are overpowered by it." [14]

At the time of municipal designation, most property owners were in favour, though some "expressed concerns about the possibility of added restrictions." [6] City Councillor Shannie Duff addressed these concerns, stating that added restrictions would not happen, adding, "This doesn't make it any more restrictive than they already are in Heritage Area 1." [6]

In April 2021, the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador called for the development of "a management plan for the Ecclesiastical District National Historic Site, with stakeholders, to ensure that future development is sympathetic to its heritage values." [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador Capital and largest city of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

St. John's is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland.

Ferryland Town in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Ferryland is a town in Newfoundland and Labrador on the Avalon Peninsula. According to the 2021 Statistics Canada census, its population is 371.

Basilica of St. John the Baptist

The Basilica-Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador is the metropolitan cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John's, Newfoundland and the mother church and symbol of Roman Catholicism in Newfoundland. The building sits within the St. John's Ecclesiastical District, a National Historic District of Canada.

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (St. Johns) Church in St Johns, Canada

The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is located in the city of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

St. Bonaventure's College is an independent kindergarten to grade 12 Catholic School in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is located in the St. John's Ecclesiastical District, adjacent to the Roman Catholic Basilica of St. John The Baptist. The school is named in honour of one of the Doctors of the Catholic Church, St. Bonaventure.

The Rooms Museum/gallery in St. Johns, Newfoundland

The Rooms is a cultural facility in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The facility opened in 2005 and houses the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Harbour Grace Town in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Harbour Grace is a town in Conception Bay on the Avalon Peninsula in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. With roots dating back to the 16th century, it is one of the oldest towns in North America.

Quidi Vidi Neighbourhood in St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Quidi Vidi is a neighbourhood in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. The village is adjacent to Quidi Vidi Lake. Quidi Vidi's harbour is known as "The Gut". Located in Quidi Vidi is the Quidi Vidi Battery Provincial Historic Site. The village is home to several small businesses.

Tilting, Newfoundland and Labrador Community in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Tilting is a community on the eastern end of Fogo Island off the northeast coast of Newfoundland. It was incorporated as a town before becoming part of the Town of Fogo Island through an amalgamation in 2011. The community has been designated as a National Historic Site of Canada, and has also been designated as a Registered Heritage District by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador Non-profit Crown corporation of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

The Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (HFNL) or Heritage NL is a non-profit Crown corporation of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador established in 1984 by the Historic Resources Act. Its mandate is to stimulate an understanding of, and an appreciation for, the architectural and intangible cultural heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2018 HFNL rebranded as Heritage NL for its public-facing work.

Anglican Church of Bermuda Extra-provincial Church of the Anglican Communion

The Anglican Church of Bermuda is a single diocese consisting of nine parishes and is part of the Anglican Communion, though not a part of an ecclesiastical province. The current Bishop of Bermuda, seated at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in the City of Hamilton, is Nicholas Dill who was installed on 29 May 2013.

The architecture of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador has a style distinct from that of the rest of Canada, and its major buildings are remnants of its history and prestige as the first British colonial capital. The city of St. John's has had a long history, with inhabitation dating to the 16th century onwards. As the city grew, so, too, did the landscape. Buildings took a variety of styles according to the styles and means available to build the structures. Starting as a fishing outpost for European fishermen, St. John's consisted mostly of the homes of fishermen, sheds, storage shacks, and wharves. Of course, these structures were small and constructed out of wood. Like many other cities of the time, as the Industrial Revolution took hold and new methods and materials for construction were introduced, the landscape changed as the city grew in width and height. The Great Fire of 1892 destroyed most of the downtown core, and most residential and other wood-frame buildings date from this period. Often compared to San Francisco because of its hilly terrain and steep maze of residential streets, housing in St. John's is typically painted in bright colours, unlike most other parts of Canada.

Diocese of Newfoundland

The Anglican Diocese of Newfoundland was, from its creation in 1839 until 1879, the Diocese of Newfoundland and Bermuda, with the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist at St. John's, Newfoundland, and a chapel-of-ease named Trinity Church in the City of Hamilton in Pembroke Parish, Bermuda. Newfoundland and Bermuda had both been parts of British North America until left out of the 1867 Confederation of Canada. In 1879 the Church of England in the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda was created, but continued to be grouped with the Diocese of Newfoundland under the bishop of Newfoundland and Bermuda until 1919, when Newfoundland and Bermuda each received its own bishop.

Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Bermuda

The Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity is an Anglican cathedral located on Church Street in the City of Hamilton, in Pembroke Parish, in the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda.

Bishop Feild College Canadian school

Bishop Feild College, founded in 1844, is a school in St. John's, Newfoundland. Founded as the Church of England Academy, it was renamed in 1892 as the Church of England College in 1892, before its 1894 name change to Bishop Feild College. The renaming was in honor of Bishop Edward Feild, a school inspector and second bishop of Newfoundland.

William Austin Oke was a newspaper publisher, politician, and District Court judge in Newfoundland. He represented Harbour Grace in the Newfoundland House of Assembly for three terms, from 1898 to 1908, as a Liberal.

Outline of Newfoundland and Labrador Overview of and topical guide to Newfoundland and Labrador

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Green Family Forge is a two-storey, wooden, heritage-designated blacksmith shop located at the intersection of West Street at Dandy Lane in Trinity, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.

References

  1. ↑ "Government of Canada Recognizes the National Historic Significance of the St. John's Ecclesiastical District". 30 September 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. 1 2 3 Breaker, Danielle (20 February 2004). "Heritage foundation lobbying to make historic district in section of St. John's". Western Star. p. 5.
  3. 1 2 3 St. John's Ecclesiastical District: Application to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. St. John's: Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador / City of St. John's. 2005.
  4. ↑ "Former orphanage destroyed by fire | Saltwire". www.saltwire.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  5. ↑ "Thank you to retiring directors of the Newfoundland Historic Trust". The Trident: 3–4. 2004.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Roberts, Terry (7 July 2005). "Capital city to designate heritage area". The Telegram. p. A3.
  7. ↑ Newfoundland and Labrador Gazette (PDF). Vol. 80. St. John's. 26 August 2005. p. 452.
  8. ↑ "St. John's Ecclesiastical District". Canadian Register of Historic Places. 2 December 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ↑ "St. John's Ecclesiastical District National Historic Site of Canada". www.pc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  10. ↑ "St. John's Ecclesiastical District recognized by Canadian Government". The Trident. Fall: 5. 2010.
  11. ↑ MacEachern, Daniel (1 October 2010). "Sacred time and space". The Telegram. eureka.cc. p. A5.
  12. ↑ Roberts, Chris (14 April 2012). "Ecclesiastical district among finalists in great places contest". The Telegram. eureka.cc.
  13. ↑ "St. John's Ecclesiastical District National Historic Site of Canada". Canadian Register of Historic Places. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ↑ Benson, Bob (29 February 2004). "Right building, wrong location". The Telegram. eureka.cc. p. A6.
  15. ↑ Puddister, Jess (7 April 2021). "So Moved, St. John's: 5 April 2021". The Independent. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.