St. Patrick's Church, St. John's Explained

Saint Patrick's Church is a former Roman Catholic church in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. St. Patrick's Church closed in 2022.[1]

History

The cornerstone of St. Patrick's Church was laid on September 17, 1855, by Bishop John T. Mullock and other distinguished clergy from Canada and the United States. American financier, Cyrus Field, contributed £1,000($107,123.88 in USD 2019)[2] to help with construction costs. The church was designed in the late Gothic Revival, also termed Neo-Gothic, style by J.J. McCarthy, a prominent Irish architect, and was built by T. O'Brien, local architect and mason.

In 1864 nine years after the cornerstone was laid, work officially began on the structure with the construction the foundation from stone taken from the Southside Hills in St. John's. Further problems prevented work on the project from advancing beyond the 1864 stage for a decade. Additional stone was donated in 1875 and construction began once more. Construction continued as funds and materials permitted and the church was completed in 1881. After more than two-and-a-half decades, St. Patrick's Church was consecrated on August 28, 1881.[3]

The church was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990. In 1997 the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador declared St. Patrick's Church a Registered Heritage Structure. St. Patrick's Church was the tallest building in St. John's from 1888 to 1959 (71 years).

St. Patrick's Church closed in 2022 after being sold as part of the archdiocese liquidating its holdings in an effort to raise money to compensate victims of abuse.[4] [5] [6]

External links

47.5536°N -52.7168°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gillis. Heather. Court approves sale of 43 Catholic church properties to settle abuse victims claims. CBC News. en. 18 July 2022.
  2. Web site: Currency Converter, Pounds Sterling to Dollars, 1264 to Present (Java). www.uwyo.edu. 2019-03-12.
  3. News: CBC News . June 23, 2022 . Parishioners at St. Patrick's Church hope 'God will intervene' to keep their home from being sold. August 19, 2022 . St. Patrick's Church is located on Patrick Street in St. John's. Its cornerstone was laid on Sept. 17, 1855, and it was completed in 1881. The church property has been sold as part of a liquidation of assets by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John's..
  4. Web site: Roberts . Terry . 21 June 2022 . 4 St. John's Catholic churches sold and set to close doors by September, parishioners told . 13 October 2022 . CBC.ca.
  5. Web site: Roberts . Terry . 11 July 2022 . Priest asks Mount Pearl Catholics to unite after decision made to close Mary Queen of the World . 13 October 2022 . CBC.ca.
  6. http://stpatrickschurch.ca/2.0/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Closing-Mass-final.pdf Parish newsletter