St. John's Ecclesiastical District facts for kids
The St. John's Ecclesiastical District is a special historical area in the middle of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. It's a place where many important church buildings are located. These buildings belong to different Christian groups like the Roman Catholic, Anglican, United Church of Canada, and Presbyterian churches. This district shows how much Christian churches have been a part of St. John's history and how the province has grown.
What is the Ecclesiastical District?
This special district stretches from the old burial ground near the Anglican Cathedral in the south, all the way to Belvedere Cemetery in the north. It has many different kinds of buildings. They were built in various styles and at different times.
The buildings here were made to show how important religion was in Newfoundland. They were also built to last a long time in the tough coastal weather. Walls of brick and granite stood tall, helping fishermen find their way home. These buildings and groups of buildings are connected to important religious leaders and the people they helped, like children, students, and families.
Many of these buildings are officially recognized as important historical places. Some are recognized by the city, some by the province, and some by the whole country. Here are a few examples:
- St. Bonaventure’s College
- Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
- Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
The district also includes some more modern buildings, such as:
- Holy Heart of Mary Regional High School
- Brother Rice School
- Brother O'Hehir Arena
- Holland Hall
- St. Bon's Forum
- The Lantern (Presentation School)
You can also find several old burial places in the district, including:
- Anglican Cathedral Churchyard
- Belvedere Cemetery
- Presentation Sisters Cemetery
- Sisters of Mercy Cemetery
- Christian Brothers Cemetery
How the District Became Official
People started working to get this district officially recognized and protected in 2004. Fred Hann, who was in charge of the committee, said that it was important to save the district. He mentioned that it has the largest number of church buildings of its size in North America. He also said it's a very beautiful cultural area. The history of these buildings and the role churches played in the province's economy are very important. They helped shape the city we see today.
The Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador and the City of St. John's held meetings to discuss this. In 2005, the city announced it would officially name the district a municipal heritage district. This would help protect the buildings and bring more visitors to the city. The city officially recognized the district on August 8, 2005. About 30 buildings were included in this designation. The municipal district was added to the Canadian Register of Historic Places on December 2, 2005.
Becoming a National Historic Site
In 2005, the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador and the City of St. John's asked the Historic Sites and Monuments Board to make the district a National Historic Site.
The district was officially named a National Historic Site of Canada in 2008. This recognition focuses on three main areas in downtown St. John's. A special plaque was revealed in 2010 by Jim Prentice, who was the Minister of the Environment, and Senator Fabian Manning.
Mayor Dennis O'Keefe said that this recognition had been a long time coming. He called it a celebration for the city and for the churches. He explained that the churches have been very important in shaping the character of the city, the province, and the people who live there.
In 2012, the site was chosen as a finalist for a contest called "Great Places in Canada." The National Historic Site was added to the Canadian Register of Historic Places again on June 2, 2020.
