133 King Street - Parr Division
In 1815 at the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Irish emigrants began to arrive in St. Andrews in large numbers. In the peak years of emigration, between 1818 and 1820, as many as four thousand might have landed, and as many as ten thousand before the Famine years 1846-1849. Most moved on to the United States or to other parts of the province, but from among those who remained in or near St. Andrews were enough Roman Catholics to warrant the building of a church. The trustees were named in 1820, and in 1824 construction was started, the trustees having undertaken “within a space of eleven days...[and] in a good and workmanlike manner, [to] frame and raise a certain building, intended for a Chapel.” They also undertook to assemble whatever materials might be needed and such rum and refreshments as the builder might require. (A daily supply of rum was more often than not taken for granted in the hiring.) By 1851 just over 50% of the heads of households in St. Andrews were Irish-born. The first Roman Catholic Church was built on Parr Street at its junction with Mary Street.
By the last quarter of the nineteenth century the Roman Catholic population had outgrown the capacity of its first church. A replacement church in the popular Gothic Style was built on King Street in 1885-1886.
The present church replaced its 1825 predecessor that was located on the corner of Mary and Parr streets, next to the Old Roman Catholic Cemetery. The “new” church was erected for $6,500 using the plans of distinguished Saint John architect G. Ernest Fairweather, who designed many of New Brunswick’s most important buildings of the period. Gothic Revival in style, is adorned with a corner tower and spire that reaches 100 feet.
The character-defining elements include:
Tower:
Side Facade:
Side Entrance:
Architectural Style: Gothic Revival
Source: St. Andrews Civic Trust – Charlotte County Archives, St. Andrews, NB.
By the last quarter of the nineteenth century the Roman Catholic population had outgrown the capacity of its first church. A replacement church in the popular Gothic Style was built on King Street in 1885-1886.
The present church replaced its 1825 predecessor that was located on the corner of Mary and Parr streets, next to the Old Roman Catholic Cemetery. The “new” church was erected for $6,500 using the plans of distinguished Saint John architect G. Ernest Fairweather, who designed many of New Brunswick’s most important buildings of the period. Gothic Revival in style, is adorned with a corner tower and spire that reaches 100 feet.
The character-defining elements include:
- Principle central structure flanked by tower and wing
- Gothic arch window in wing
- three-part Gothic arch window in gable
- two Gothic arch entrances
Tower:
- Octagonal spire
- cross atop spire
- paired Gothic arch vents
- small tri-part Gothic arches
- buttresses
- statue of St. Andrews under small hood and set upon a pedestal
- hood over statue has scrolled pinnacles and drop finials
Side Facade:
- single Gothic arch windows
- four three-rank trefoil windows with connecting Gothic arch headers for each set
Side Entrance:
- gabled entranceway flanked by gabled pillars
- fleur de lis on apex of central gable
- Gothic arch header over Gothic arch window and door
- Gothic arch window has quatrefoil and trefoil openings
- large paired wooden door with ornate hinges
- two semi-columns flank door
Architectural Style: Gothic Revival
Source: St. Andrews Civic Trust – Charlotte County Archives, St. Andrews, NB.
