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St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church and St. Joseph's Mercy Convent2
The Roman Catholic Church of Brigus18 July 2007
Station Road, Brigus, Newfoundland
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The first Roman Catholic parish church in Brigus was built by Dean Mackin in 1825, on land donated by James Hearn. Prior to 1825 Mass had been celebrated at the Hearn house next door. The church itself was a moderate sized wooden structure, with an offset belfry erected close by the road-side and which, in most old photographs, appears to be of stone construction. It stood on the site of what is now the Old Roman Catholic Cemetery, next to the Hearn house on Irishtown Road at Chapel Lane. A cross and a plaque, erected in 1983, designate the spot today, while most of the surrounding space is taken up by graves with tombstones of various types, the earliest of which is dated 1819...... In 1834... the firm of Charles Cozens declared bankruptcy. Consequently, many fine firms... both in the town and outside - were offered for sale. One of the finest of these properties which the Cozens had named "Mount Dorset". It is the site of the present-day church, presbytery, schools and other buildings of the Roman Catholic Church...
The church that was built here in 1885 was stylistically similar to the present-day Roman Catholic Church in Harbour Grace, except that it was wooden and had one spire instead of two... This church, presbytery, barn and garage were destroyed by a fire which started in the roof in the north west section of the church shortly before 6 o'clock on Saturday, August 18th, 1934.
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The Roman Catholic Church At Night25 July 2007
Station Road, Brigus, Newfoundland
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Not long after the fire of 1934, work was begun on the presbytery, and shortly afterwards on the church. Both were constructed by local craftsmen, under the supervision of Percy Roberts. The church, which is of solid wood construction throughout - but most noticeable in the fine design of the ceiling - seats about 600.6
The front exterior statue of The Lord18 July 2007
Station Road, Brigus, Newfoundland
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A number of stained glass windows adorn the interior, while outside at the front of the church is a life-size statue of Christ, erected in 1926, and to the left, a Shrine to Out Lady of Fatima, completed and dedicated about 1984.8
The garden adjacent to the Church18 July 2007
Station Road, Brigus, Newfoundland
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The Presbytery25 July 2007
Station Road, Brigus, Newfoundland
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The presbytery (known locally as "the palace"), was a large structure with mansard roof, dormer windows and an outset central front section rising to the full height of the building's three stories.11
Site of the old St. Edward's School25 July 2007
Station Road, Brigus, Newfoundland
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The two schools that operated on this site were officially opened on June 13th, 1966, and were named St. Edward's Elementary and High Schools, after the much-revered Dr. Edward J. Jones, parish priest in Brigus for twenty years (1944-64).However, in 1969, with the completion of Bishop O'Neill Collegiate in Brigus, the functions of the two buildings were altered slightly to provide space for all Primary and Elementary grades, not only from Brigus, but from the surrounding areas as well, while high school students were transferred to the newly completed high school, also an area center of instruction; and now with classes to Grade Twelve.
Bishop O'Neill Collegiate is named after the second Bishop of Grand Falls. The contractor for its construction was John Furey of Carbonear.
Currently, there are no active schools in Brigus due to the fact that they all closed down in the 1990's.
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St. Joseph's Mercy Convent20 September 2004
Covent Square, Brigus, Newfoundland
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St. Joseph's Mercy Convent was established in 1861 by decree of Bishop Dalton. The building itself was constructed by an Irish carpenter, James Lane, and its durable rock foundation was built by the early Irish settlers. It had the distinction of being the first Mercy Convent to be established outside St. John's. The building still stands today after having served for almost 130 years as a Convent.The Brigus Convent was opened for classes in September 1861, and its first occupants were four Sisters who came from Ireland.
Originally the boys and girls attended the same school. However, indications are that as early as 1870 the boys were provided with a male teacher. With the completion of St. Patrick's Hall in 1903, the boys were moved to classrooms there.
Besides people of the Roman Catholic faith, pupils of the Methodist and Anglican Schools also came for lessons at the old Convent. Two of the more notable of these were Captain Bob Bartlett and Dr. Roy Clarke.
In 1961 ceremonies were held commemorating the one hundredth anniversary of the Convent, and in 1966, the building was subjected to a period of renovation.
Sold to business interests in 1995, it was operated as a dining establishment known as Heritage House, until it closed a few years later.
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