Our Lady of Angels / Presentation Convent Registered Heritage Structure

Our Lady of Angels / The Presentation Convent in Placentia is designated as a Registered Heritage Structure due to its architectural, historic, cultural and environmental values.

Our Lady of Angels / Presentation Convent is architecturally valuable as an example of a stone construction in Placentia. This is the only remaining stone building in the community and was built mainly out of locally quarried stone. Despite the age of the building much of the exterior remains intact and this stands as a testament to the quality of construction and materials during this period.

This building also shows influence of the French architectural style in the keystone motif around the windows and the quoining at the corners of the building. These elements are representative of the influence of the French on the growth of the community of Placentia.

Our Lady of Angels / Presentation Convent is historically valuable due to its associations with the Presentation Sisters. The Presentation Sisters of the Roman Catholic Church played an important role in communities across Newfoundland. This convent stands as an indication of the longstanding relationship between the convent the education and religion of the community.

The name of the convent, “Our Lady of the Angels” is also historically valuable as it stands as a memorial to the Franciscan friars of Quebec who established the first monastery in Newfoundland in 1689.

The Our Lady of Angels / Presentation Convent is environmentally valuable for its location in the community of Placentia. The location of the convent in the Town Square is indicative of the importance of the church in the community. Furthermore, the Convent is the last standing structure in a five building ecclesiastical complex located in the Town Square.