St. James Anglican Church

St. James Anglican Church is designated as a Registered Heritage Structure due to its architectural value, historic associations and cultural value.

St. James Church provides an excellent example of the Gothic Revival style as adapted in small churches in Newfoundland and Labrador. This church represents a simplified version of Gothic Revival and elements such as the exposed timber framing on the interior of the church embody the style of design inspired by Tractarian practices. St. James Church is architecturally valuable because it is the only remaining church in Newfoundland designed by British ecclesiastical architect Reverend William Grey. Grey made a significant contribution to the introduction of the Gothic Revival style in Newfoundland by designing a number of churches throughout Newfoundland during the Victorian period.

St. James Anglican Church is an good example of a typical small High Anglican church built in rural Newfoundland during the Victorian period. In particular, the layout of the church is representative of this period. There is a bell tower with a pyramidal roof at the west end of the nave and a vestry at the east end. Both the nave and vestry have a steep pitched gable roof. Many interior features remain original including latches, hinges and keepers that are typical of the Victorian period.

St. James Church is historically valuable because of its long standing role as the centre of the Anglican mission on the Labrador coast. Commissioned by Bishop Edward Feild in 1852, the church is an important reflection of Bishop Feild’s work to expand the Anglican mission in Labrador. Bishop Feild had an important influence on religious, political and educational life of Newfoundland and Labrador during his episcopacy. The introduction of the Gothic Revival style was the architectural expression of Bishop Feild’s Tractarian views. A rural High Anglican Church, St. James Church represents the efforts at High Anglicanism of Bishop Field during his episcopacy.

St. James Anglican Church is a focal point of the cultural landscape of Battle Harbour and contributes significantly to the complex of buildings that make up this fisheries settlement.