Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church Registered Heritage Structure

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church has been designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador because of its aesthetic, historical and spiritual values.

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church is aesthetically valuable because it is a good example of a Gothic Revival stone church. Additionally, it is the last surviving one of a group of five stone churches that were erected during the episcopacy of Bishop John Mullock. Its steeply-pitched multi-gabled roof is large and impressive, making the church visible from various points in the community. Stone quoining accents the Gothic arch windows, the door openings and the corners of the church. The wood panel main doors are topped with arched transom windows. Stone buttresses are present at the end of the nave. The building was constructed using stone harvested from Stone Island, Calvert Bay, and Thomas O’Brien, a carpenter from St. John’s, built the church tower. Unfortunately, the tower was removed from the building.

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church has further aesthetic value due to its environmental setting and landmark value. The property provides a panoramic view of Ferryland Harbour, its islands, The Pool, the meadows of The Downs and Ferryland Head. It is a well-known structure both in the community and the greater region.

Historically, Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church is of great significance because of its associations with the development of religion in Ferryland. The history of Roman Catholicism in Ferryland dates back to the arrival of Lord Baltimore in 1627, over one hundred and fifty years before the formal establishment of the Roman Catholic Church in Newfoundland. Baltimore believed in religious toleration and had both Church of England and Roman Catholic services held in his home. Historian R.J. Lahey went as far as to claim that Ferryland was a "birthplace of religious freedom,” as it was purportedly the site of the first English speaking Roman Catholic mass in British North America. This spirit of toleration was still evident during the construction of the church. A local newspaper reported that some prominent Ferryland Protestant businessmen donated handsomely to the cost of the building.

Spiritually, Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church signifies the community’s long standing devotion to their religion. Having served as the mother church for the Ferryland parish since its construction, Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church has guided the moral values of the people there, strengthening their character and dedication to their church.