Our Lady of Assumption Parish

Our Lady of Assumption

Parish (1908) is a handsome buff brick church situated dramatically at the head of the main street in

the historically-Belgian village of Mariapolis in the R.M. of Lorne. The municipal designation applies

to the building and its spacious grounds.

Our Lady of Assumption Parish is

a fine example of a medium-sized village church, the architectural highlight of the community. The church

is noted especially for its exceptional craftsmanship manifested in the eye-catching shingled front gable

and tower and particularly outstanding brickwork. In addition to the ornament on the projecting central

tower bay, the elegant brickwork is used to carry out details of the widely-used Gothic Revival style,

including the drip mouldings over the original pointed-arched wood windows and the buttresses on the

tower. The church interior has a high level of physical integrity, with the basilica plan retaining many

original features, including the triple barrel-vaulted ceiling, Tuscan columns separating nave and side

aisles; and various fine wooden features and details throughout. This important village landmark was

in use from 1910 and remains in active use today, recalling the strong and enduring Roman Catholic heritage

of the community.

Source: R.M. of Lorne By-law No. 1774/13, 12 November 2013

Key

elements that define the site character of Our Lady of Assumption Parish include:

- its open village

setting at the head of the main street in Mariapolis

- placement of the church on its site with main

doors facing northwest

Key elements that define the exterior heritage character of the church include:

-

the basic rectangular form with a medium-pitched roof, a projecting tower bay in the centre of the entrance

front, a polygonal apse, and a small gable-roofed shed entrance on the south-west side

- the buff brick

walls, squared granite foundation laid in even courses, with pink-and-grey granite datestone; the brick

buttresses at the base of the tower, and the decorative brickwork with Tyndall limestone accents on the

facade

- the medium-pitched, shingled roof

- the shingled front gable and tower, with alternating bands

of standard and diamond-shaped shingles, painted in contrasting dark and white stripes; the decorative

verge board; the bellcast eaves where the shingled portion meets the brick base of the tower

- the square

tower, with pointed spire and openwork balustrade above the belfry

- the fenestration, with pointed openings;

the windows and their simple glazing pattern with operable central panels; the pointed front door opening

Key

elements that define the interior heritage character of the church include:

- the organization of the

space in a basilica plan with wide central nave and narrow aisles and polygonal apse with raised dais;

rear gallery with narthex beneath; the triple barrel vaulted ceiling; the simple mouldings at the springing

point of each vault

- the simple white Tuscan columns supporting the vaults

- the varnished interior

woodwork, including the gallery and its balustrade, unpainted floor, simple window and door casings,

staircase to the gallery, and fir panelling and pillars supporting the gallery, etc.

- the original wood

interior doors from the porch, with glass panels; unpainted wood floors, etc.

- the ecclesiastical fittings,

including the wooden confessional and pews; small metal font in the narthex, and painted Stations of

the Cross with architectural frames in the Gothic revival style, etc.