St. James Anglican Church Registered Heritage Structure

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. Built by the people of Carbonear, this sturdy structure has withstood almost 150 years of exposure to the elements and is a testament to the quality of the local craftsmanship at the time.

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 steeple at the west end of the nave and an intricate high lancet arched roof on the interior of the church. Furthermore, there are Gothic stained glass windows throughout the church as well as elaborate tracery in a number of windows.

St. James Church is historically valuable because of its long standing role as the centre of the Anglican parish that serves Harbour Grace and Carbonear. Commissioned by Bishop Edward Feild in 1852, the church is an important reflection of Bishop Feild’s work to expand the Anglican community in Newfoundland and 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 Feild during his episcopacy

St. James Anglican Church is a focal point of the cultural landscape of Carbonear and can be seen from both land and sea.