St. Rapheal's Roman Catholic Church

The heritage value of St. Rapheal’s Roman Catholic Church lies in its association with the establishment of the Roman Catholic faith in Richard. Richard was incorporated as a community in 1913, the same year that the Canadian Pacific Railway built a branch line through the area. The village’s first settlers, both French and English, longed for a place to gather and worship under the Roman Catholic faith. A group called “Ladies of the Altar” was formed and tasked with raising enough money to build Richard a new church. That task was completed with construction of the church in 1915. The church continues to serve as a place of worship on an occasional basis.

The heritage value of the property also lies in its architecture. Built in the Gothic Vernacular style, the building sits atop a small hill overlooking the community. Its bell tower, arched windows and steep-pitched roof make it a landmark. It is also one of the oldest buildings in Richard.

Source:

Village of Richard Bylaw No. 2008-1.