St. Paul’s United Church
The following information is provided courtesy of Juan Estepa, manager of Heritage and
Cultural Affairs, City of Fredericton.
“Statement of Significance
Fredericton Local Historic Places Register
St. Paul’s United Church
224 York Street, Fredericton, N.B.
Description of Historic Place
St. Paul’s United Church is a striking stone building in downtown Fredericton. Situated at the
corner of York Street and George Streets, St. Paul’s imposing 160 foot corner tower and spire
blend with the church’s high Victorian architecture to fashion a distinctive Neo-Gothic
landmark in the city centre.
Heritage Value
Designed by architect James C. Dumaresq in 1882, constructed by builder William Lawlor of
Chatham (Miramichi), and dedicated on January 10, 1886, the original cost of the church was
approximately $25,000.00.
The same two men, Dumaresq and Lawlor, combined their efforts in the design and
construction of the New Brunswick Legislative Building in Fredericton, which opened in 1882.
Dumaresq also designed numerous prominent buildings in Saint John following that city’s
Great Fire in 1877.
In 1886, a pipe organ manufactured by Hook and Hastings was installed in the new Church.
Later, in 1947, a larger pipe organ costing $17,780.00 was built and installed by Casavant
Brothers of Quebec, as a memorial to the men and women who served in the two World Wars.
The first Presbyterian church in Fredericton, the “Old Kirk” was dedicated in 1832, on the site
of the present church. St. Paul’s was begun 50 years later to accommodate the city’s growing
Presbyterian community. In 1925, the majority of the congregation of St. Paul’s voted to join
the United Church of Canada. In 1928, those who wished to continue to worship as
Presbyterians built the new St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, a block away on Charlotte
Street.
The only major structural change since the completion of St. Paul’s in 1882 was a stone wing
adjacent to the south end of the church , (1916-1918). The Fraser Memorial Building was
built in memory of prominent New Brunswick businessman, Donald Fraser.
The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada recognized St. Paul’s United Church as a
National Historic Site in 1994.
Character-Defining Elements
--Notable architectural elements include the church’s stonework which includes richly
appointed limestone exterior walls blended with dressed sandstone to form quoins, window
and door surrounds, copings, and band courses. This evocative textured stone facade is a
case study in late Victorian design aesthetics.
--There are matching transept extensions on the east and west side of the building, each
highlighted by a dominant triple lancet window arrangement above, and two sets of double
lancets below.
--A small chancel-extension at the south end of the building completes the architectural and
liturgical pattern.
--The triple pointed arches of a Gothic arcade, signifying the Holy Trinity, form the main
entrance on George Street. There are quatrefoil designs over each of the three doors and an
“1882” date-plate in stone embedded in the middle arch.
--Decorative buttresses at the base of the four-stage tower on the northwest corner of the
building, and elsewhere on the exterior façade, along with combinations of single, double and
triple lancet windows contribute Neo-Gothic substance to the church’s external arrangement.
There is a belfry just below the steeple.
--The overall style of the building is distinguished by an intentional approach to design
elements which freely interpret earlier Gothic precedents. The Rose Window on the north
façade is inspired by earlier French Gothic prototypes, demonstrating openness to non-English
Neo-Gothic design motifs.
--More Neo-Gothic motifs adorn the church interior, notably the pews are fashioned in ash
with walnut highlights. The three clergy chairs and pulpit are of walnut. The latter features
veneered panels. The reredos is embellished with Gothic decoration and paneling.
--St. Paul’s has seating on the main floor and balcony for some 1000 people. The interior
sanctuary is characterized by a large sloped balcony. The pews in the balcony and on the
main level are arranged in a semi-circle to face the pulpit and the large Casavant organ.
Stained glass windows are an attractive feature of the church interior, complementing the rich
woodwork and decorative painting.
Selected Sources
Minutes of the Building Committee, Saint Paul’s Church, 1884-1886. MC 225/MS 1A, PANB
Dumaresq, James, Charles, Philip, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, 1901-1910
(Volume XIII), © 2000 University of Toronto/Université Laval.
http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?BioId=40813&query=
A Century of Service, The History of St. Paul’s Church, Fredericton, 1832-1932. Published by
St. Paul’s, 1932.
Dr. D.J. MacLeod and E.L. MacFarlane, Saint Paul’s United Church 1932-1982, Published by
St. Paul’s, 1982
Gwen L. Martin, For Love of Stone, Vol. II, Mineral Resources Division, Department of Natural
Resources and Energy, Fredericton, 1990
Gary K. Hughes, Music of the Eye: Architectural Drawings of Canada’s First City 1822-1914,
NBM, 1992 pp. 91-92. ”