Description of Historic Place

St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church is a two-storey mid-19th century Gothic Revival church featuring a highly decorative front façade. The building is located on Milltown Boulevard, overlooking the St. Croix River in St. Stephen.

Heritage Value

St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church is designated a Local Historic Place for its architecture and for being the oldest Catholic church in the St. Stephen area.

St. Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church is a good example of Gothic Revival religious architecture from the mid-19th century in St. Stephen. The massing, ornate detail of the front façade and use of multiple spires are all traditional elements of this style. Built in 1864 by Butler and Smith and designed by Matthew Stead, it is the oldest Catholic Church in the area. In 1927, renowned artist F.X. Renaud decorated the church's interior. In 2002, Marc Renaud presented a plaque to the congregation in recognition of his great-grandfather's work.

Source: St. Stephen Town Hall - Historic Places File, “St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church”

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements that describe the context of St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church include:
- location of the church with sightlines to the St. Croix River.

The character-defining elements that describe the Gothic Revival architecture of St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church include:
- rectangular two-storey massing;
- elaborate pinnacles and spires with finials;
- symmetrical fenestration of Gothic arch windows;
- trefoil tracery;
- entrance located in central square bell tower;
- symmetrical front façade;
- symmetrically placed dormers;
- board and batten siding;
- clapboard siding;
- stained glass windows.

The character-defining elements of the interior include:
- 1927 interior decorations by F.X .Renaud;
- 2002 commemorative plaque.