A Brief History
Sacred Heart Church & Welcome Centre in Placentia
Years of History
The Sacred Heart Church in Placentia stands as one of Newfoundland’s most significant religious and architectural landmarks. Its history spans over three centuries, reflecting the perseverance of faith, the spirit of community cooperation, and the enduring cultural heritage of this historic town.
A timeline of events
1563–1689
Early Catholic presence
1713–1784
Religious suppression
1784–1830
Time of Transition
1878–1904
Construction of the present church
1900s–Present
Community landmark to community centre
Early History
1563
Portuguese Foundations
Historical evidence suggests the existence of a Portuguese church on the Jersey Side of Placentia as early as 1563. This is supported by a fisherman’s will from the Basque Country of Spain, in which he expressed a wish to be buried with his companions at Placentia, implying not only the presence of a church, but also a consecrated burial ground.
1662
French Settlement
With the official establishment of the French colony came the regular presence of priests to minister to the Catholic population. Initially, these clergy served primarily the needs of the garrison. The 1671 census lists Father Martin D’Hurte as priest and chaplain to the garrison.
1689
The Recollect Friars
On September 7, 1689, Bishop Jean-Baptiste de La Croix de Saint-Vallier, accompanied by Brother Didace Pelletier, Father Sixte La Tac the first superior and pastor and Father Joseph Denis, vicar general, formally opened a monastery in Placentia. Brother Didace was a master carpenter and a noted healer whose life of deep piety and service later led to his beatification, particularly in recognition of his reputed healing abilities.
The Recollects constructed a church and residence on the site of the former St. Luke’s Church property and remained in Placentia until the settlement was ceded to the English in 1713.
Religious Supression
1713 - 1784
Years of Suppression
The English takeover ushered in a prolonged period of religious intolerance. For more than fifty years, Catholics were prohibited from openly practising their faith.
1784
Freedom Granted
When freedom of religion was formally granted to the Catholic Church in Newfoundland, Placentia became one of the first four parishes established on the island.
An early example of the spirit of cooperation between the town's two principal religious communities, a characteristic that has endured over time."
1785 - 1798
Father Edmund Bourke
Irish missionary Father Edmund Bourke served as resident priest and completed a thatched-roof chapel, along with a priest’s residence and a graveyard, shortly after his arrival on the site of the present property. This period coincided with considerable unrest caused by Prince William Henry (later King William IV), who prohibited the celebration of Mass and forbade Catholic burials in military graveyards.
Conflict and cooperation
This period coincided with the tenure of Prince William Henry, later King William IV, whose actions caused unrest within the Catholic fishing community. He prohibited the celebration of Mass in the Court House and forbade Catholic burials in the former Recollects’ graveyard used by the British military.
In response, William Saunders, a Protestant merchant, purchased land from John Boggs and raised additional funds from local fishermen to establish a graveyard, chapel, and priest’s residence an early and lasting example of cooperation between Placentia’s religious communities.The original graveyard, established in 1786, remains beneath the church and was used until 1859.
Time of Transition
New beginning
In 1829, Father Andrew Cleary began construction of a new church, which was completed in 1830 on the site where the former nuns’ chapel was later built.
Following the arrival of the first resident priest, a long succession of Irish priests was assigned to Placentia. Irish-speaking clergy were essential to minister to the predominantly Irish-speaking fishing community. This tradition continued until the appointment of Monsignor Vincent Reardon in 1897, the first Newfoundlander to serve in this role, who oversaw the completion of the present church building.
Present Sacred Heart Church
Architectural Splendor
The foundation stone of the current building was laid by Bishop Power in 1878. Active construction began in 1886, and the building was ready for occupancy in 1889, with final completion in 1904. Since that time, the church has undergone several renovations to ensure its continued use and long-term preservation.
The church was designed in the Romanesque style by Reverend Anthony Clancey of the Diocesan College in Ennis, Ireland, and built by Michael Boland of St. John’s. The building measures 100 feet in length and 26 feet in breadth, with a ceiling height of 40 feet in the nave.
“The single tower which rises from the north side of the façade is 90 feet in height, and is a model of grace and symmetry with its well-adjusted proportions of square, octagon dome.”
The church features a large double mullioned window of coloured glass above the central entrance, and a rose window in the gable. A total of 36 stained-glass windows enhance the building throughout. The interior showcases rows of Tuscan pillars with richly ornamented capitals and a panelled ceiling finished in purely Roman style.
Our Lady of Angels
Built between 1858 and 1864, The Convent is one of the oldest stone buildings in Newfoundland. Constructed primarily from locally quarried stone, it reflects French Colonial architecture and has been designated a municipal heritage building. The Irish Presentation Sisters arrived in 1864 and played a vital role in education, establishing the first teacher training school in Placentia. Their departure in 1989 marked the end of 125 years of educational service.
The building attached to the Our Lady of Angels Convent was used as a music room until St. Edward’s School closed in 2010. Earlier, in the early 1900s, it served as an art room. Opened in the 1840s, it was once recognized as one of the finest commercial schools in Newfoundland. Its original stone construction remains intact to this day.
Present day Welcome Centre
