St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Presbytery is a two-story Carpenter Gothic style building located at 5 Chapel Hill in Bonavista, NL. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.
Formal Recognition Type
Registered Heritage Structure
Heritage Value
St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Presbytery was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1994 because of its aesthetic and cultural value.
Built by Ronald Strathie in 1901, St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Presbytery is a fine example of the Carpenter Gothic style. Though the gable-ell plan is rare for the area, it reflects the craftsmanship and detailing common to all of Ronald Stratie’s buildings in Bonavista. Many of the original building materials are intact both inside and out, adding to the building’s aesthetic value.
The building’s association with the Strathie family adds to its heritage value. The Strathie’s were well-known builders in Bonavista. In addition to St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Presbytery, Ronald Strathie was responsible for building many other notable buildings in the region.
St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Presbytery has cultural value because of its associations with the Roman Catholic faith. Construction of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Presbytery was commissioned by the local Roman Catholic parish as a home for Rev. James Brown. Religious figures of all denominations visiting from out of town would have also stayed in this house. St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Presbytery was built next to St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, which is also a Registered Heritage Structure. Located on a hill above the community, the property it is a focal point in Bonavista. Decorative trim and an elaborate roof signified to the community the high social standing of those who lived in the house. It remained a priest’s residence until the late 1980s.
Source: Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador property file “Bonavista – St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Presbytery – FPT 190”
Character Defining Elements
All original features which relate to Ronald Strathie’s interpretation of the Carpenter Gothic style, including:
-number of storeys;
-multi gabled, steeply pitched roof;
-wooden roof shingles;
-size, style and placement of chimneys;
-size, style, trim and placement of peaks cut through roofline;
-scalloped wooden shingles in peaks and gables;
-finials on peaks and gables;
-eaves brackets;
-narrow wooden clapboard;
-wooden corner boards;
-all wooden exterior trims and details;
-two-story bay window on front facade;
-the use of windows of varying styles and sizes;
-size, style, trim and placement of wooden windows;
-size, style, trim and placement of exterior wooden doors;
-size, style, trim and placement of open, covered porch on front facade;
-size, style, trim and placement of sunroom on right facade;
-stone foundation, and;
-building dimensions, location and orientation.
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