Saint Anne's Parish Church Fredericton

Constructed in an impressive span of nine months between 1846 and 1847, Saint Anne’s Parish Church in Fredericton was established to provide a dedicated place of worship while the nearby Christ Church Cathedral was under construction.

Former rectory of Christ Church Parish Church Fredericton — “Former rectory of Christ Church Parish Church, Westmorland Street at Charlotte Street, Fredericton, April, 1969. The building was demolished later that year. St. Anne’s Chapel of Ease is visible on the right behind a brick building.” PANB P1-61 colourised

Recognized as a National Historic Site, Saint Anne’s Parish Church is hailed as the most exceptional and significant Gothic Revival church of its stature in North America. Its design has remained virtually unchanged over the past 150 years. The church was envisioned by Frank Wills (1822-1857), the British architect also responsible for designing the Christ Church Cathedral. Bishop Medley intended for Saint Anne’s to serve as a blueprint for all future parish churches in New Brunswick.

The site is notable for several unique elements: the cornerstone wall and lych-gate designed to shelter a funeral coffin until the priest’s arrival; intricate ironwork hinges on the side entrance; an interior roof, chancel screen, pulpit, altar and pews crafted from local butternut; and the multicolored Minton encaustic tiles that adorn the floor and chancel.

The culmination of these elements is a building of remarkable grace that pays tribute to its English medieval roots while simultaneously reflecting its 19th-century role as a vessel for communicating Medley’s architectural ideals in North America.

With the completion of a modern Parish Church in 1960, the original Saint Anne’s Parish Church transitioned to serve as a Chapel of Ease.