St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church

At the edge of Victoria, St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church stands on a site associated with the community’s religious life since 1841. The first church was built on land donated by the Countess of Westmoreland. She also contributed money and furnishings, including a silver chalice. The building was intended for Christians of different denominations, with preference given to Anglican worship.

By the end of the nineteenth century, the original church had become too small. Its replacement was completed in 1901, designed by William Critchlow Harris and constructed by Victoria’s Haslam brothers. Harris was an important Island architect whose work extended throughout the Maritimes.

The photograph shows the church’s Gothic Revival character in its pointed windows, buttresses, and corner tower. Dark red trim emphasizes the large stained-glass window against the white exterior. These features translate a style associated with medieval churches into a wooden building suited to a small Island community.

The cornerstone was laid on September 9, 1901, by Sir Louis Henry Davies, who later became chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. Recognized as a provincial historic place in 2006, the church preserves connections to Victoria’s early families, local builders, and architectural heritage.