Intention to Designate - Heritage Properties

Description of Property:

490 Centre Street, otherwise known as St. John’s the Evangelist Anglican Church is an institutional property constructed in 1860. It is located on the east side of Centre Street, at the intersection of Centre and James.

This property was one designed by a prominent architect, T.S. Scott of Montreal, the same architect who designed the Parliamentary Library in Ottawa in 1875/76. The church was constructed by Henry Sims, the son-in-law to Alpheus Jones, an early setter of Prescott. The congregation dates back to 1821 with many of the Town’s founding families connected to the church.

It is speculated that the size of the church may indicate a large number of English immigrants during that time period. This speculation, if accurate, contributes to our understanding of the community.

Statement of Culture Heritage Value or Interest:

Criteria #1

The property has design value or physical value because it is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction method.

Supporting Details

• The church is an excellent example of Gothic architecture which was popular in ecclesiastical and civic buildings of the 19^th

 Criteria #2

The property has design value or physical value because it displays a high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit.

Supporting Details

• There are numerous stained-glass windows.

Criteria #6

The property has historical value or associative value because it demonstrates or reflects the work or ideas of an architect, artist, builder, designer or theorist who is significant to a community.

Supporting Details

• S. Scott was the architect of the church as well as of the Parliamentary Library in Ottawa
• Nesfield Ward was the stonemason for the church. Mr. Ward is credited with the construction of many buildings in Prescott

Criteria #9

The property has contextual value because it is a landmark.

 Supporting Details

• The top of the tower is listed as a navigational point on navigation charts for the St. Lawrence River

Summary of Heritage Attributes to Protect:

• Style, Massing, scale or composition – exterior combination of rubble and limestone; the tower.

Description of Property:

425 Centre Street is an institutional property constructed in 1893 following a fire that led to the previous church’s destruction in 1892. It is located on the west side of Centre Street, at the intersection of Centre and Dibble.

This property was built by a prominent architect from Ogdensburg, J.P. Johnson, who was hired to design the church that J.P. Wiser, Prescott’s most successful industrialist, was associated with.

Statement of Culture Heritage Value or Interest:

 Criteria #1

The property has a rare, unique or is representative of an early style, type, expression, material, or construction method

Supporting Details

The property’s architecture is of a Richardsonian Romanesque style, which was popular for churches and public buildings in North America at the time. This style was used for the Queen’s Park Legislature building of the 1880’s and Toronto’s old City Hall. It was new to Prescott and remains the only example of an Italianate architecture church in town. 

  Criteria #2

The property has design value or physical value because it displays a high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit.

Supporting Details

• The stained-glass windows were crafted and installed by Harry Horwood, a famous stained glass artisan who also had installations in the original Canadian Parliament building that burned in 1916. The Horwood windows in St. Andrew’s Church are unique for the number of them in a single building, their size, and their quality.

 Criteria #3

The property has design value or physical value because it demonstrates a high degree of technical or scientific achievement.

Supporting Details

Both the pipe organ and the ceiling light were donated by J.P. Wiser. The light has been changed to electric but is still valuable to protect for its style. The organ can be rebuilt if ever necessary.

 Summary of Heritage Attributes to Protect:

• Style, Massing, scale or composition – exterior stonework and bell tower
• Pipe Organ
• Ceiling light