Description of Historic Place

Holy Apostles Roman Catholic Church in Renews, NL is a vernacular interpretation of the Gothic Revival style with Romanesque influences. Built in the 1870s, Holy Apostles Roman Catholic Church has served the communities of both Renews and Cappahayden. This designation is restricted to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

Holy Apostles Roman Catholic Church has been designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador due to its historic, architectural and cultural value.

Holy Apostles Roman Catholic Church is architecturally valuable as a good example of vernacular Gothic Revival style with Romanesque influences. The Gothic Revival style was quite common for churches built during this period in Newfoundland. The general style is simplified for the rural setting. In particular the use of local wood in the construction is an example of the simplification of this style. The design of the church is also a simplification of the traditional Gothic Revival style, with features such as a clerestory and a tower on the southeastern facade. Romanesque elements include the rounded arch windows and interior arcading.

Built by the congregation of the church, Holy Apostles Roman Catholic Church has withstood years of the harsh Newfoundland climate. It stands as a testament to the quality of craftsmanship during this period.

Holy Apostles Roman Catholic Church was built in the 1870s to serve the Catholic community of Renews. The church has continued to be used as a place of worship since its construction. Holy Apostles Roman Catholic Church stands as a testament to the presence and continuity of the Catholic faith on the Southern Shore of Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula.

Holy Apostles Roman Catholic Church is a landmark in the community of Renews. It has served as a reference point for both hunters and fishermen to find their way home. This church is also culturally valuable for its association with the earliest Catholics in this area. According to local tradition, the site that this church stands on was once a gathering place for Catholics to conduct mass in secret prior to the Emancipation Act of 1832.

Source: Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador property file “Renews - Holy Apostles Church - FPT 1613”

Character-Defining Elements

All those elementsthat are representative of the style of architecture, including:
-window style and placement, and use of rounded arches:
-use of local materials in construction;
-interior nave and aisle layout;
-tower with hip roof at west end of church;
-arcade, triforium and clerestorey windows;
-narrow wooden clapboard;
-wooden shingles;
-building height, massing, and dimensions; and
-location of the church within the community.