Description of Historic Place

Cochrane Street United (formerly Methodist) Church, is a steel and reinforced concrete framed church reminiscent of the Italianate-Tuscan style of architecture. Built in 1915, Cochrane Street United Church is located on Cochrane Street in downtown St. John’s, NL. This designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

Cochrane Street United Church has been designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador due to its aesthetic value.

Cochrane Street United Church has aesthetic value due to its unique design. Designed in an Italianate-Tuscan style of architecture, Cochrane Street United Church is the only church of this type in St. John’s. The church features many elements of the Italianate-Tuscan style, including a square bell tower at the side, a veranda, decorative brackets, rounded arch windows and arcading in the open bell utilizing Corinthian capitals. The interior of the church also features a number of unique elements including barrel vaults and a soaring Byzantine style dome. Built during World War I, the architecture of Cochrane Street United Church is a reminder of what is possible during times of restraint. Circumstances such as fire, wartime and limited resources prompted the congregation of Cochrane Street United Church to think and act in a more contemporary manner. The result was an architecturally unique structure designed by a leading architectural firm.

Cochrane Street United Church also has aesthetic value due to its association with the architectural firm of Ross and McDonald. Ross and McDonald are credited with being the longest continuous architectural firm in Canadian history, conducting business between 1913 and 1942. The Montreal firm is credited with many architecturally important buildings throughout Canada including the Royal York Hotel in Toronto and numerous buildings on the McGill University Campus in Montreal.

Cochrane Street United Church has further aesthetic value due to its environmental setting. Located in downtown St. John’s, the church is part of a complex of select buildings which symbolize the early governmental, religious, and military history of Newfoundland.

Source: Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador property file “St. John's - Cochrane Street United Church - FPT 2050"

Character-Defining Elements

All those elements which represent the aesthetic value Cochrane Street United including:
- steel and poured concrete frame construction;
- colours of building;
- Byzantine dome;
- interior barrel vaulting;
- bell tower;
- eaves brackets;
- window style and placement,
- rounded arch windows and arcading;
- decorative brickwork around doors and windows;
- stained glass windows, and;
- dimensions, location and orientation of building.