Description of Historic Place

St. James and St. John United Church and Graveyard in Miramichi consists of a two-storey Greek Revival church built by master builder William Murray in 1829-1830, and the adjoining graveyard which serves as the final resting place of many prominent Miramichi pioneers.

Heritage Value

St. James and St. John United Church and Graveyard is recognized as a Local Historic Place for its association with prominent community leaders, its role in the religious history of the area and for its architecture.

St. James and St. John United Church is recognized for its association with Rev. William Aitken and Lord Beaverbrook. Rev. William Aitken, father of Lord Beaverbrook, served as minister here for twenty-three years and the church manse was Lord Beaverbrook's boyhood home. Lord Beaverbrook, born William Maxwell Aitken, would use the rewards of his astute business sense and political prowess to become one of the most notable local and provincial benefactors.

St. James and St. John United Church and Graveyard represent the longevity of religion in the community. The church was built on the site of a partially constructed church that had been destroyed in the Great Miramichi Fire of 1825. With the formation of the United Church in 1926, the congregation of St. James’ joined St. John's Methodist congregation and the church was renamed St. James and St. John United Church. Such elements as the pulpit and the chalices were obtained from St. John Methodist Church, reflecting the diverse roots of the new congregation.

St. James and St. John United Church is also recognized for being a good example of early 19th-century Greek Revival religious architecture. Originally built as St. James Presbyterian Church by master builder William Murray in 1829-1830, this two-storey building displays an overall symmetry and monumental detail that exemplify this style. The pine timbers used in the construction bear scorch marks resulting from their being salvaged from the forest after the Miramichi Fire of 1825. The current interior configuration reflects changes made in 1909 to accommodate a pipe organ, minister and choir rooms and changes to the gallery. The pipe organ was gifted to the congregation in 1919 by Lord Beaverbrook in memory of his father.

The graveyard surrounds the church on three sides and consists of tablets, obelisks, pilaster columns and pedestal monuments constructed of marble, sandstone, granite and slate. It serves as the resting place of many of Miramichi's founders and pioneers, including Father of Confederation Hon. Peter Mitchell, benefactors John Harkins and Ernest Hutchison and Lord Beaverbrook's father, Rev. William Aitken.

Source: City of Miramichi, Heritage Office Site File # 04-04.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements relating to the Greek Revival architecture of St. James and St. John United Church include:
- rectangular two-storey massing;
- gable roof with front-facing pediment;
- front-façade sided with wide flush mount boards and wooden quoins;
- stepped box tower and hexagonal spire resting on an impressive portico consisting of two large Greek Doric columns of white pine;
- central double door entranceway containing a pediment with dentils over the entablature with a semi-circular transom, flanked by fluted flush pilasters and capitals;
- exterior trim on windows including wooden keystones;
- large Roman arch stained glass windows with label-stops and drop finials on east and west walls.

Character-defining elements relating to the grounds include:
- location of the church on high ground at the end of a long and steep gradient;
- graveyard flanking the church on three sides consisting of tombstones, monuments and grave markers of various materials.

Character-defining elements associated with the interior of the church include:
- pulpit and chalices c. 1840 from St. John Methodist Church;
- alterations completed in 1909 including an annex to accommodate pipe organ, minister and choir rooms, and changes to the gallery;
- a pipe organ gifted by Lord Beaverbrook in memory of his father in 1919;
- white pine timbers salvaged from the forest bearing scorch marks from the Miramichi Fire of 1825.