Description of Historic Place

St. Peter’s Anglican Church sits adjacent to a cemetery, inside Forillon National Park of Canada, in the Petit-Gaspé region. It is a small wooden church with a pitched roof that has upturned eaves and a bell tower set above the main entrance. The exterior wood clad walls exhibit simple decoration with rabbeted planking and large semi-circular windows. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

St. Peter’s Anglican Church is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
St. Peter’s Anglican Church is associated with both the establishment of the Anglican Church in Gaspé and to an important phase in the development of the community of Petit-Gaspé.

Architectural Value
St. Peter’s Anglican Church is valued for its composition of high aesthetic quality. Its domestic appearance is representative of Québec vernacular architecture with features that clearly indicate its religious function, such as its bell tower. Its interior décor, which displays an ingenious alternation between light-colored and dark-colored wooden boards, demonstrates excellent craftsmanship.

Environmental Value
St. Peter’s Anglican Church is compatible with the rural character of its nature park setting in the Petit-Gaspé area. It is a well-known landmark in the region.

Sources: St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Forillon Park, Petit Gaspé, Québec, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Report, 91-044; St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Forillon Park, Petit Gaspé, Quebec, Heritage Character Statement, 91-044.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of St. Peter’s Anglican Church should be respected.

Its very good aesthetic, good functional design, and excellent craftsmanship and materials, as for example: the orientation of the overall plan, the small scale and the rectangular massing which consists of a wood frame structure, a stone foundation, a pitched roof with upturned eaves and a bell tower with a spire surmounted by a cross incorporating a weathervane that sits on a square wooden volume; the exceptional wood framework in which extensive use was made of layers of wood in a manner reminiscent of ship’s carpentry; the various construction materials and the stained glass windows; the simple, classical and monochromatic exterior décor, including the white-painted
rabetted wooden planking and the large semi-circular windows, the portal on the façade and the oculus located in the gable which respectively illuminates an interior vestibule; the division of the interior volume into three aisles and the way the semi-circular vault reflects the arch of the large window of the apse; the interior Victorian architectural elements, including the varnished wood paneling, which is characterized by alternating light and dark board, and the variety in their orientation, either diagonal, vertical or herringbone, and the various mouldings as well as the square and chamfered columns of varnished wood, and the alternating colours of wood which are repeated in the pews; the painted wood ceiling of the side-aisles and vault, which contrast with the varnished surface and the wide wooden plank floors; the heating system and the lighting fixtures, which are also part of the original décor.

The manner in which the St. Peter’s Anglican Church is compatible with the present rural character of its nature park setting and is well-known in the area, as evidenced by: its overall scale, form, design and materials which harmonize with its nature park surroundings and the adjacent cemetery; its role as a gathering place for the faithful from the surrounding small communities as well as for visitors to the Forillon National Park of Canada, which makes it a regional landmark.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

Construction of St. Peter’s Anglican Church, located in Petit-Gaspé in Forillon National Park, began in 1864 and continued until 1885. The designer of this church is unknown. This building is under the responsibility of Parks Canada. See FHBRO Building Report 91-44.

Reasons for Designation
St. Peter’s Anglican Church was designated Recognized for its role in local history, for its architectural qualities as well as for its environmental significance.
This church is testimony both to the establishment of the Anglican Church in Gaspé and to an important phase in the development of the community of Petit-Gaspé.
Built according to classical vernacular tradition, St. Peter’s Anglican Church constitutes an ensemble of high aesthetic quality distinguished by the simplicity of its block with its flat apse, while the general volume of the church could be likened to that of NotreDame-de-Lorette Church, in the Huron village, near Québec City, apparently built in 1862. Its interior decor, which displays an ingenious alternation between light-coloured and dark-coloured boards, is particularly successful.
Despite the changes that have taken place in the associated landscape since the creation of Forillon Park, St. Peter’s Church remains a gathering place for the faithful from the surrounding small communities as well as for visitors to the nature park. Religious services, both Catholic and Anglican, continue to be held in the church.
Character Defining Elements
The heritage value of St. Peter’s Church resides in its simple but harmonious form, which is in keeping with the tradition of classical vernacular architecture, as well as its high-quality interior decor, which is in an excellent state of preservation.
St. Peter’s Church is a small, rectangular, wood-frame building built on a stone foundation. This church is crowned by a pitched roof with upturned eaves which lend it a domestic appearance associated with Quebec vernacular architecture. However, its bell tower, set above the main entrance located on the west side, clearly indicates its religious function. Its spire surmounted by a cross incorporating a weathervane sits on

a square wooden volume. These formal elements as well as the orientation of the overall plan of this church define its heritage character and should under no circumstances be altered.
The exterior decor is simple, classical and monochromatic. It is characterized by its rabbeted wooden planking painted white and by its large semi-circular windows. On the facade, the portal and the oculus located in the gable respectively illuminate an interior vestibule and the roof timbers. The most distinctive features of the interior are the division of the volume into three aisles and the way the central semi-circular vault reflects the arch of the large window of the apse.
The various materials used in the construction of the church are very sensitive to climatic changes. It is important to institute an effective maintenance program in order to ensure their longevity. The repair or replacement of elements that have deteriorated should be carried out in a manner respectful of traditional techniques and the workmanship of the existing materials. Repair of the stain-glassed windows remains the work of specialists and there should be no hesitation in retaining the services of such specialists if necessary.
While the exterior treatment is spartan, the interior decor on the other hand is quite elaborate. Skilful use has been made of the materials and contrasting colours to create typically Victorian architectural effects. The varnished wood panelling, which is characterized by alternating light and dark boards, and variations in their orientation, either diagonal, vertical or herringbone, clearly demonstrate the skill of the craftsmen of the period. The various mouldings as well as the square and chamfered columns are also made of varnished wood. The alternating colours of wood are repeated in the pews, admirably complementing the whole. Finally, the painted wood ceiling of the side aisles and vault contrasts with the varnished surfaces. The floors are made of wide wooden planks.
All these period architectural elements are in very good condition and deserve to be preserved for future generations. A simple cleaning and refinishing of the varnished or painted surfaces would extend their lifespan. The heating system and the lighting fixtures are also part of the original decor and should be preserved. If the installation of modern mechanical elements should prove necessary, care should be taken to ensure that they are incorporated discreetly, and to protect the church’s exceptional framework

in which extensive use was made of layers of wood in a manner reminiscent of ship’s carpentry.
The vegetation surrounding the Church and the adjacent cemetery enhances this heritage ensemble. Efforts should be made to avoid introducing plantings or outdoor furniture that is inconsistent with the rural character of the site. The old tombstones merit preventive conservation measures and, if necessary, restoration.