Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Church Victoria Road at Church Street
Holy Redeemer under renovations
In 1902, Holy Redeemer Catholic Church was erected on land donated by James Carlin, a Whitney Pier resident. The Church was initially under the ministry of Father Neil MacDonald who served the parish until 1906. Before he died in 1907, Father MacDonald established a school in the Church basement, supervised the building of a glebe house and undertook the construction of a convent/school and a parish hall.
First Holy Redeemer Convent, James Street, 1903-1913
The Original Holy Redeemer Church in 1906, with Father Neil MacDonald
The original Holy Redeemer Church was a Neo-Classic structure designed by architect Ronald Gillis. The wood frame featured an 82 foot steeple and spire on the southeast corner. The bell was cast by Manelly Bell Company of New York and weighed 3000 pounds. Standing 4 ½ feet high, the bell was cast to strike on the key of "F." Built on a stone foundation, the Church had arched and circular windows and a gallery on both sides.
The fire that destroyed the original Holy Redeemer Church in 1913
The original Holy Redeemer Church served the community for only nine years. In 1913, a fire began just below the roof line of the Church and spread, destroying Holy Redeemer and 30 other buildings. For the next six years, the parishioners used the Imperial Hall for services until the new Church was built in 1919.
The new Church was reconstructed of wood masonry with a roofed steeple and a copper-finished spire. The windows are of stained glass and the interior speaks of modified Tudor Gothic design in Douglas Fir. The interior of the Holy Redeemer features hewed pews, and sixteen layers of double arches, as well as a bronzed holy water font crafted in Italian marble. Holy Redeemer seats 1000 and serves a parish of 800 families.
