Turning back the clock on Sacred Heart church in Placentia

Since it was first erected in the nineteenth century, Sacred Heart church in Placentia has not undergone any major construction until now, that is.

Photo by Lee Everts

Sacred Heart church in Placentia has long been a distinguishing feature in the vista of what was known as the Great Beach of Placentia.

Time had taken its toll on the iconic church, with its distinctive tower reaching nobly into the sky. The roof was leaking. Much of the wooden exterior had succumbed to wood rot, and the doors were rusted and decaying. It was time to act. Now or never.

And so, on Oct. 5, 2011, members of Our Lady of Angels Roman Catholic Parish met to discuss the challenges that lay ahead. Their church, one that had been envisioned and erected over a century earlier, was in desperate need of attention. To save their church was vital in terms of its enduring function as a place of worship. Equally important was the fact that Sacred Heart church had become a significant part of the built heritage of the Town of Placentia. It meant something to everyone.

Distinguishing feature

For much of its history, Placentia was characterized by the same types of buildings that could be found in most of the communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. Single storey rugged-looking houses and the well-known salt box house rimmed the roadways.

Nevertheless, in the latter part of the nineteenth century, the Placentia landscape changed dramatically. Take a look at the various photographs from the period and this change would be easy to see. It was at this time, beginning around 1886, when the Sacred Heart church was built. From that point, Sacred Heart church became a distinguishing feature in the vista of what was known as the Great Beach of Placentia.

From the time it was initially built, a moderate amount of changes have been made to the church. At the beginning of the twentieth century, a church bell was installed and some additional work was completed. Afterwards, in 1917, stained glass windows were installed. Later, around 1975, the church underwent a significant change to its interior.

Now, almost 40 years later, the sounds of hammers and other tools of the carpentry trade can yet again be heard as Sacred Heart undergoes its latest transformation.

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Turning back the clock on Sacred Heart church in Placentia