St. Mary's Church

Description of the Historic Place

St. Mary’s Church is a large brick building located on a corner lot at 211 Avenue O South. Built in 1930 in the neighbourhood of Pleasant Hill, the church is an example of Gothic Style, which was popular from the late 19th to mid- 20th century in Canada.

Heritage Value

The heritage value of St. Mary’s Church is its Gothic architecture, a style of architecture characterized by great cathedrals, pointed arches and richly decorated fenestrations. The church features a steeply pitched roof with a central tower and arched windows and doorways.  The church was designed by architect Gentil Verbeke and constructed by James Priel.

The heritage value of St. Mary’s Church also resides in its value as a religious and cultural landmark in Saskatoon. St. Mary’s Parish was established in March of 1919, the second parish in Saskatoon. Its original name was Our Lady of Victory, to celebrate the end of the First World War. Construction of St. Mary’s Church began in 1920; however in 1927 the church was destroyed by fire, which led to the reconstruction of the church as it is today. 

Today, St. Mary’s Church has become a landmark in the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood, and it has continued to remain true to its original 1930 form. 

Source: City of Saskatoon Built Heritage Database

Character Defining Elements

Key elements which contribute to the heritage value of this historic resource include:

Its Gothic style of architecture, evident in: its steeply pitched roof, parapets, central tower, arched windows with sills and keystones, and arched doorways; 

• Those elements that speak to its religious and cultural importance, including its brick façade, form, massing and scale; and
• Those elements that speak to its status as a neighbourhood landmark, including its orientation on its original lot and prominent location along Avenue O South.