Our Lady of Mercy Church

 church, heritage, Roman Catholic church

Roman Catholic
The church was built under the guidance of Father James Joy, the first resident priest on the Port-au-Port Peninsula. He was minister from 1900 until 1933. In addition to his efforts in constructing Our Lady of Mercy, he was known as a social reformer and leader.
In October 1912 the noted architect William F. Butler of St. John's designed what became the largest wooden Catholic church in Newfoundland, Our Lady of Mercy Church in Port-au-Port. Two years later construction began on the church, which today has a seating capacity of 1,000. Residents expected every able-bodied man and youth old enough to work to donate one week of work per year to the project. The church was built to serve the Catholic population on the eastern end of the Port-aux-Port Peninsula.
An impressive structure, the church is situated on a narrow isthmus separating St. Georges and Port-au-Port Bays, and stands 35 m. (115 ft.) tall. Our Lady of Mercy's spectacular exterior is matched by its interior. The ornate interior is a result of local craftsmanship, gifts to the church and imported religious paraphernalia. The parishioners imported the wood for the interior from mainland Canada, with the ornate designs being completed by local craftsmen. The same craftsmen also made the pews. Residents, at the time of construction and in subsequent years, donated many statues to the church. In addition, St. Patrick's church in St. John's donated the decorative pulpit in 1925.
The spectacular Our Lady of Mercy Church was made a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in May 1997.