St. Michael’s is the work of architect Franck Wills, who was well known for his cathedrals in Fredericton and Montreal. It is in the style of the small Gothic churches in rural England that sprang up from the Ecclesiological Movement, of which Wills would become the foremost proponent in North America. This nineteenth-century English movement, initiated by architect Augustus Welby Pugin, sought a revival of Gothic architecture to imbue churches with a medieval atmosphere and a renewed sense of faith.

The stone walls, the open wood-beamed ceiling and the distinct separation of the nave from the choir are characteristic of this movement.

St. Michael’s aesthetic appeal is seen in numerous details including the richly-dark varnished woodwork which, set off against the light-coloured walls, gives the church a warm tone. The impressive sculpted wood furnishings also illustrate the neo-Gothic style. The exquisitely-wrought octagonal pulpit is adorned by elaborate friezes. The stained glass windows tell the narrative of the Gospel. The Casavant organ was installed in 1910.

The parish hall, known as Espace Saint-Michael, was built in 1945 and is used for numerous community activities. In 1979, the St. Matthew congregation closed its church on Saint-Jean Street and moved to St. Michael’s. The early 2000s saw the restoration of all the stained glass windows, partial restoration of the organ, and the creation of the Garden Labyrinth and the Quiet Garden with its own rustic altar. St. Michael’s Church, which harks back to the green of medieval England, is today a place of worship and a site of great architectural interest.

 

Attractions: - the stained glass windows - the sculpted wood furnishings - the pulpit     Parish activities:   Thursday taize services Hour-long plainsong services in the style of the Taize community are held occasionally on Thursdays in Espace Saint-Michel. To find out when the next Taize service is being held, please call the church at 527-4454.

The good shepherd atrium

 

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is offered to nurture the religious lives of the 3-6 year-olds. Through this ecumenical catechesis based on the Catholic tradition, catechists provide religious instruction to the children according to the teachings of the Gospel, biblical themes and Church liturgy. It is a bilingual activity held Saturday mornings from 9:30 to 11:00 and Wednesday afternoons from 4:00 to 5:30. Registrations can be made online or by telephone at 682-6601.