Application for Heritage Designation (Individual Property) for ST.

CHARLES CHURCH 135 Barrette Street, Ottawa Ontario, K1L 7Z9

Prepared by Mike Steinhauer July 22, 2013

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BACKGROUND INTRODUCTION TO WHY HERITAGE DESIGNATION IS SOUGHT HERITAGE VALUE HISTORICAL OR ASSOCIATIVE VALUE CONTEXTUAL VALUE Physical Link to Surroundings Functional Link to Surroundings Visual Link to Surroundings Historical Link to Surroundings Sources Photographic/Documentary Material (Plates 1 to 63)

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APPENDIX

ST. CHARLES ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 135 Barrette Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1L 7Z9 OTHER NAMES glise Saint-Charles glise Saint-Charles-Borrome Paroisse Saint-Charles-de-Borrome Saint-Charles en lhonneur de Charles Borrome BACKGROUND The church was built on land donated by Thomas Coltrin Keefer in what was known as Clarkstown . Construction, led by builder Venance Ladouceur, began in April of 1908 and the church was blessed on December 6 of the same year (see PLATES 1 and 2). The brick exterior, along with the rectory and the parish hall, were completed in 1913 (see PLATES 3 and 4). The interior of the church, following a successful fundraising campaign, was finished in 1919 (see PLATES 5 and 6) (Laporte, p. 176-178; Serr, p. 8). St. Charles Church was designed by Charles Brodeur, a leading architect in Hull, Quebec (Hill). St. Charles Church closed in 2010 with a final service held on September 26. The church was deconsecrated on July 1, 2013, after the parish had signed papers allowing for its sale. INTRODUCTION TO WHY HERITAGE DESIGNATION IS SOUGHT The property of St. Charles Church went through a series of alterations in the 1950s and 1960s , however, many of its key design and physical elements remain and the building manifests a strong influence of early 20th century vernacular French-Canadian church architecture. The heritage value of St. Charles Church also lies in its association with the French-Canadian community of Ottawa, the secret society of the Commandeurs de lOrdre de Jacques-Cartier (Order of Jacques-Cartier) and for the role played by Thomas Coltrin Keefer. St. Charles Church is a cornerstone of the citys Francophone heritage, a symbol of the Francophone presence in Vanier and one of the areas most significant landmarks related to religious life. St. Charles Church also plays a critical role in establishing the overall character of Beechwood Avenue and strongly influences the character of the neighbourhoods of Vanier, New Edinburgh, Lindenlea and Rockcliffe Park.
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Clarkstown (Clarkston), Janeville and Clandeboye joined together on January 1, 1909, to become the village of Eastview. Eastview was renamed to Vanier in 1969. The City of Vanier was amalgamated into the City of Ottawa in 2001. 2 Many of the alterations are reflective of liturgical changes brought about by the Second Vatican Council and accessibility improvements. 5

DESIGN/PHYSICAL VALUE: CHARACTER-DEFINING ELEMENTS St. Charles Church is a red-brick building situated to the east of St. Charles Street between Beechwood Avenue and Barrette Street. Completed between 1908 and 1919, the building manifests a strong influence 3 of early 20th century vernacular French-Canadian church architecture . Prominent features of the church include a symmetrical front faade, gable roof, projecting central tower flanked by shorter corner towers, round-arched windows and a cruciform plan. The following character-defining elements of St. Charles Church should be respected: the buildings original mass, form, scale, appearance and style (see PLATES 13 and 14); the buildings original symmetrical main (western) faade consisting of red-brick, a gable roof and a projecting central tower flanked by shorter corner towers; the buildings original side (northern and southern) faades consisting of red-brick, a projecting transept and a gable roof; the buildings original fenestration pattern and style, including round-arched windows, oeil-deboeuf windows and large circular windows (see PLATE 15); the buildings original classical-inspired steeple (see PLATE 16), side towers (crowned with a similar spire) (see PLATE 17), the 1915 bell (see PLATES 18, 19 and 20); the buildings roofline and type of cladding (standing seam metal) (see PLATE 21); elements of the original foundation walls (see PLATE 22); original interior layout which follows a cruciform plan (consisting of a long nave, side aisles (see PLATES 23 and 24), a transept and a chancel areathe latter was shortened during the 1960s renovations) (see PLATE 25); the original barrel-vaulted ceiling with a quadripartite vault feature and decorative roundel (where nave meets transept); the original (now painted) Stations of the Cross along side aisles (see PLATE 26), the pre-1950s (original?) pews (see PLATE 27), and the original painting by G. S. Dorval (dated 1906) (see PLATE 28); and the original neo-classical architectural interior elements including the elegant columns (Corinthian order), the scrolling console brackets and the horizontal lines of the moulding; and the (original?) coloured and clear pebbled glass of the windows and the quality of natural light the large windows permit to enter into the interior.

St. Charles Church follows an architectural style that was common during the early 20th century for rural Roman Catholic churches located along the Ontario/Quebec border. Examples include Saint-Mathieu de Hammond (Hammond, ON), Saint-Bernadin (Vankleek Hill, ON; now destroyed), Saint-Antoine de Padoue (Val-des-Monts, QC), Saint-Camillus de Farrellton (Farrellton, QC), Saint-Fidle de Fassett (Fassett, QC) and Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette (Buckingham, QC) (Labossire, Lglise St-Charles, Symbole de notre patrimoine) Though similar in style, St. Charles Church is the only one of these buildings that is today surrounded by an urban core (see PLATES 7 to 12).

HISTORICAL OR ASSOCIATIVE VALUE The heritage value of St. Charles Church lies in its association with the French-Canadian community of Ottawa and its direct association with those who settled east of the Rideau River (an area known then as Clarkstown) following the completion of St. Patrick Bridge. The area, later known as Eastview (then Vanier) developed quickly and by the mid-20th century was known as Ottawas French-speaking bastion (Benali and Parent). Vanier a t, en quelque sorte, le chien de garde dans lensemble de la rgion mtropolitaine, afin de sassurer que les franco phones aient des services en franais et que lon nous respecte.
Guy Cousineau; Former and last mayor of Vanier, 1991 to 2001 (in an interview with Cline Philippe for La Relve, 2008)

St. Charles Church has been referred to as a vritable phare de la francophonie (Benali and Parent). Along with the original Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes church building (destroyed by fire in 1973), the prestigious boarding school and novitiate of the Filles de la Sagesse (located just east of the former Vanier border, on Montreal Road, from 1893 to 1970) and the imposing scholasticate of the Socit des missionnaires dAfrique (demolished in 1977), St. Charles is one of Vaniers most significant landmarks related to religious life. Au-del de toute signification religieuse, la paroisse St-Charles, et son glise, reprsente beaucoup pour lhistoire de Vanier et des Canadiens-franais *+ Lannonce de la dmolition ventuelle de lglise centenaire serait une catastrophe pour les francophones de Vanier, ainsi que pour la communaut en gnral. Cette glise est bien plus que de simples briques, elle reprsente la mmoire dun peuple qui sest longtemps battu pour sa survie. On ne peut effacer de la mmoire dun peuple ce qui fait en sorte de ce quil est devenu.
Yanick Labossire; Research, Exhibitions and Collection Manager, Musoparc Vanier Museopark, 2012. (from Labossires Lhistoire de St-Charles)

The heritage value of St. Charles Church also lies in its association with the establishment of the secret society of the Commandeurs de lOrdre de Jacques-Cartier (Order of Jacques-Cartier). The order, more commonly known as La Patente, was born out of French-Canadian efforts to protect their language, faith and culture in Ontario, and it quickly grew beyond the streets of Vanier (Trepanier). The first meeting, summoned by parish priest Franois-Xavier Barrette, was held in the basement of the churchs presbytery on October 22, 1926. Ses objectifs taient dassurer le bien commun des catholiques de langue franaise au Canada par la formation d'une lite militante en mesure de promouvoir leurs intrts, tant dans la fonction publique que dans l'entreprise prive, tout en contrant l'influence d'autres socits (dont la franc-maonnerie et l'ordre d'Orange). Son influence a t trs grande dans tout le Canada franais.
Centre de recherche en civilisation canadienne-franaise, 2008.

Working to counter the influence of Anglo-Protestant societies such as the Free Masons, the Order of Jacques-Cartiers influence was felt in all aspects of life in French Canada until its dissolution in Ottawa on February 27, 1965. At its peak in 1960, the order spread across 1140 communities with an estimated membership of 11,000 (see PLATES 29 and 30).

Though the [Order of Jacques Cartier] is no more, Saint-Charles stands as a silent reminder of a key chapter in French-Canadian history. As a prior resident of Vanier, I was often struck by its physical presence in the neighbourhood. Losing it would mean losing a very visual reminder of the communitys past.
James Trepanier; PhD Candidate in History, York University, 2012. (from Trepaniers From Church Basement to National Movement: the Ordre de Jacques Cartier and Vaniers Saint-Charles Church.)

Lastly, the heritage value of St. Charles Church also lies in its association with Thomas Coltrin Keefer. A prominent engineer, author and businessman, Keefer was founding president of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers (1887) and the first Canadian to become president of the American Society of Civil Engineers (1888). He administered the Thomas McKay estate and thus controlled land on both sides of Beechwood Avenue. In 1908, the year that Keefer relinquished his role as sole trustee of the estate to his son, Charles Henry Keefer, and estate manager James D. Fraser (Edmond, p. 61), he donated a piece of land on which St. Charles Church was to be built (see PLATES 31 and 32). Les nombreuses prirs des futures paroissiens/nes des Saint-Charles, seront miraculeusement exauces alors quun eminent ingnieur de la ville dOttawa, du nom de Keefer, fera don dun terrain situ sur lavenue Beechwood, prs du Beaver Brook road (chemin Marier) *+ Ironie du sort, le donateur M. Keefer tait anglo-protestant.
Lo Paquette, p. 5, 1988.

Keefer (b. 4 Nov. 1821 in Thorold Township, Upper Canada; d. 7 Jan. 1915 in Rockcliffe Park), was made a Companion of St. Michael and St. George (CMG) by Queen Victoria and an officer of the French Legion of Honour. He is buried in the family vault at Beechwood Cemetery (Nelles). CONTEXTUAL VALUE St. Charles Church has played (and continues to play) a feature role in establishing the overall character of Beechwood Avenuea winding main street, which forms the northern border of Vanier and the southern edges of New Edinburgh, Lindenlea and Rockcliffe Park. o Physical Link to Surroundings St. Charles Church has been the cornerstone of the area since its completion in 1908. The area known as Clarkstown grew around the church and the parish served the Francophone community on both sides of Beechwood Avenue. In many ways, the square in front of St. Charles Church served as the de facto town square for the community. Plates 33 to 38 attest to the strong physical link St. Charles Church (both church building and site) forms with the surrounding community. The aerial photographs and maps presented attest to the churchs significant physical presence to the communities of Vanier, New Edinburgh, Lindenlea and Rockcliffe Park.

While some of the names of the streets have changed , the western, northern and southern borders of the church property remain untouched since 1908. The original property, eventually severed and sold, ran to Marier Avenue (originally called Beaver Meadow Road). Even todays main path, a walkway from St. Charles Street to the front steps of the church, follows the exact same path used since the church first opened 1908. The Beechwood Community Design Plan, dated 26 September 2006, identified St. Charles Church as a significant landmark along Beechwood Avenue and proposed that the green space located in front of the church be enhanced for public purpose. Along with 94 Beechwood (El Meson Restaurant) and 117 Beechwood (currently vacant), the church is identified as being reflective of the village character of Beechwood Avenue (Plan de conception communautaire Beechwood Community Design Plan).

Functional Link to Surroundings For over a century, St. Charles Church was an important meeting place for its parishioners and the broader community. The examples below attest to the Churchs functional link to its surroundings (see PLATES 39 to 48 and PLATE 50). St. Charles Church became one of the areas most important gathering places wherein addition to the regular baptisms, weddings and funeralsnumerous events and celebrations were held. The first child was baptized at the church on December 6, 1908. The first wedding and first funeral was performed the following year. The church held its final service on September 26, 2010. Between the 1930s and the 1950s, St. Charles Church, under Father Barrette, established and hosted a number of community and social clubs including the Social Circle (est. in 1931), the St. Charles Scouts (est. in 1932) (see PLATE 44), the St. Charles Cubs (est. in 1939), the Ligue du Sacr-Coeur (est. in 1941), the St. Charles Library (est. in 1944) (see PLATE 46) and the Eastview Zouaves (est. in 1955) (see PLATE 44). The Rod & Gun Club was active well into the 1980s.

In more recent years, St. Charles Church (both church building and site) was the location of many activities that fall outside of the more traditional church-related (or church-organized) events (see PLATE 49, 51 and 52). The Stairwell Carollers performed at the St. Charles Church for a number of years and held their 30th anniversary concert in December of 2007 (see PLATE 49). (Click here to watch the choir perform "Christe, Redemptor omnium" on December 15, 2007. The video also attests to the fine acoustics inside St. Charles Church.) Music and Beyond, the National Art Centre orchestra and the Cantata Singers of Ottawa also used the church as a performance space.

Note that until 1949 Barrette Street was called Catherine Street (Laporte, p. 89) and that Marier Avenue had earlier been called Beaver Brook (Serr, p. 7) or Beaver Meadow Road (see PLATE 33). 9

Two recent festivals held several of their events and activities on the grounds of St. Charles Church: CEST CHILL, held on December 1, 2012, turned the main square of the church into a performance stage and a one-day food and artisan market (see PLATE 51). Beechwood Solstice Stroll, held on June 21, 2013, used the side lawn of the church to feature artists and musicians (see PLATE 52).

Visual Link to Surroundings Plates 53 to 63 attest to the strong visual link between St. Charles Church and the communities of Vanier, New Edinburgh, Lindenlea and Rockcliffe Park. The views presented confirm the visual presence the church holds within these communities: The streetviews presented show the visual presence of the church from various points within the communities wherein it rests or on which it borders (see PLATES 53 to 58). The viewscapes presented, taken from Michel Circle in Vanier and the Beechwood Cemetery, depict the elegant steeple of St. Charles Church as an important element alongside many of Ottawas most significant landmarks (see PLATES 59 and 60). The church is also represented in works of art depicting local community life and the urban environment. These paintings further attest to the visual link between St. Charles Church and its environs
(see PLATES 61 to 63).

Historical Link to Surroundings A cornerstone of the areas Francophone heritage and a dominan t building on Beechwood Avenue, St. Charles Church is a living symbol of the Francophone presence in Vanier (Saint-Charles Church). By the 1920s, Eastview (later Vanier) had developed the characteristics typical of a French-Canadian neighbourhood, namely, the dominance of religion and the division of the urban area into parishes, with churches serving as centres of the French-speaking communitys social life (Benali and Parent). St. Charles Church, along with Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, laid at the centre of one of these areas. By 1950, St. Charles Church was overflowing. Reports point to a congregation of nearly 5000, with up to 10 masses on Sundays (Bulthuis). The explosion of families and a broader housing boom led to the establishment of a new parish: Notre-Dame-du-Saint-Esprit, a modern church building, opened in 1958 on Carillon Street (Notre-Dame-du-Saint-Esprit closed in 1995 and is now home to the Vanier Community Church). Reflecting Vaniers broader demographic shifts, by 1960, the number of baptisms at St. Charles Church declined while the number of funerals rose. Families started to leave Vanier for newer and more comfortable homes in the

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suburbs and broader societal changes started to have significant impacts on church life including St. Charles Church: French-Canadian society before 1960, is impregnated with religion and, at times, with religiosity. However, with the Quiet Revolution, the secularization of society, the Second Vatican Council and liturgical changes, churches are less and less frequented by the faithful. Luc Laporte, 1983. (Laporte, p. 204; translated by author)

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Sources Benali, Kenza and Jean-Franois Parent. Vanier : bastion francophone en Ontario. Encyclopdie du patrimoine culturel de l'Amrique franaise, 2007. Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://www.ameriquefrancaise.org/fr/article-601/Vanier_:_bastion_francophone_en_Ontario.html. Bourassa, Andre, Lorraine L. Monette and Denis P. Rgimbald. La petite histoire de Vanier. Vanier: O.V.U.L, 1975. Bulthuis, Mike. In the beginning, there was not enough space... VanierNow, December 16, 2012. Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://vaniernow.blogspot.ca/2012/12/in-beginning-there-was-not-enoughspace.html. Des socits : lune secrte, les autre pas. La collection des fonds d'archives du CRCCF : l'aventure du Canada franais. Centre de recherche en civilisation canadienne-franaise, Universit d'Ottawa , 2008. Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://www.crccf.uottawa.ca/exposition_virtuelle/collection_fonds_archives/. Edmond, Martha. Rockcliffe Park, A History of the Village. Ottawa, The Friends of the Village of Rockcliffe Park Foundation, 2005. Gloucester Place Names Project. Gloucester Historical Society, February 23, 2011, Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://www.gloucesterhistory.com/placenames.html. Hill, Robert G. Brodeur, Charles. Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada 1800-1950. 2009-2013. Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://www.dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/architects/view/1205. Labossire, Yanick. Lhistoire de St-Charles. Unpublished. Ottawa, n.d. Labossire, Yanick. Lglise St-Charles, Symbole de notre patrimoine / St-Charles Church, A cornerstone of our heritage. Presentation. Ottawa, June, 26, 2013. Laporte, Luc. Vanier. Ottawa: Centre franco-ontarien de resources pdagogiques, 1983. Le vitrail lglise St-Charles. Pamphlet. Ottawa, Diocse dOttawa, *1993+. Nelles, H. V. Keefer, Thomas Coltrin. Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 14, University of Toronto/Universit Laval, 2003. Accessed July 17, 2013, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/keefer_thomas_coltrin_14E.html. Paquette, Lo. Paroisse Saint-Charles, 1908-1988. Vanier: Paroisse St-Charles, 1988. Philippe, Cline. Le devoir en heritage. La Relve. Vol.1, n:2, Novembre 2008 Janvier 2009, p. 20 to 21. Plan de conception communautaire Beechwood Community Design Plan . Publication: 3-16. Ottawa, City of Ottawa, 2006. Serr, Robert. Clarkstown (Eastview/Vanier), Pioneer Families/Familles pionnires. Ottawa: Gloucester Historical Society, 2012. Trepanier, James. From Church Basement to National Movement: the Ordre de Jacques Cartier and Vaniers Saint-Charles Church. VanierNow, March 26, 2012. Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://vaniernow.blogspot.ca/2012/03/guest-post-from-church-basement-to.html.

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Saint-Charles Church. Circuit Vanier. Musoparc Vanier Museopark (n.d). Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://www.museoparc.ca/circuitvanier/circuit-vanier-2/beechwood-avenue/saint-charles-church/. Shea, Philip. History of Eastview (Ottawa). Unpublished. Compiled at Carleton 1965, under the direction of Historian, N.C.C. September 10, 1964.

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