Formal Recognition Type

Municipal Heritage Building, Structure or Land

Heritage Value

The Roman Catholic Parish Cemetery has been designated a municipal heritage site by the Town of Harbour Grace due to its spiritual value.

The Roman Catholic Parish Cemetery, located next to the Rising Sun Loyal Orange Lodge, dates to circa 1799, and was no longer used by 1856. With headstones almost completely eroded by time and weather, this ancient burial ground still commands respect and an air of reverence. Huge markers reveal weathered, elaborate homage’s to those interred in the cemetery grounds, but today they stand precariously among the heaving ground and foliage. A single sign stands near the gateway which simply says, “Heritage Site, Oldest Known Grave Stone, 1802”. The largeness of the headstones and their shapes and designs reveal the importance placed on this cemetery by the Roman Catholic community of 19th century Harbour Grace, and its subsequent designation as a municipal heritage site shows the importance of this cemetery to the present community.

Source: Passed by a motion of Harbour Grace Town Council, held January 10, 2006; Town of Harbour Grace Regular Public Council Meeting, September 20, 2022.

Character Defining Elements

All those elements that define the early nineteenth century cemetery, including:

-all remaining grave markers, including their sizes and shapes;
-organic pattern of graves, and:
-location, orientation and dimensions.

Community

Harbour Grace

Municipality

Town of Harbour Grace

Civic Address

Bennett's Lane

Construction (circa)

1799 - 1856