This is one EXTRAVAGANT church, for such a small community. It was built of local brick by local artisans in the Victorian Gothic style and has two bell towers at the front. If you find yourself in the Mont Carmel area in SW PEI, this is definitely worth stopping to see. Mont Carmel itself isn't more than a point on the map.
This church, located by the sea, was built in 1898, the third to be built on this site since 1812. The architect was Rene P. Lemay, the son of Pamphile Lemay, who had translated Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's influential 1847 poem, "Evangeline", in 1865. It is a registered historical site in the Province of Prince Edward Island.
To one side of the church is a large brick parochial house, while on the opposite side is a large cemetery, filled with white tombstones with little white crosses atop. Also in the cemetery, along with a couple of memorial arches, is a Depositoire. The cobblestone building was built over the grave of Father Pierre P. Arsenault, Priest of Mont Carmel for 31 years, who died November 22, 1927 at the age of 61 years, as a memorial to him. Its purpose is to provide a safe and sacred space for those who died during the winter months and were awaiting burial in the spring.
Eglise Notre Dame
du Mont Carmel
DESCRIPTION OF HISTORIC PLACE
The large imposing Roman Catholic church of Notre Dame du Mont Carmel is a late Victorian Gothic brick structure situated by the sea in Mont Carmel, PEI. It is built in the classic "T" formation with two bell towers at the corners of the front of the building. The registration includes the footprint of the building.
HERITAGE VALUE
As the third Roman Catholic church constructed on this site since 1812, Notre Dame du Mont Carmel is significant as the spiritual home of many Acadian families in the Mont Carmel area of PEI.
It was built in 1898 from funds raised by the parishioners and the work was completed by many local artisans, including Anglophones who were not members of the parish. All of the estimated 450,000 bricks were made nearby at Frederick Strong's brickyard in Lower Bedeque.
The architect for the design was Rene P. Lemay, the son of Pamphile Lemay, who had translated Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's influential 1847 poem, "Evangeline", in 1865. The centennary of the building was celebrated in 1998.
CHARACTER-DEFINING ELEMENTS
The heritage value of the church is shown in the following character-defining elements:
- the solid brick construction
- the red Island sandstone foundation
- the Gothic inspired traceried windows, ribs, and stone lacework
- the circular rose windows
- the lancet windows
- the central door with its rose window and two sculpted heads
From the Historic Places Canada