St. Michael the Archangel Basilica.
The basilica was constructed in 1903 and is an amazing sight, inside and out. The Gothic architecture is beautiful on the outside and when you step inside, it takes your breath away. There are three chapels in the church: the main chapel, Our Lady's Chapel and Bishop Rogers Chapel.
The main chapel, view from the back.
Stained glass windows.
Stained glass windows.
View of the altar area.
View from the front of the chapel.
Gothic architecture ceilings.
Our Lady's Chapel.
View from the back of Bishop Rogers Chapel.
View from the front of Bishop Rogers Chapel.
St. Michael the Archangel Basilica is located on the Chatham side of the river and can be found around the corner from St. Michael's museum at 10 Howard St. They can be reached at the church by calling (506) 888-5152. A tour guide is on duty select days in the summer.
The next church on the list is St. Paul's Anglican Church, which happens to be the oldest church in the area, having been constructed in 1822-1823, by William Murray.
St. Paul's Anglican Church.
View from the back of the chapel.
View of the chapel from the balcony.
View of the steps leading up to the bell tower, which can be climbed.
One interesting aspect of the church's history is the cemetery, where historical figures are buried. The headstones of John M. Johnson, Father of Confederation, and Dr. John Vondy, the doctor who risked his life to help the Irish on Middle Island when they arrived with illnesses, among many others.
The grave of John M. Johnson, Father of Confederation.
This is the grave site of John Jackson's wife and children, and himself and his second wife. He stayed to protect the church during the Great Miramichi fire in 1825, in which his wife and six children perished. He later remarried and he and his second wife are buried on the other side of the headstone.
The grave of Dr. John Vondy.
This church is located on the Chatham side of the river, in Bushville at 750 Water St. They can be reached by calling (506) 622-2916. A tour guide is on duty throughout the summer.
The next church on the list is St. Patrick;s Roman Catholic Church. This is a rebuilt structure, done in 1896. The original church was burnt in 1883.
View of the front of the church.
View of the side of the church.
View of the back of the church.
Inside the church there are two separate chapels, a smaller and a bigger one.
The view of the smaller chapel from the back.
View of the bigger chapel from the front.
View of the bigger chapel from the back.
The church is usually locked when no one is there, but the office can be called at (506) 622-5733 to arrange a visit. This church is located on the Chatham side of the river in the village of Nelson at 10 St. Patrick's Drive.
The next church is St. Andrew's Anglican Church. This church is done in Gothic Revival style and was built in 1850. Later a smaller section was added to the church in the same style. It's not noticeable that the part was added on.
Front view of St. Andrew's Anglican Church.
Side view with the bell tower.
View of the front of the chapel from the back. The beam in the top of the picture is where the church originally ended before the second part was added on.
View of the altar.
View of the chapel from the front.
This church isn't open all the time, but the office can be called at (506) 622-7614. This church is located on the Newcastle side of the river at 186 Pleasant St.
The final church on this list is St. James and St. John United Church, which is also located in Newcastle at 556 King George Hwy.
St. James and St. John United Church.
This church was also built by William Murray, in 1829 and has a Greek Revival design. This church was built over top of the previous church, St. James Presbyterian Church, which was destroyed by the Great Miramichi fire in 1825. This is the church that Rev. William Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook's father, served at for 22 years, between 1880 to 1902.
There is a cemetery on either side of the drive up to the church and in the back. Buried in this cemetery is Rev. Aitken, as well as Peter Mitchell, Father of Confederation and several other important community members.
The view of the chapel from the front.
The view of the chapel from the balcony.
The church can be unlocked for tours Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., by calling (506) 622-1598.
These churches are a big part of Miramichi's history and are definitely worth visiting while in the city.
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