St. Mary's Basilica

Reason for registration

the building's association with and importance to the history of the Roman Catholic community in Nova Scotia and the fine degree of architectural detail featured.

Character-defining elements

Character-defining elements relating to the Gothic Revival style of St. Mary's Basilica include:

- granite front façade with three gables and three doors under each gable on the façade;
- large granite spire placed above and behind the central gable and rises to a height of one hundred and eighty-nine feet above the ground;
- stone construction, specifically near black local ironstone with freestone trimmings on the main building and granite on the façade and spire;
- rectangular main plan with an apse and narthex;
- medium gable roof;
- one large pointed window with multiple decorative panes arranged around a circular design located in each gable on the façade;
- windows on the east and west walls containing stained glass whose patterns were designed for the exact size of each window;
- plain lug sill windows on the east and west walls;
- façade's wall design including six polished granite columns with ionic capitals, engaged columns, pilasters, buttress, plinths and a number of carvings;
- central location in downtown Halifax.