St. Columban’s is more than a church

0 Diana kh June 25, 2026

The Editor,

St. Columban’s in Cornwall is more than a church, and its value extends beyond religious persuasion.

I have no personal connection to the church, but I treasure that building and what it means to my community as a whole.

I would argue that it is the most prominent historic structure in the city. Situated on a rise of land near the centre of the city’s Old Square Mile, it can be seen for blocks.

This high visibility, in addition to other noteworthy artistic features, was acknowledged when it was designated as a heritage building under the Ontario Heritage Act.

The solid limestone edifice, with its gleaming silver tower and spire, is a sight to behold. Romanesque Revival is the term used to describe its architectural style.

The stone itself represents the community, having been sourced from local quarries.

When the building opened in 1896, commentators described it as “handsome and massive.” That phrase was accurate enough then. Due to the drab and minimalistic nature of most modern architecture, these characteristics have consequently been amplified in comparison.

The interior is equally impressive. Columns, arches, and a unique space that cannot be recreated by modern craftsmen. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course.

For me, it is an architectural work of art, inside and out. As a professional historian, I am also well aware of its importance in the development of the community.

Not only is the church an impressive structure, but it is located on sacred ground.

On the church property, a stone’s throw from its walls, is the parish’s original burial ground. It pre-dates the church itself by several decades.

One of the first people buried there: Margaret McCormick, a 26-year-old native of Ireland, who died in 1835. She was part of the major influx of Irish migrants who came to Cornwall in the period, seeking a better life and adding to our social fabric.

I’m a bit of a church tourist: Two of my favourite places on Earth are St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and Westminster Abbey in London. Cornwall’s St. Columban’s Church cannot compete with those heavyweights in ecclesiastical architecture, but they are cut from the same cloth.

The church, whose future is currently in doubt, is more than deserving of an extreme community effort towards preservation.

We all know that Cornwall has lost much of its historic architecture. We have an embarrassing roster of tragedy and misdeeds on this subject. Let not this be the next item on that list.