St. Barnabas Anglican Church - Integrated Project Dossier (2013)

Saint Barnabas Anglo-Catholic Parish is located on 70 James Street at the corner of Kent Street in Ottawa's centre town community. The church is situated within a residential district a short walk away from the downtown core. However, at the time of construction, this area was known as the village of Stewarton. Since its construction in 1931, the church only underwent minor modifications, with all structural elements in original condition. It is one of Canada's few churches of the era that was designed specifically for Anglo-Catholic worship, giving it unique heritage and architectural value. The site of St Barnabas Parish was originally occupied by a small catholic church (opened in January of 1890), which became too small for the congregation overtime; the layout of the old church is also not suited to Anglo-Catholic worship. The current church (completed in 1931) accommodates the large sanctuary and side and centre aisles preferred by Anglo-Catholicism. This building reflects the beliefs of the congregation with Mass (or Holy Eucharist) and the original high altar as the central focus. (Murrey 2012) The only modifications since 1931 are new paint on the walls, covering the hardwood floor with linoleum tile in the 1960s, the addition of an air conditioner, relocation of the organ from the alcove in the sanctuary to above the narthex, and the replacement of 5 of the 6 furnaces. The walls are constructed of cinderblocks and plaster with brick facing and no insulation. (Murrey 201 2) This is the Integrated Project Dossier compiled by a group of undergrad students of the Architectural Conservation and Sustainability Program (Engineers and architects) at Carleton University for the CIVE3207 (ARCN4100) Historic Site Recording and Assessment course in 2012.