This beautiful heritage building houses Under the Spire – a summer concert series in idyllic rural Prince Edward Island with national acclaim. This structure was built for music by famed PEI architect William Critchlow Harris, who took his inspiration from the inside of a violin. Today, the exceptional acoustics in this French-Gothic building have gained an international reputation, making it a favourite for both performers and their fans alike.
Historic St. Mary’s was constructed between 1900 and 1902. The stunning French-Gothic style building offers a unique addition to the surrounding landscape, unlike anything else in the area. The Harris trademark, a rib-vaulted ceiling, enhances the quality of sound and achieves this with the use of fir, pine, spruce, maple, and birch throughout the building – making it the perfect concert space.
Other distinctive features of Harris’ French-Gothic style include:
- The circular corner tower spire, featuring 12 niches for the apostles
- Unified nave and chancel with transepts
- Pointed arch and multi-paned Gothic windows
- Gable roofline
- Alternating wooden shingle patterns
Under the Spire’s concert series began taking place in Historic St. Mary’s in 1995. In 2009, the building was decommissioned by the Roman Catholic Diocese in 2009 and was subsequently purchased by Under the Spire. Historic St. Mary’s was recognized as a Registered Historic Place in 2010 due to its heritage value in the area. Our organization continues to undertake major renovations to the building to restore many architectural and structural features.
