St. John’s Centre for the Arts is the product of the hardwork and dedication of the Friends of St. John’s Arichat Society. It is a village defining building that as of late, has been receiving a lot of great attention and use!
Originally an Anglican church, the current building was designed by William Critchlow Harris and constructed by the Cumberland Manufacturing Company in 1895, however St. John’s history begins in 1828. The architect is celebrated for his use of angles and various woods when designing St. John’s, and the building is noted for its acoustic properties.
The building itself can be considered an instrument along with its bell, the carillion of bells chime system – which was installed in memory of Const. Robert Weston Amey, and the organ, which is currently being repaired.
After deconsecration in 2014, the building sat vacant for only 3 years until it was purchased by the Friends of St. John’s. Today, it is used as a Centre for the Arts and is preserved for its heritage value. We are a municipally designated heritage site and participated in the 2024 Next Great Save competition!
Deconsecrated in 2014 and left vacant, the historic building erected in 1895 found new purpose when the Friends of St. John’s Arichat assumed ownership in 2018. The group is repurposing the space as a Centre for the Arts, while preserving the unique heritage value of this building. Current restoration efforts entail comprehensive refurbishments, including repairs to the roof, replacement of windows, and restoration of the bell tower entrance.
