St. Ann's Church Complex (Woonsocket, Rhode Island)

St. Ann's Church Complex
St. Ann's Church
St. Ann's Church Complex (Woonsocket, Rhode Island) is located in Rhode Island
St. Ann's Church Complex (Woonsocket, Rhode Island)
Location within Rhode Island
St. Ann's Church Complex (Woonsocket, Rhode Island) is located in the United States
St. Ann's Church Complex (Woonsocket, Rhode Island)
Location within the United States
LocationWoonsocket, Rhode Island
Coordinates42°0′27″N 71°30′8″W / 42.00750°N 71.50222°W / 42.00750; -71.50222
Built1913
ArchitectWalter F. Fontaine
Architectural styleRenaissance
MPSWoonsocket MRA
NRHP reference No.82000006
Added to NRHPNovember 24, 1982

St. Ann's Church Complex is now a historic cultural center in Woonsocket, Rhode Island on Cumberland Street. It was formerly a Roman Catholic church within the Diocese of Providence. It is notable for containing the largest collection of frescoes in North America.

Description

The Renaissance style church was designed by Walter F. Fontaine to serve Woonsocket's French-Canadian community.[1] Construction began in 1913 and the first mass was held in 1918.[1] The complex originally encompassed a church, school, convent, parish house and a gymnasium that doubled as a theater. The total cost was $150,000.[1]

In the 1920s, over 40 stained glass windows, designed and produced by French artists, were installed.[2] In the 1940s, Guido Nincheri began work on painting frescoes on the ceilings and interior walls.[2] Over the next eight years, Nincheri covered the interior with the frescoes, using Woonsocket residents as models.[1] When he finished, St. Ann's contained the largest collection of frescoes in North America.[1][2]

The church closed in October 2000 and later reopened as the St. Ann's Arts and Cultural Center.[3] The St. Ann's complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.[4]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Kiernan, John (2020-03-25). "Inside St. Ann's in Woonsocket, the Sistine Chapel of New England". Rhode Island Monthly. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  2. 1 2 3 "Mission Statement". St Ann Arts and Cultural Center. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  3. ↑ "Sites on the National Register of Historic Places". Woonsocket.org. Retrieved 2009-01-31.
  4. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
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