Joseph Connolly (architect)

Joseph Connolly (1840–1904) was an Irish Canadian architect, born in Limerick, Ireland. He trained as an architect under James Joseph McCarthy in his native Ireland before coming to North America.^[1] Connolly specialized in Gothic Revival architecture. He is known for the churches he designed throughout Ontario, mainly for the Irish Roman Catholic community, though he also produced some industrial and residential buildings.

Joseph Connolly
Born	1840 Limerick, Ireland
Died	1904
Nationality	Irish Canadian
Occupation	Architect
Buildings	Church of Our Lady Immaculate, Guelph, St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica, London, St. Paul's Basilica, Toronto

Ontario's Historical Plaque For Joseph Connolly

Biography

After completing training with James Joseph McCarthy, the 'Irish Pugin', Joseph Connolly advanced to become McCarthy's chief assistant in the 1860s and subsequently went on a study tour through Europe.^[2] He started a practice in Dublin in 1871, but moved shortly after to Toronto where he partnered with surveyor Darrin Martin, an association that lasted until 1877. From the 1880s, he worked with Arthur W. Holmes. Joseph Connolly died of bronchial asthma in 1904.^[3]

Style

Though he also designed secular buildings, Connolly is known for his Gothic Revival churches. He emulated J.J. McCarthy and George Ashlin, the most successful Roman Catholic church architects in Ireland during Connolly's formative years.^[4] His work bears some similarities to his contemporaries in Ireland such as William Hague.^[5]

Works

Church Name	Location	Year Completed	Image
St. John the Evangelist Church	Arthur, Ontario	1874.[6]
Church of the Immaculate Conception	Formosa, Ontario	1875.[7]
St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church	Hamilton, Ontario	1875.[8]
St. Peter Church	Ayton, Ontario	1876.[9]
Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate	Guelph, Ontario	1877-1926
St. Joseph's Church	Macton, Ontario	1878.[10]
James Street Baptist Church	Hamilton, Ontario	1879.[11]
St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica	London, Ontario	1877-1926
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church	Toronto, Ontario	1881-1905
St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral	Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan	1881.[12]
St. Patrick's Church	Kinkora, Ontario	1882.[13]
Holy Cross Church (now Église Sacré-Coeur)	Georgetown, Ontario	1885
St. Basil's Church addition	Toronto, Ontario	1886.[14]
St. Joseph's Church	Chatham, Ontario	1886[15]
St. Mary's Cathedral enlargement	Kingston, Ontario	1889[16]
Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church	Kemptville, Ontario	1889[17]
St. Paul's Basilica	Toronto, Ontario	1889
St. Michael's Cathedral redecoration and alterations	Toronto, Ontario	1890[18]
St. Paul's Church	Dornoch, Ontario	1890.[19]
St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church	Gananoque, Ontario	1891.[20]
St. Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Church	Picton, Ontario	1892[21]
Church of the Good Thief	Kingston, Ontario	1892