4 Best Sights in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

Designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, this fine example of Gothic Revival architecture was erected in the mid-1800s, with major additions in the 1880s, but it had to be rebuilt after the 1892 fire. Free lunchtime organ recitals take place on Wednesday afternoon at 1:15. From mid-July through August, you can slip into the crypt for a cup of tea and homemade tea biscuits and cookies (C$8). Tea service, run by the women of the parish, operates from 2:30 to 4:30 pm on weekdays except Wednesday, when it starts at 2.

Consecrated in 1855 after 14 years of construction, this Romanesque-style Roman Catholic cathedral holds a commanding position above Military Road, overlooking the older section of the city and the harbor. The Irish sculptor John Hogan carved the sanctuary's centerpiece, Dead Christ, out of Carrara marble in the mid-19th century. Also note the many stained-glass windows, side altars, and statuary. A museum with vestments and religious objects is next door in the Episcopal Library of the Archbishop's Palace. Every December, the Basilica hosts Handel's Messiah performed by the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra and Choir.

This 1896 church has a redbrick facade, green turrets, about 40 stained-glass windows, and a massive Casavant pipe organ. The church itself is on a sort of concrete island, the lone occupant of a small tract of land surrounded by four streets. The home of a community band and choirs for adults and youth, this acoustically pleasing venue hosts musical performances throughout the year. 

This wooden building, the oldest church in the city, is painted blue and trimmed in white in a style consistent with the "jellybean" houses in the neighborhood. The primary section was built in 1836 and, while it escaped damage by the fire of 1846, it is believed to have shifted by six inches in a storm that took place that same year. This led to the further construction of wings to stabilize the original structure. English soldiers used to worship at this church during the early and mid-1800s.