Bloomfield Ridge Methodist Church
326 Bloomfield Ridge Road
PID# 75184119
Description: The Bloomfield Ridge Methodist Church is a one and a half story Stick Style/Queen Anne Revival church construction circa 1881. It is situated on the west side of Bloomfield Ridge Road in the Rural Community of Upper Miramichi.
Heritage Value: The Bloomfield Ridge Methodist Church, later the Bloomfield Ridge United Church, is designated a Local Historic Place for its architecture and for its spiritual significance within the Rural Community. This Stick Style ecclesiastical architecture is unique in architectural style as it was popular for a relatively short period of about a decade in around 1880, and it is quite rare for its location in Rural New Brunswick. The influence of the subsequent Queen Anne Revival architectural style is also apparent in this building. The value of the church also resides in the participation of its resident members in seeing through its construction, including; John Fairley, Alexander Smith, John Ferguson, Robert McKay, Kenneth Cameron, Alexander Moir, Alexander MacDonald, Warren Holt and John Scott. Builders involved in its construction, in or shortly before 1878 included Alexander Moir, Alexander Cameron and William Jenkins.
The Bloomfield Ridge Methodist Church is also valued for its spiritual significance within the rural region of Bloomfield Ridge. Following the Church Union of the Presbyterian and Methodist Congregational churches in 1925, this place became Bloomfield Ridge United Church. It remained active until May 10th, 1998, after serving the spiritual needs of the community for 120 years.
Source: Rural Community of Upper Miramichi, Site File #10-18
Character-defining Elements: The character-defining elements relating to the Queen Anne Revival/Stick Style architecture of Bloomfield Ridge Methodist Church are:
- form and massing of stick style ecclesiastical architecture;
- balanced pediment window placement;
- stained glass windows;
- central rounded window in front façade;
- semi-circular transom above simple pediment entrance;
- decorative gable bracing accentuating gable façade;
- clad in wooden clapboards;
- steeply pitched roof line;
- jerkin roof end.